Morialta Conservation Park Woodforde.

Where is it?: Morialta Conservation Park at Woodforde is adjacent to Black Hill Conservation Park. Montacute Road is the northern boundary and Norton Summit Road part of the southern boundary. Stradbroke Road forms part of the western boundary.

About: Morialta Conservation Park is a fantastic place to visit all year round. There are a number of walking trails, a rock-climbing zone for experienced climbers and the Mukanthi Nature Playspace for children along Stradbroke Road.

Public transport is available on Bus Routes H30 and X30 (Monday to Friday only) to Paradise Interchange (Stops 26 or 27 on Stradbroke Road, Rostrevor). There is car parking at the Morialta Road entrance and near the start of the First Falls trail but other areas of the park can be accessed via Norton Summit Road and Montacute Road.

Owner: Department for Environment and Water.

Property summary: Total area 584 hectares. Hundred of Adelaide – Sections 645, 733, 738, 833, 834, 1189, 1067, 1068, Allotments 1 (Deposited Plan 89443, 1-3 (Deposited Plan 54140), 23 (Deposited Plan 79308)¹.

Landscape Management Region: Green Adelaide,
Hills and Fleurieu

History: Morialta Falls were part of the Rostrevor Estate owned by Mr J.S. Reid. In 1913 he presented Morialta Gorge to then Government, expressly stipulating that it should be used as a public recreation reserve. Subsequently additional land was purchased by the Government near the entrance².

Section 823 and Portions of Sections 810, 822, 850, 852, 853, 854, 855, and 857 were first proclaimed a National Pleasure Resort on 15 July 1915 and named Morialta Falls Reserve³. On 29 September 1966 this area was defined as Section 834 and dedicated as Morialta Falls Public Pleasure Resort⁴. On 25 April 1968⁵ and 30 May 1968 Section 834 was defined as Morialta Falls National Pleasure Resort⁶. On 27 April 1972 Sections 833 and 834 were re-proclaimed as Morialta Conservation Park⁷. Additions are as follows – Section 645 on 27 May 1976⁸; Section 1189 on 24 May 1979⁸; Section 733 on 2 October 1980⁹; Sections 1067-1068 on 28 November 1985¹⁰; Section 738 on 17 April 1986&¹¹; and Allotments 1 (Deposited Plan 89443), 1-3 (Deposited Plan 54140) and 23 (Deposited Plan 79308) on 11 July 2013¹².

More information: Friends of Black Hill and Morialta Conservation Parks, NPWSSA, WalkingSA

Habitat: The upper very steep and rocky slopes are dominated by Grass-trees and Drooping Sheaoak. The higher slopes support a low woodland of Pink Gum (Eucalyptus fasciculosa), Brown Stringybark (E. baxteri) and Messmate Stringybark (E. obliqua) over a closed shrubland of heath plants. On the western slopes and extending outside the park boundary the vegetation is dominated by (E. porosa), South Australian Blue Gum (E. leucoxylon) and River Red Gum (E. camaldulensis). There are three seasonal waterfalls along Fourth Creek ^{13, 14}.

Total Species Recorded to Date: 92 (non-passerines 41, passerines 51)

Common Species: Black-winged Currawong, Superb Fairywren, New Holland Honeyeater, Rainbow Lorikeet, Australian Magpie, Magpielark, Striated Pardalote, Adelaide Rosella

Less Common Species: Little Buttonquail, Shining Bronze Cuckoo, Restless Flycatcher, Chestnut-rumped Heathwren, Yellow-rumped Thornbill

References
¹Department for Environment and Water. (2019). Protected Areas Information System. Property Summary Report. 30 March 2019. pp. 10-11.

²Baker, A.J. (1953) National Pleasure Resorts in the Vicinity of Adelaide. In: Cotton, B.C. (editor). National Parks and Reserves. An Account of the National Park and Reserves situated near Adelaide, South Australia. Commissioners ofthe National Parks. Adelaide. South Australia.

² Government of South Australia. (1915). Grant of Morialta Falls as a Public Pleasure Resort, &c. The South Australian Government Gazette. 29: 330-331. (15 July 1915).

³ Government of South Australia. (1966). Crown Lands Act, 1929-1965: Hundred of Adelaide—Reserves Resumed and Dedicated. The South Australian Government Gazette. 49: 1450. (29 September 1966).

⁴ Government of South Australia. (1968). Crown Lands Act, 1929-1967: Hundred of Adelaide—National Pleasure Resorts Resumed and Dedicated. The South Australian Government Gazette. 19: 1296. (25 April 1968).

⁵ Crown Lands Act, 1929-1967: Hundred of Adelaide—National Pleasure Resorts Resumed and Dedicated. The South Australian Government Gazette. 34: 1638-1639. (30 May 1968). ,

⁶National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. (SA). sch 4: 3.

⁷Government of South Australia. (1976). National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1972-1974; Hundred of Adelaide—Addition to Morialta Conservation Park.The South Australian Government Gazette. 23: 2753. (27 May 1976).

⁸ Government of South Australia. (1985). National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1972; Sections 29 and 43—Alteration of Boundaries of Morialta Conservation Park.The South Australian Government Gazette. 24: 1499. (24 May 1979).

⁹ Government of South Australia. (1980). National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1972-1978: Sections 29 and 30—Alteration of Boundaries of Morialta Conservation Park. The South Australian Government Gazette. 43: 1014. (2 October 1980)

¹⁰ Government of South Australia. (1985). National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1972; Sections 29 and 43—Alteration of Boundaries of Morialta Conservation Park.The South Australian Government Gazette. 85: 1613-1614. (28 November 1985). ,

¹¹ Government of South Australia. (1986). National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1972; Sections 29(3)(b)Morialta Conservation Park—Alteration of Boundaries. The South Australian Government Gazette. 30: 938. (17 April 1986).

¹² Government of South Australia. (2013). National Parks and Wildlife (Morialta Conservation Park) Proclamation 2013. The South Australian Government Gazette. 43: 3027. (11 July 2013).

¹³Cotton, B.C. (editor). (1953). National Parks and Reserves. An Account of the National Park and Reserves situated near Adelaide, South Australia. Commissioners of the National Parks. Adelaide. South Australia.

¹⁴ Department for Environment and Heritage. (2001) Morialta and Black Hill Conservation Parks Management Plan. Adelaide, South Australia.

Updated: 31/08/2021

Download the bird list