The Pines, Kapunda

91km NE from Adelaide CBD

Where is it?: The Pines is c. 7km NW of Kapunda along the Clare Road between Kapunda and Tarlee.

Owner: Crown Land under care and control of Light Regional Council.

Property summary: Total area c. 29 hectares. Hundred of Kapunda – Sections 176 and 1771.

Landscape Management Region: Northern and Yorke

History: In August 1878 a tender was accepted from Lewis & Marshall for the construction of the Kapunda Reservoir2. The Kapunda Waterworks were situated on Sections 82-85, 94, Part Sections 78 and 793. The total area was around 600 hectares. The actual dam was built on Section 844. The reservoir supplied water to Kapunda from 1879 until 1957 when the town was connected to mains water.

In the annual report of the Woods and Forests Department 1882-1883 it was reported that a nursery had been established at the Kapunda Reservoir5. In February 1883 The Conservator of Forests, Mr J.E. Brown announced that “A beginning was made in the planting of the open grounds near to and round the reservoir upon this reserve last season. In all about 3,330 trees were planted”6. Closure of the nursery was announced in November 19257.

Parts of these sections On 16 June 1937 Section 176 was dedicated as a Recreation Reserve under the care, control and management of the Corporation of Kapunda and Sections 177 and 178 as a Waterworks Reserve8. On 20 April 1972 Section 177 was also dedicated a Recreation Reserve under the care, control and management of the Corporation of Kapunda9.

More information: Light Regional Council, The Pines, WalkingSA

Habitat: Most of the natural  vegetation has been cleared from the area and many thousand of trees and shrubs were planted during the 1880-1890’s.  The area is now Open Woodland with Radiata Pine (Pinus radiata), Aleppo Pine (P. halapensis), Blue Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp. pruinosa) and River Red Gum (E. camaldulensis). Understorey plants include Gold-dust Wattle (Acacia acinacea), Golden Wattle (A. pycnantha), Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa) and Common Eutaxia (Eutaxia microphylla).

Total Species Recorded to Date: 77 (non-passerines 36, passerines 41)

Common Species: Galah, White-plumed Honeyeater, Laughing Kookaburra, Adelaide Rosella, Grey Shrikethrush, Brown Treecreeper, Dusky Woodswallow

Less Common Species: Australian Boobook, Common Bronzewing, White-necked Heron, Black-shouldered Kite, Australian Owlet-nightjar

References
1 Light Regional Council. (2020). Community Land Register p. 1. 

 2 Government of South Australia (1937). Hydraulic Engineer’s Department. The South Australian Government Gazette 36:462. (15 August 1878). 

 3 Surveyor’s General Office (1897). Hundred of Kapunda. 

 4 Parliamentary. House of Assembly. Questions. The Express and Telegraph XIV (4069): 3. (16 August 1877). 

 5 Woods and Forests Report. The South Australian Chronicle XXVI(1,308) 5. (15 September 1883) 

 6 Our Forests. Supplement to The South Australian Register. XLVIII (11,303) 1. (5 February 1883). 

 7 South Australian Forestry. Annual Report Presented. The Register XC (26,478): 10. (6 November 1925). 

 8 Government of South Australia (1937). Waterworks Reserve and Recreation Reserve. The South Australian Government Gazette 27:2. (1 July 1937). 

 9 Government of South Australia (1972). Crown Lands Act, 1929-1971: Hundred of Kapunda—Waterworks Reserve Resumed and Recreation Reserve Dedicated. The South Australian Government Gazette 18:1497. (20 April 1972). 

Updated: 27/06/2021

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