Desert Camp Conservation Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Desert Camp Conservation Park Marcollat, South Australia
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Desert Camp Conservation Park Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Keith.
Established	27 July 1967 (1967-07-27)
Area	51 hectares (130 acres)
Visitation	‘limited’ (in 1992)
Managing authorities	Department for Environment and Water
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

Desert Camp Conservation Park is a special protected area in South Australia. It's located in the Limestone Coast region, near a place called Marcollat. This park is about 44 kilometers (27 miles) south of the town of Keith. It's a place where nature is kept safe and sound.

How the Park Started

Desert Camp Conservation Park became a protected area on July 27, 1967. It was first called Desert Camp National Park. A few months later, its name changed to Desert Camp National Parks Reserve.

Later, in 1968, another piece of land was added to the reserve. This happened after a road was built, which separated the land from a nearby area. In 1972, the reserve got its current name, Desert Camp Conservation Park. This change happened because of a new law called the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

What the Park Looks Like

The park is part of an area known as the Angle Rock Environmental Association. Here, you can find flat plains between sand dunes. There are also some low, narrow sand ridges and granite rocks sticking out of the ground.

The soil in the park is mostly sandy. It helps support an open woodland, which means trees are spread out. The main tree you'll see is the pink gum (Eucalyptus fasciculosa).

Plants You Might See

Underneath the pink gum trees, there's a heath (shrubland) with many interesting plants. These include:

• Mallee honey-myrtle (Melaleuca brevifolia)
• Broombush (M. uncinata)
• Austral grass tree (Xanthorrhoea australis)
• Slaty sheoak (Allocasuarina muelleriana)
• Desert hakea (Hakea muelleriana)

Visiting the Park

In the past, not many people visited Desert Camp Conservation Park. The main visitors were people who love nature, like bird watchers and naturalists. These are people who study plants and animals in their natural homes.

The park is classified as an IUCN Category III protected area. This means it's recognized internationally as a natural monument or feature. It's important for protecting specific natural features. In 1980, the park was also listed on the now-closed Register of the National Estate, which recognized important heritage places in Australia.