Waitpinga Conservation Park

About: Waitpinga Conservation Park was created to conserve the rare Coral Fern (Gleichenia microphylla).

Where is it?: Waitpinga Conservation Park is a small park on Illawong Road, Parawa about 18km E of Delamere, off Range Road between Delamere and Victor Harbor.

Property summary: Total area 3 hectares. Hundred of Waitpinga – Section 355¹.

Landscape Management Region: Hills and Fleurieu

History: This park was first proclaimed on 21 July 1960 as Waitipinga Wild-Life Reserve².  On 9 November 1967 it was renamed Waitpinga National Parks Reserve³ and re-proclaimed on 27 April 1972 as Waitpinga Conservation Park⁴.

Habitat: The area is mostly Low Open Forest with Swamp Gum (Eucalyptus ovata), Pink Gum (E. fasciculosa), Cup Gum (E. cosmophylla), Messmate Stringybark (E. obliqua) and Brown Stringybark (E. baxteri). Understory plants include Tea-trees (Leptospermum sp.), Hakeas (Hakea sp.) and Totem-poles (Melaleuca decussata).

Total Species Recorded to Date: 42 (non-passerines 12, passerines 30)

Common Species: Brush Bronzewing, Red-browed Finch, Crescent Honeyeater, New Holland Honeyeater, Adelaide Rosella

Less Common Species: Superb Fairywren, Brown-headed Honeyeater, Striated Thornbill, Western Whistler

More information: NPWSSA

References:
 ¹ Department for Environment and Water (2019). Protected Areas Information System Property Summary Report (15 March 2019). Adelaide, South Australia. p. 17.  

 ² Government of South Australia (1960). Crown Lands Act, 1929-1957: Hundred of Waitpinga-Wild-Life Reserve. South Australian Government Gazette 30: 157. (21 July 1960).  

 ³ Government of South Australia (1966). National Parks Act, 1966: Various National Parks Named.South Australian Government Gazette51: 2043. (9 November 1967).  

 ⁴  National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 (SA). sch 4. p. 2.  

Updated: 5/09/2021