Hambidge Wilderness Protection Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hambidge Wilderness Protection AreaSouth Australia |
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IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
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 Hambidge Wilderness Protection Area
Location in South Australia
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| Nearest town or city | Lock |
| Established | 30 September 2004 |
| Area | 37.908 km2 (14.6 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Department for Environment and Water |
| See also | Protected areas of South Australia |
The Hambidge Wilderness Protection Area is a special place in South Australia. It's a protected area, meaning its nature is kept safe. You can find it about 140 kilometers (87 miles) north of Port Lincoln. It's also about 15 kilometers (9 miles) northeast of Lock. This area helps protect important plants and animals.
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What is the Hambidge Wilderness Protection Area?
The Hambidge Wilderness Protection Area is a large natural space. It was officially created on September 30, 2004. This happened under a special law called the Wilderness Protection Act 1992. Before this, it was known as the Hambidge Conservation Park. It was protected under a different law, the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.
How the Area Became Protected
The Hambidge area has been protected for a long time. In 1941, it was one of the first places in mainland South Australia to be called a Flora and Fauna Reserve. This meant it was set aside to protect plants and animals. Another area, the Hincks Wilderness Protection Area, was also protected at the same time.
Changes to the Protected Land
Over the years, some parts of these protected lands were sold. This happened because of pressure from farmers. In 1954 and 1955, about 5,260 hectares (13,000 acres) were sold from Hambidge. Later, in 1960, about 9,168 hectares (22,650 acres) were sold from Hincks. However, the government stopped further sales. They wanted to keep these important natural areas safe.
What Makes Hambidge Special?
The Hambidge Wilderness Protection Area has unique features. It has many parallel sand dunes. These dunes are like long, wavy hills, about 6 to 12 meters (20 to 39 feet) high. They run from the northwest to the southeast. Between the dunes, you can find flat, muddy areas called clay pans.
Plants of Hambidge
The area is covered in a type of low scrubland. This means there are many small trees and bushes. The main trees are different kinds of mallee eucalypts. These include Eucalyptus dumosa, Eucalyptus socialis, and Eucalyptus oleosa. You can also find Melaleuca uncinata and Melaleuca lanceolata.
Underneath these trees, there are smaller plants. These include Santalum acuminatum (also known as quandong), Triodia (spinifex grass), Hibbertia, Baeckia, Boronia, and Dodonaea species. This mix of plants creates a special habitat.
Animals of Hambidge
Hambidge is home to many different birds. It's especially important for mallee birds. One very special bird found here is the endangered malleefowl. This bird builds large mounds of sand and dirt to incubate its eggs.
Other important birds that live here include:
- The vulnerable blue-breasted wren
- The blue-winged parrot
- The chestnut quail-thrush
- The yellow-plumed honeyeater
- The yellow-tailed pardalote
These birds rely on the unique mallee environment to survive. Sometimes, visitors come to the reserve to see a place called Prominent Hill.
The Name of Hambidge
The name "Hambidge Wilderness Protection Area" comes from its history. It was first called Hambidge Conservation Park. Before that, it was the Hambidge National Park. The name ultimately comes from a land division called the Hundred of Hambidge. This area was named after Clive M. Hambidge. He was an important surveyor in South Australia. He worked as the Surveyor General from 1937 to 1950.
International Protection Status
The Hambidge Wilderness Protection Area has a special international classification. It is listed as an IUCN Category Ib protected area.
What is IUCN Category Ib?
IUCN stands for the International Union for Conservation of Nature. They have a system to classify protected areas around the world.
- Category Ib means it's a "Wilderness Area."
- These areas are usually large and untouched by humans.
- They are protected to keep their natural state.
- They offer opportunities for quiet recreation, like hiking.
- The main goal is to protect the wilderness and its ecosystems.
This classification shows that Hambidge is recognized globally as an important natural area.
