Marino Conservation Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marino Conservation ParkSouth Australia |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Marino Lighthouse
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View of coast and city
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 Marino Conservation Park
Location in South Australia
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| Nearest town or city | Marino |
| Established | 2 November 1989 |
| Area | 30 ha (74 acres) |
| Managing authorities | Department for Environment and Water |
| Website | Marino Conservation Park |
| See also | Protected areas of South Australia |
Marino Conservation Park is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located in the Adelaide suburb of Marino, overlooking both parts of the Adelaide metropolitan area and the coastline with Gulf St Vincent.
Once part of the lands of the Aboriginal Kaurna people, the Marino Conservation Park and surrounding areas are part of the Tjilbruke dreamtime.
Proclaimed in 1989 as a conservation park, it aims to protect flora such as the ground cover desert saw sedge (Gahnia lanigera) and twiggy daisy bush (Olearia ramulosa). Native grass species of genera such as Danthonia and Stipa, as well as groundcovers dominate the central and eastern portions of the conservation park. The elegant wattle (Acacia victoriae) can also be seen in the conservation park.
The steep west-facing hillside above the railway line contains a very significant remnant area of coastal heath vegetation, including rare plants such as lemon beauty heads Calocephalus citreus, shiny ground berry (Acrotiche patula) and native apricot (Pittosporum phylliraecoides).
Past land-use practices severely depleted the habitat available for native wildlife. Twenty-nine species of bird including owls, falcons, honeyeaters and rosellas frequent the conservation park. The eastern brown snake and insects also find sanctuary in the remnant vegetation and open space area.
It is accessible via the Marino Rocks railway station, which is nearby. A 1.5 km self-guided botanical trail starts from the car park with two gentle hills to climb. The path is not suitable for wheelchairs. There are also designated dog trails. There are no picnic, toilet or other facilities in the conservation park. Camping is prohibited.
The conservation park has an active Friends of Parks, mostly locals, who regularly weed and look after the area.
The conservation park is classified as an IUCN Category III protected area.
Marino Rocks Lighthouse
The Marino Rocks Lighthouse, or Marino Lighthouse as it is otherwise known, is situated within the conservation park. It is a white, square concrete tower with semicircular lantern. This operational lighthouse was established in 1962 and is managed by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Bushfire
On the night of 4 December 2020, a grass fire started in the conservation park, which ended up taking 75 firefighters to bring it under control within an hour and several hours to extinguish completely. The Seaford railway line, which runs next to the park, had to be closed for a short while. A large area of the park was damaged, and an investigation into the cause of the fire followed.
