Rudall Conservation Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rudall Conservation Park South Australia
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Rudall Conservation Park Location in South Australia
Nearest town or city	Cleve
Established	16 August 1973 (1973-08-16)
Area	3.57 km2 (1.4 sq mi)
Managing authorities	Department for Environment and Water
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

Rudall Conservation Park is a special protected area in South Australia. It's located on the Eyre Peninsula, near a place called Rudall. This park is about 18 kilometers (11 miles) west of the town of Cleve. It's a place where nature is kept safe for everyone to enjoy and for plants and animals to thrive.

About Rudall Conservation Park

Rudall Conservation Park was officially created on August 16, 1973. It was set up under a law called the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. This law helps protect important natural places in South Australia.

How Big Is It?

As of June 2016, the park covers an area of 3.57 square kilometers (about 1.38 square miles). That's roughly the size of 357 football fields!

What Does the Park Look Like?

In 1980, experts described Rudall Conservation Park. They said it has different types of land and plants.

Eastern Side of the Park

The eastern part of the park has sandy soil. Here, you can find a mix of plants called "mallee" and "broombush." Mallee is a type of eucalyptus tree that grows with many stems from the ground. Broombush is a shrub. Some areas have thick groups of just broombush.

Western Side of the Park

The western part of the park has loamy soil, which is a mix of sand, silt, and clay. This area was once cleared, so it mostly has open grasslands. Many of the plants here are not native to Australia. There's also a small water reservoir in this part of the park.

Protecting the Land

Over time, some parts of the park have been affected by animals eating too much of the plants. This is called "heavy grazing." The western side was more affected, but the eastern side still has many dense areas of plants. Protecting these areas helps keep the natural environment healthy.

Why Is It Protected?

Rudall Conservation Park is classified as an IUCN Category III protected area. This means it's recognized internationally as a "Natural Monument or Feature." These types of protected areas are usually smaller and set aside to protect specific natural features, like a unique plant community or a special landform.

In 1980, the park was also listed on something called the "Register of the National Estate." This register used to list places in Australia that were important for their natural or cultural value. While the register no longer exists, it showed how important Rudall Conservation Park was considered.