A number of residential streets in the suburb contain avenues of jacaranda trees, which provide a lush purple colour when they flower in Spring.
The area now taken up by Glenunga International High School and Webb Oval, was previously home to slaughterhouses established in the nineteenth century.
The site has been used almost-continuously since then as a public mental health facility, although its present form occupies a much smaller area than in the twentieth century.
In September 2007, following a review of mental health services in South Australia by Social Inclusion Commissioner Monsignor David Cappo, a major redevelopment of the Glenside hospital site was announced.
[2] The Victorian-era hospital buildings were also refurbished as part of the construction of the new South Australian Film Corporation studios, which were opened in October 2011.
[citation needed] The suburb contains three retirement communities: Victoria Grove and Pineview Village on Greenhill Road and Glenbrook on L'Estrange Street.
The South Australian Film Corporation has since taken over a redeveloped portion of the former hospital property as its headquarters following a move from the former studio at Hendon in the north-western suburbs of Adelaide.
Many of Adelaide's Jewish community live nearby in the eastern suburbs in order to walk to the synagogue on Sabbath or other holy days.