Pekina Creek Reservoir Recreation Reserve, Orroroo

Where is it?: Pekina Reservoir Recreation Reserve is 3km SW of Orroroo.

Owner: Crown Land

Property summary: Total area c. 161 hectares. Hundred of Walloway – Allotment 1 (Deposited Plan 28233)¹

Landscape Management Region: Northern and Yorke

History: As early as 1886 there was agitation for the irrigation of the Walloway Plain². Land for the reservoir was proclaimed on 30 June 1898³. In April 1908 applications were invited for perpetual lease of the land⁴. Following allocation of the leases work commenced in July 1908 on the head works⁵. On 10 January 1910 the Pekina Irrigation Scheme was officially opened by the Governor of South Australia, Admiral Sir Day Hort Bosanquet, GCMD, GCVO, KCB⁶. By 1964 irrigation had ceased as drought and siltation had so reduced the volume of water in the reservoir that irrigation was no longer feasible⁷.

On the 5 April 1990 Hundred of Walloway – Sections 343, 344, 435 and 436 as Allotment 1 (Deposited Plan 28233) were dedicated as a Community Reserve under the care, control and management of the District Council of Orroroo⁸.

Habitat: All the vegetation from the dam site was removed⁶. The vegetation surrounding the dam is now more or less Open Mallee with Mallee Box Eucalyptus porosa.

More info: VisitOrroroo

Total Species Recorded to Date: 99 (non-passerines 57, passerines 42)

Common Species: Eurasian Coot, Peaceful Dove, Musk Duck, Hardhead, Black Kite, Grey Teal

Less Common Species: Apostlebird, Blue-billed Duck, Zebra Finch, White-fronted Honeyeater, Australian Hobby, Glossy Ibis

References
 ¹ District Council of Orroroo Carrieton (2020). Community Lands Register & Management Plans. 

 ²Irrigation of the Walloway Plain. The South Australian Advertiser XXIX (8,648): 7. (7 July 1886).  

 ³ Government of South Australia (1898). The South Australian Government Gazette. 27: 1377. (30 June 1898). Lands Dedicated for Water Purposes.  

 ⁴ Government of South Australia (1898). The South Australian Government Gazette. 18: 244. (30 June 1898). Pekina Creek Irrigation Scheme, near Orroroo, Hundred of Walloway. 

 ⁵ Pekina Irrigation Scheme Opened by the Governor. An Historic ceremony. The Advertiser LII (16,013): 9. (11 February 1910). 

 ⁶ Irrigation in the North. The Pekina Creek Scheme Review of the work. The Observer LXVII(I) (5,267): 41. (12 February 1910).  

 ⁷ Cole, P. (2016). The Pekina Creek Irrigation Scheme. 

  ⁸ Government of South Australia (1990). The South Australian Government Gazette. 29: 1019. (5 April 1990). Crown Lands Act, 1929: Section 5.  

Updated: 21/07/2021