Big Heath Conservation Park

Where is it?: Big Heath Conservation Park is 20km SW of Naracoorte

Owner: Department of the Environment, Water and Natural Resources

Property summary: Total area 2472 hectares. Hundred of  Spence – Sections 17-20, 169, 179 and Allotment 500 (Deposited Plan 36919)

Landscape Management Region: Limestone Coast

History: Sections 17, 18, 19, 20 and 169 were proclaimed as Big Heath Wildlife Reserve on 7 May 1964. On 27 April 1972 the area was re-proclaimed as Big Heath Conservation Park. Section 179 was added on 4 November 1993 and Allotment 500 on 16 September 2010.

Habitat: The Park contains a diversity of vegetation types, which correlate with the topography and soils of the area.

• In the higher areas of the north eastern corner of the Park, terra rossa soils support a eucalypt woodland with a sparse understorey.
• A low woodland of Brown Stringybark (Eucalyptus baxteri) and Pink Gum (E. fasciculosa), with Desert Banksia (Banksia ornata) as the dominant understorey species, occurs on the deep sands of the north western end of the Park.
• A numbe of limestone outcrops found throughout the Park support Manna Gum (E. viminalis), South Australian Blue Gum (E. leucoxylon) and Pink Gum woodlands of varying densities.
• Deep depressions within the Park lack tree or shrub cover, and are ringed by sedges. However, in the south eastern area of the Park, River Red Gums (E. camaldulensis) of varying age and densities fringe these depressions.
• A dense heath of Mallee Honey-myrtle (Melaleuca brevifolia), Yellow Hakea (Hakea nodosa), and Prickly Tea-tree (Leptospermum continentalis) occurs on more shallow depressions.
• As elevation increases, there are corresponding changes to the heath vegetation associations, with Broombush (M. uncinata), Sand-heath Yacca (Xanthorrhoea caespitosa) and Dwarf Sheoak (Allocasuarina pusilla) occurring.

More information: DEWNR

Total Species Recorded to Date: 144 (non-passerines 70, passerines 74)

Common Species: Crimson Rosella, Superb Fairywren, New Holland Honeyeater, Brown-headed Honeyeater, Little Wattlebird, Red Wattlebird, Grey Shrikethrush, Grey Fantail 

Less Common Species: Barking Owl, Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Southern Emuwren, Black-chinned Honeyeater, White-fronted Honeyeater, Yellow-tufted Honeyeater, White-bellied Cuckooshrike

Updated: 9/01/2022