Belt Hill Conservation Park

Belt Hill Conservation Park is a protected area located in the Australian state of South Australia in the locality of Thornlea about 317 kilometres (197 mi) south-east of the state capital of Adelaide and about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north west of the town centre in Hatherleigh.[2][4]

Belt Hill Conservation Park
South Australia
IUCN category III (natural monument or feature)[1]
Belt Hill Conservation Park
Nearest town or city Hatherleigh[2]
Coordinates37°28′00″S 140°14′30″E[1]
Established27 April 1972 (1972-04-27)[3]
Area10 hectares (25 acres)[3]
Managing authoritiesDepartment for Environment and Water
See alsoProtected areas of South Australia

The conservation park occupies land in section 339 of the cadastral unit of the Hundred of Rivoli Bay. In 1971, the land was offered by its owner, A. McArthur of Rendelsham, to the “then National Parks Commission” for “dedication as a Reserve.” On 27 April 1972, it was proclaimed as the Belt Hill Conservation Park when the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 came into force.[5] As of 2016, it covered an area of 10 hectares (25 acres).[3]

In 1990, the conservation park was described as consisting of “a consolidated calcarenite dune overlain by weakly-structured sandy soils” that “extends from the east” with a “swale or low-lying plainwhich continues into adjacent farmland” on its western side. The vegetation cover was described as consisting of “an open scrub formation” of [[Banksia marginate|silver-leaved banksia], blackwood, and golden wattle” on the dune with “mainly introduced pasture grasses with some kangaroo grass… and knobby club-rush… covering the swale in the west. It was reported that native vegetation within the conservation park “has been considerably disturbed mainly through grazing by stock and rabbits” and during the early 1950s, a “row of pine trees was planted on the southern boundary to control sand drift”.[4]

In 1990, it was reported that two archaeological sites are located on the dune as evident by a “thin scatter of artefacts” on its surface. It is speculated that “the area supported a substantial Aboriginal population as it is elevated, well sheltered and watered, and would have offered many sources of food.” Also, there was an abandoned stone quarry on the southern side of the conservation park and a sand pit in its north from which material was extracted for road construction by state government agencies.[4]

The conservation park is classified as an IUCN Category III protected area.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Terrestrial Protected Areas of South Australia (refer 'DETAIL' tab )". CAPAD 2016. Australian Government, Department of the Environment (DoE). 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  2. "Search results for 'Belt Hill Conservation Park' with the following datasets selected – 'Suburbs and Localities', 'NPW and Conservation Properties', 'Hundreds', 'Roads' and 'Gazetteer'". Location SA Map Viewer. South Australian Government. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  3. "Protected Areas Information System Reserve List" (PDF). Government of South Australia. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  4. South Australia. Department of Environment and Planning, National Parks and Wildlife Service, South East District (October 1990), Sutherland, Andrea (ed.), Small parks of the Lower South East Management Plans : South East South Australia (PDF), South Australia. Department of Environment and Planning, pp. 3 and 6, ISBN 978-0-7308-0481-9CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. "No. 56 of 1972 (National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1972)". The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia: 660 & 703. 27 April 1972. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
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