Blackwood Forest Recreation Park

Where is it?: Blackwood Forest Recreation Park is located at Hawthorndene in the Coromandel Valley, 14.5km south of Adelaide. The park is bounded by Main Road and Turners Avenue on the west and south, and by Myrtle Road on the east. The main entrance is located on the corner of Main Road and Turners Avenue.

Owner: Department for Environment and Water

Property summary: Total area 21 hectares. Hundred of Adelaide – Section 665 ⁶.

Landscape Management Region: Green Adelaide

History: The area was first acquired by the Government in 1908 for use as an experimental orchard and continued to be used for horticultural research until the 1960s. It was known as the Blackwood Experimental Orchard ^{3, 5}.

Following the closure of the Blackwood Experimental orchard the site was transferred to the Woods and Forests Department in 1968. It was later dedicated as Blackwood Forest Reserve on 29 May 1975 ¹. It was declared surplus on 26 May 1985 and the site was resumed and held as Crown Land ⁵.

There was sustained public concern over a period of more than 15 years since the mid 1980’s, seeking to have the land retained as open space.

Eventually Blackwood Forest Recreation Park was proclaimed on 1 November 2001 ³.

Habitat: The park has limited natural vegetation. The riparian vegetation understorey along the watercourses largely, but not completely, comprises introduced species. However Minno Creek (on the western boundary) retains some old River Red Gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and a few Acacia species. The vegetation has been extensively altered and the only native vegetation (in any quantity) is to be found on the eastern perimeter and along the two watercourses. About 8 hectares of the park is Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) plantation and the remainder an open grassland dominated by introduced Phalaris grass (Phalaris aquatica) ³.

More information: Friends of Blackwood Forest NPWSSA

Total Species Recorded to Date: 40 (non-passerines 18, passerines 25)

Common Species: Maned Duck, New Holland Honeyeater, Rainbow Lorikeet, Spotted Pardalote, Adelaide Rosella, Eastern Rosella

Less Common Species: Laughing Kookaburra, Magpielark, Noisy Miner, Grey Shrikethrush, Eastern Spinebill

References:
 ¹ Forestry Act, 1950-1974—Section 26—Forest Reserves. The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia. 22: 2082. (29 May 1975)
 ² Forestry Act, 1950: Forest Reserve Resumed. The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia. 34: 1534. (16 May 1985)
 ³ Management Plan. Blackwood Forest Recreation Park. 2005. Department for Environment and Heritage, Adelaide, Australia
 ⁴ National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, Section 34 (1): Constitution of Blackwood Forest Recreation Park. The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia. 146: 4746. (1 November 2001)
 ⁵ Government Experimental Orchard. Coromandel Valley and Districts Branch. National Trust of South Australia.
 ⁶ Protected Areas Information System Property Summary Report (15 March 2019). Department for Environment and Water, Adelaide, South Australia.

Updated: 9/01/2022