Totness Recreation Park

Where is it?: This park lies between Hahndorf and Mt Barker and is now dissected by the South Eastern Freeway. Access by car is available by Milne Road (northern) and Paechtown Road/Haines Fire Track (southern).

Owner: Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources

Property summary: Total area 41 hectares. Hundred of Macclesfield – Section 124

Natural Resources Management Region: Natural Resources Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges

History: This park was proclaimed as Totness National Parks Reserve on 15 January 1970 and reproclaimed on 22 January 1976 as Totness Recreation Park.

Habitat: The northern section of the park includes the following vegetation communities: messmate stringybark woodland (Eucalyptus obliqua) over kangaroo thorn (Acacia paradoxa), sweet bursaria (Bursaria spinosa) and twiggy daisy-bush (Olearia ramulosa); South Australian blue gum (E. leucoxylon) /manna gum (E. viminalis ssp. viminalis) woodland; river red gum (E. camaldulensis) over swamp wattle (Acacia retinodes var. retinodes) and narrow leaf cumbungi (Typha domingensis) sedge land around the lake which was previously a railway dam. The southern section of the park has messmate stringybark open forest and South Australian blue gum woodland.

More Information: DEWNR

Total Species Recorded to Date: 57 (non-passerines 19, passerines 38)

Common Species: Superb Fairywren, Striated Thornbill, Brown Thornbill, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Grey Shrikethrush, Australian Golden Whistler

Less Common Species: White-throated Treecreeper, Eastern Spinebill, Yellow-rumped Thornbill, Red-browed Finch