the marden suburb grew out of ribbon development on payneham road, providing services to people travelling between athelstone and the city of adelaide. the suburb was the 'silent partner' in the development of payneham, the suburb to the south, which eventually gave name to the council area. the suburb has a rich history of market gardening on the flats area, near the river torrens boundary, having a fresh water supply via third creek and the torrens river.