Ironstone Hill Conservation Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ironstone Hill Conservation Park South Australia
IUCN Category VI (Managed Resource Protected Area)
Ironstone Hill Conservation Park Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Kimba
Established	26 August 2010 (2010-08-26)
Area	196.50 km2 (75.9 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Department for Environment and Water
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

Ironstone Hill Conservation Park is a special place in South Australia. It's a protected area on the Eyre Peninsula. You can find it near the Middleback Range. It's about 53 kilometers (33 miles) east-southeast of the town of Kimba. This park helps keep nature safe.

Ironstone Hill Conservation Park

When Was the Park Created?

The Ironstone Hill Conservation Park was officially created in 2010. It was set up under a law called the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. This law helps protect important natural areas in South Australia.

Even though it's a protected park, some activities like mining and energy exploration are allowed. This is under other state laws, like the Mining Act 1971 and Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000.

What Makes This Park Special?

In 2014, experts described the park as very important. It covers a large area of about 19,650 hectares (48,556 acres). A big reason it's special is because it protects sandy dunes. These dunes are the favorite home of a very rare animal called the Sandhill dunnart. The Sandhill Dunnart is an endangered species, which means it's at high risk of disappearing forever.

Most of the park is covered in a type of bushland called mallee vegetation. This is a unique kind of forest where many eucalyptus trees grow with multiple stems from the ground.

Protecting Rare Plants

The park also protects several important plant species. These include the Desert Greenhood and Sandalwood. Both of these plants are listed as vulnerable under the National Parks and Wildlife Act. This means they need special care to make sure they survive and thrive.

Where is the Park Located?

Ironstone Hill Conservation Park has some interesting neighbors. On its western side, it borders another private protected area called the Secret Rocks Nature Reserve. To the east of the park, you'll find the waste-rock dump from Arrium's Iron Duke mine.

What Does "Category VI" Mean?

This conservation 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 sustainable way. The main goal is to protect the ecosystem and natural values, but also to allow some activities that benefit local communities, as long as they don't harm the environment.