Nixon-Skinner Conservation Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nixon-Skinner Conservation Park Myponga, South Australia
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Nixon-Skinner Conservation Park Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Myponga
Established	1 January 1956 (1956-01-01)
Area	8 hectares (20 acres)
Managing authorities	Department for Environment and Water
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

The Nixon-Skinner Conservation Park is a special place in South Australia. It's a protected area near Myponga. This park is about 55 kilometres (34 miles) south of Adelaide. It's also only about 3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles) southwest of the town of Myponga.

This park helps protect nature. It's a home for different plants and animals. The park covers about 8 hectares (20 acres) of land. It's managed by the Department for Environment and Water.

Park History

The Nixon-Skinner Conservation Park has an interesting history. It started in 1948 as a generous gift. Mrs. Lucy Page donated 20 acres of bushland. She wanted it to be a natural history reserve.

She gave the land to the Field Naturalists Section. This group is part of the Royal Society of South Australia. Mrs. Page named it the Nixon Skinner sanctuary. This was to remember her two grandfathers.

On January 1, 1956, the land officially became government property. Later, in 1967, it was named the Nixon-Skinner National Parks Reserve. This happened under a law called the National Parks Act 1966.

The park's name changed again in 1972. It became the Nixon-Skinner Conservation Park. This was part of a new law, the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. In 1980, a special plaque was put up. It honored Mrs. Page's gift. Her daughters were there for the event.

Nature in the Park

The Nixon-Skinner Conservation Park is a great place for nature. It has different types of trees. In the north and middle parts, you can find Eucalyptus obliqua trees. These are tall stringybark trees.

In the southern part, there are Eucalyptus leucoxylon trees. These are also known as yellow gums. You can also see smaller Eucalyptus fasciculosa trees scattered around.

Underneath the trees, there are many shrubs. These are called sclerophyllous shrubs. They have tough leaves that help them survive dry conditions.

The park is also home to some special plants. One rare plant found here is Schoenus tenuissimus. It likes damp areas in the park.

Animals in the Park

The park is a good spot for animals too. One amazing bird that visits is the Calyptorhynchus funereus. This is the yellow-tailed black cockatoo. It's a large, striking bird with a loud call.

Park Protection

The Nixon-Skinner Conservation Park is a very important protected area. It is classified as an IUCN Category III protected area. This means it's recognized internationally for its natural features.

In 1980, the park was also listed on the Register of the National Estate. This was a list of important natural and cultural places in Australia.