Stirling Linear Park facts for kids

Woorabinda Bushland Reserves is a beautiful natural area in South Australia. It used to be called the Stirling Linear Park. This special place is made up of four parks and reserves. It covers about 34 hectares, which is like 34 football fields! You can find it in the suburbs of Stirling and Heathfield. These areas are part of the amazing Mount Lofty Ranges.

The parks are connected by the Aldgate Creek, which flows into the Onkaparinga River. There are 4 kilometers of walking trails here. These trails link Stirling Park and Woorabinda to Madurta and Hender Reserves. Everyone is welcome to visit these parks. They are important because they have special nature and show early European history. Signs around the park help visitors learn more about the area.

Protecting Nature: Plants and Animals

This park is a very important home for many native plants and animals. It has 20 hectares of natural bushland. Many threatened species live here.

For example, you might spot the nationally endangered Southern brown bandicoot. These small, shy animals are very special. The park also has over 12 types of plants that are listed for conservation. This means they need protection to survive.

The creek in the park is home to native fish like the Mountain galaxias. These fish are considered rare in South Australia. The wetlands in the park also support native Eastern long-necked turtles. You might even see native water rats!

More than 47% of the birds that are declining in the greater Mount Lofty Ranges have been seen in Woorabinda Bushland Reserves. This shows how important the park is for bird life.

A Look Back: Park History

Stirling Park's Past

Stirling Park was once known as 'Halliday's Gully'. The Halliday family owned this land from 1855 until about 1930. They used the land as a market garden, growing fruits and vegetables to sell.

The Story of Woorabinda

In 1922, the South Australian Railways needed a steady supply of fresh water. They needed it for their steam trains at the Aldgate station. So, they bought land from the Halliday family. They dug a large hole where two streams met to create a big dam. This dam became known as Woorabinda Lake.

From the 1960s to the mid-1990s, the area was used as a camp for families who needed help. In the 1970s, it became public land. Private buildings started to get too close to the area. Local people worked hard to protect it. In 1995, the Stirling Council bought the site.

Today, there's a plan to bring the area back to a 'natural bush setting'. Volunteers work regularly to plant new trees and plants. Woorabinda Lake is a popular spot for many water birds to nest. There are outdoor seats and a special bird hide where you can watch the birds. Woorabinda is known for having a very high variety of living things, which is called biodiversity.

Madurta Reserve: A Place to Grow

Madurta Reserve was created in 1972. Its purpose was to keep the area as open space for nature. Since 1983, local volunteers have helped plant trees in the reserve. Before 1972, Madurta Creek and the nearby areas were used for grazing cattle.

In July 2011, the reserve was divided into three parts to study its biodiversity. The two larger parts were found to have 'high' biodiversity. The smaller part was considered to have 'moderate' biodiversity.

Hender Reserve: Old Trees and History

Hender Reserve is located west of Woorabinda. A special pedestrian railway crossing connects the two parks. This park has some of the biggest and oldest stringybark eucalypts in the district. These are very impressive trees!

It was first made a large public reserve in 1879. However, it is now much smaller than it used to be. All three parts of Hender Reserve are considered to have high biodiversity value.

Visiting the Park

There are twelve different ways to enter the Stirling Linear Park. Some of these entry points have limited parking for cars. You can walk your dog in the parks, but they must always be on a lead that is less than 2 meters long.

Many people enjoy walking, having picnics, and watching birds in the park. It's also a great place to study wetlands and learn about nature.

Who Looks After the Park?

The Adelaide Hills Council owns and manages the Woorabinda Bushland Reserves. They make sure the park is well-cared for.

Friends of Woorabinda Bushland Reserves

The Friends of Woorabinda Bushland Reserves is a group of volunteers. They used to be called the Friends of Stirling Linear Park. This group is part of Friends of Parks Inc.

The volunteers help with projects to look after the land. They also help create information and signs for visitors to the park. As of February 2014, their patron was Chris Daniels. He is a professor who studies urban ecology at the University of South Australia. He also leads the Adelaide & Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board.

The first patron of the Friends group was Anita Aspinall AM. She used to be the president of the National Trust of South Australia. Anita supported the Friends of Stirling Linear Park for almost 25 years. She was very important in helping to get and protect Woorabinda.