Billiatt Conservation Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Billiatt Conservation Park Sandalwood, South Australia
IUCN Category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area)
Billiatt Conservation Park Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Sandalwood
Established	12 December 1940
Area	8.02 km2 (3.1 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Department of Environment and Water
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

Billiatt Conservation Park is a special protected area in the Australian state of South Australia. It is located near the town of Sandalwood. This park is about 200 kilometers (124 miles) east of Adelaide, the state capital. It was once called Billiatt National Park. The park helps protect important plants and animals.

Exploring Billiatt Conservation Park

This conservation park is found in a specific area known as ‘Allotment 101 of Deposited Plan 51151’. This land is part of the Hundred of Auld in the Sandalwood region.

What the Park Looks Like

The park's landscape is mostly made up of sand dunes. These dunes are covered with a mix of open mallee scrub. You can see colorful ridge-fruited and red-tipped slender leaf mallees on the dunes. There is also broombush growing in the shady spots.

Park Size and Protection

As of 2018, Billiatt Conservation Park covers an area of 8.02 square kilometers (3.10 square miles). This park is classified as an IUCN Category VI protected area. This means it's a protected area where people can use natural resources in a careful, sustainable way.

History of Billiatt Park

The land that makes up Billiatt Conservation Park has been protected for a long time. It has changed names and grown in size over the years.

Early Protection Efforts

The first step to protect this land happened on December 12, 1940. It was declared a flora and fauna reserve. This meant it was a special place for plants and animals.

Later, on September 23, 1965, more land was added. This larger area was called the Billiatt Wildlife Reserve. Just a few days later, on September 30, 1965, it was re-declared as a wildlife reserve under a different law.

Becoming a National Park and Then a Conservation Park

On November 9, 1967, the area became the Billiatt National Park. This was a big step up in its protection status.

Then, on April 27, 1972, the national park changed its name again. It became the Billiatt Conservation Park. This happened when the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 was put into action.

How the Park Grew

Over the years, more land was added to the conservation park. This helped to protect even more of the natural environment. The park's boundaries were expanded several times between 1973 and 2008.

In 2008, a large part of the conservation park became a special wilderness protection area. This new area is called the Billiatt Wilderness Protection Area. This means that this part of the land is kept as wild and untouched as possible.

Animals in the Park

Billiatt Conservation Park is home to many interesting animals.

Mammals and Reptiles

You might find tiny Pygmy possums living in the park. It is also home to eighteen different kinds of reptiles. These include various lizards and snakes that thrive in the park's unique environment.

Billiatt Park and Birdlife

BirdLife International, a group that cares about birds, recognizes Billiatt Conservation Park as an Important Bird Area. This is because the park provides a home for several important bird species.

Important Bird Species

The park is vital for small but globally important groups of birds. These include the unique malleefowl, the tiny mallee emu-wren, and the colorful purple-gaped honeyeater. You might also spot the rare western whipbird and the red-lored whistler here. Protecting this park helps these special birds survive.