Bool Lagoon Game Reserve

357km SE from Adelaide CBD

Where is it?: Bool Lagoon Game Reserve is 24km south of Naracoorte.

Owner: Department for Environment and Water.

Property summary: Total area 3103 hectares. Hundred of Robertson – Allotments 5 (Deposited Plan 29651), 4 and 5 (Deposited Plan 35231), 11 (Deposited Plan 35232), Sections 223, 224, 323, 330, 356 and 380 1.

Landscape Management Region: Limestone Coast

History: Prior to their proclamation, Bool and Hacks Lagoons were held under private pastoral leases. As early as 1940, the Flora and Fauna Committee and the South Australian Ornithological Association (which is now known as Birds SA) proposed that all or part of the wetland be declared a Bird Sanctuary 2.

Sections 223 and 224 were proclaimed as a Game Reserve and dedicated as a Fauna Conservation Reserve on 8 June 1967 3, 4. This was the first game reserve declared in South Australia. Sections 356 and 380 were added on 27 April 1972 and the area constituted as Bool Lagoon Game Reserve 5. Section 323 was added on 29 August 1974 6. Section 380 was added on 27 August 1992 7. Section 330, Allotments Allotments 5 (Deposited Plan 29651), 4 and 5 (Deposited Plan 35231), 11 (Deposited Plan 35232) were added on 4 November 1993 8.

Bool Lagoon was included on the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar List) in 1985. 

Habitat: At certain times and for long periods there may be no water. The following habitat types are present

  • Tall Shrubland – Swamp Paperbark (Melaleuca halmaturorum ssp. halmaturorum)
  • Sedgeland – Cutting Grass (Gahnia trifida), Thatching Grass (G. filum)
  • Sedgeland –  Swamp Twig-rush  (Baumea arthrophylla), Bare Twig-rush (B. juncea), Jointed Twig-rush (B. articulata), Coarse Twine-rush (Leptocarpus brownii), Slender Spike-rush (Eleocharis gracilis).
  • Grassland – Common Reed (Phragmites australis), Narrow-leaf Bulrush (Typha domingensis)
  • Grassland – Emu-grass (Distichlis distichophylla), Salt Couch (Sporobolus virginicus), Phalaris (Phalaris aquatica) and Paradox Canary-grass (P. paradoxa)
  • Floating waterplants Herbland – Water-ribbons (Triglochin procerum), Millfoil (Myriophyllum spp.), Pond-weed (Potamogeton spp.)
  • Open water 2.

More information: 

Total Species Recorded to Date: 198 (non-passerines 133, passerines 65)

Common Species: Pacific Black Duck, Great Egret, Swamp Harrier, Australian White Ibis, Straw-necked Ibis, Australian Shelduck, Black Swan, Grey Teal

Less Common Species: Black-backed Bittern, Plumed Whistling Duck, Cattle Egret, Spotted Harrier, Glossy Ibis, Sacred Kingfisher, Australian Pratincole

References:

 1 Department for Environment and Water (2019). Protected Areas Information System Property Summary Report (15 March 2019).  Adelaide, South Australia.

 2 Department for Environmentand Heritage (2006) Bool Lagoon Game Reserve and Hacks Lagoon Conservation Park Management and Ramsar Plan. Adelaide, South Australia.

 3 Government of South Australia (1967). The South Australian Government Gazette.Fauna Conservation Act, 1964-1965: Hundred of Robertson—Game Reserve Declared. 25: 1746. (8 June 1967). Adelaide, South Australia.

 4 Government of South Australia (1967). The South Australian Government Gazette.Crown Lands Act, 1929-1967: Hundred of Robertson—Fauna Conservation Reserve Dedicated. 25: 1746. (8 June 1967). Adelaide, South Australia.

 5 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 as amended 3 October 2019 (SA)

 6 Government of South Australia (1974). The South Australian Government Gazette. National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1972: Hundred of Robertson-Bool Lagoon Game Reserve—Alteration of Boundaries. 48: 1481. (29 August 1974) Adelaide, South Australia.

 7 Government of South Australia (1992). The South Australian Government Gazette.National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 Section 31 (3): Bool Lagoon Game Reserve-Alteration of Boundaries. 85: 935. (27 August 1992) Adelaide, South Australia.

 8 Government of South Australia (1993). The South Australian Government Gazette.National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 Part III: Constitution of New Reserves and Addition of Land to Existing Reserves With Preservation of Existing Mining Rights. 109: 2174-2175. (4 November 1993). Adelaide, South Australia.

Updated: 9/01/2022

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