Penola Conservation Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Penola Conservation ParkMonbulla, South Australia |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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 Penola Conservation Park
Location in South Australia
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| Nearest town or city | Penola |
| Established | 19 February 1970 |
| Area | 2.27 km2 (0.9 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities | Department for Environment and Water |
| Website | Penola Conservation Park |
| See also | Protected areas of South Australia |
Penola Conservation Park is a special protected area in South Australia. It's located in a place called Monbulla, about 329 kilometers (that's about 204 miles) south-east of Adelaide, the state capital. It's also pretty close to the town of Penola, just 12 kilometers (about 7.5 miles) to its west. This park helps protect important plants and animals.
What is Penola Conservation Park?
Penola Conservation Park is a natural area that covers about 2.27 square kilometers (which is about 0.88 square miles). It's bordered by roads on three sides: Clay Wells Road to the south, Searle Road to the east, and Rifle Range Road to the west.
Inside the park, you'll find a wetland called Green Swamp. In 1990, this swamp was described as a "semi-permanent wetland" covering about 10 hectares (about 25 acres). This means it usually has water, but it might dry out sometimes. There's also a small, old quarry in one corner of the park.
History of the Park
This area became a protected place a long time ago!
- 1970: On February 19, 1970, it was first set aside as a "fauna sanctuary" to protect animals.
- Later in 1970: On September 10, 1970, it was officially named the Penola National Park.
- 1972: On April 27, 1972, its name changed to Penola Conservation Park. This happened when a new law, the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, was introduced to help protect more natural areas in South Australia.
Before it became a park, the land was used for grazing animals like sheep or cattle. You can still see signs of this, like an old well near Green Swamp.
Why is Penola Park Important?
In 1980, the park was recognized as very important for several reasons:
- Special Landscape: It protects a unique type of land with sand dunes and wet areas (called "swales") that are common in the lower south-east of South Australia.
- Home for Animals: It's a home for many different animals, including:
* Red-necked wallabies * Common brushtail possums * Short-beaked echidnas * Australian swamp rats
- Bird Haven: Many different kinds of birds live here. In winter, even more waterbirds visit the park, making it a great spot for birdwatching!
What the Park is Like
In 1990, experts described the park's natural features:
- Ground and Soil: The park sits on old, hardened sand dunes. The soil on top is sandy and reddish. There are also areas with black, organic soil near the wetlands.
- Wetlands: The two main wet areas have a base made of "marl," which is a type of soil with clay and lime.
Plants You Can Find
Penola Conservation Park has different types of plant groups:
- Dune Woodlands: The sand dunes are covered with woodlands or open woodlands of brown stringybark trees.
- Wetland Flats: Near the wetlands, you'll find river red gum trees. Underneath these trees, there are grasses, small plants, and some scattered shrubs.
- Wet Area Edges: On the edges of the wetter parts, you might see swamp gum and rough barked manna gum trees.
- North-West Heath: The north-west part of the park, which sometimes floods, has a large area of low-growing plants called "heath."
- Water Plants: In the wetlands themselves, you can spot plants like water-ribbons and yellow marsh flowers.
Visiting the Park
In 1990, the park was mostly used by local people and school groups. Sometimes, people would also go "bush camping" there, which means camping in a natural, undeveloped area.
The park is classified as an IUCN Category III protected area. This means it's recognized internationally for protecting important natural features.
