Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park

About:  Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park protects the largest known area of Scented Irongrass (Lomandra effusa) tussock grassland which is endemic to South Australia.

The name ‘Poonthie Ruwe’ means ‘Hopping Mouse Country’, which refers to the park being recognised as hopping mouse habitat prior to European settlement¹.

Where is it?: Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park is about 5km south-east of Tailem Bend opposite The Bend Motorsport Park.

Owner: Department for Environment and Water.

Property summary: Total area 241 hectares. Hundred of Seymour – Allotments 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 (Deposited Plan 36415).

Landscape Management Region: Murraylands and Riverland

History:  Poonthie Ruwi—Riverdale Conservation Park was proclaimed 16 January 2003². It was later renamed on 29 May 2008 as Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park³.

Habitat: The vegetation of the park can be described as Scented Irongrass Tussock grassland including Spear Grass (Austrostipa sp.) and Common Wallaby Grass (Danthonia caespitosum), with sparse stands of Mallee Box (Eucalyptus porosa), isolated Southern Cypress Pine (Callitris gracilis) and Native Apricot (Pittosporum angustifolium)¹. Other understory plants in include Black-heads (Eneaqpogon nigricans), Pleated Podolepis (Podolepis regatta and Giant New Holland Daisy (Vittadinia megacephala).

Scented Irongrass tussock grassland is endemic to South Australia and would have originally occurred as the dominant understorey species in Callitris and Allocasurina associations within the local area. Therefore it is highly likely that this grassland is the result of the area being logged for Southern Cypress Pine⁴.

Total Species Recorded to Date: 35 (non-passerines 13, passerines 22)

Common Species: Galah, Mulga Parrot, Striated Pardalote, Weebill

Less Common Species: \White-fronted Chat, Peaceful Dove,Elegant Parrot

References:
¹ Department for Environment and Heritage, Adelaide, South Australia. (2008). Management Plan. Mowantjie Willauwar and Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Parks.  

 ² Government of South Australia (2003). National Parks and Wildlife (Constitution of Poonthie Ruwi—Riverdale Conservation Park) Proclamation 2003. South Australian Government Gazette 4: 182. (16 January 2003).  

 ³ Government of South Australia (2003). National Parks and Wildlife (Poonthie Ruwi—Riverdale Conservation Park) Proclamation 2008 28: 1811. (29 May 2008).   

 ⁴ Hyde, M.K. (1995). The temperate native grasslands of South Australia; their composition and conservation status. World Wide Fund for Nature, Sydney.

Updated: 16/06/2022