Brownhill Creek Recreation Park

Where is it?: Brownhill Creek Recreation Park is in the Adelaide Foothills at Mitcham along Brownhill Creek Road. Car parking is available along most of the road within the park. The closest public transport is Bus Route 171 (City to Mitcham Square: Stop 17 on Albert Street, Mitcham).

Owner: Department for Environment and Water.

Property summary: Total area 51 hectares. Hundred of Adelaide – Allotment 31 ¹

Landscape Management Region: Green Adelaide

History: Brownhill Creek Recreation Park is one of Adelaide’s oldest reserves and a popular recreation destination for generations of South Australians.& Brownhill Creek Reserve was set aside originally in 1841 for “public purposes” after a specimen of freestone was obtained from a quarry recently opened near Brownhill Creek. In 1889 the reserve was placed under the control of the District Council of Mitcham by proclamation made under the Crown Lands Act 1888 and the District Councils Act 1887. Mitcham Council continued management until 1915, when the reserve was dedicated as a National Pleasure Resort. In April 1972 it was proclaimed a Recreation Park under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. ^{2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8}

Habitat: Native vegetation in the park is sparsely distributed and suffers from severe competition from a variety of introduced species. River Red Gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), Swamp Wattle (Acacia retinodes var. retinodes) and Swamp Club Rush (Isolepis inundata) occur along the creek flats amongst numerous woody weed species. Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata) are present on the hill slopes, with Grey Box (E. microcarpa) woodland in the northwest portion of the park. South Australian Blue Gum (E. leucoxylon) woodland remains over much of the remaining hillslopes along with a few native shrubs, including Kangaroo Thorn (Acacia paradoxa) and Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha). ⁸

More information: NPWS

Total Species Recorded to Date: 63 (non-passerines 26, passerines 37)

Common Species: Black-winged Currawong, Grey Fantail, Red-browed Finch, New Holland Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Australian Magpie, Spotted Pardalote, Little Raven, Adelaide Rosella, Silvereye, Striated Thornbill, Red Wattlebird

Less Common Species: Brush Bronzewing, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Peregrine Falcon, Eastern Shriketit, Bassian Thrush, White-winged Triller

References:
¹  Protected Areas Information System Property Summary Report. 15 March 2019. Department for Environment and Heritage, Adelaide, South Australia.

²  Proclamation. The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia: 14: 655-656. 21 March 1889

³  Proclamation. The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia: 20: 1045. 11 May 1893

⁴  Proclamation. The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia: 12: 661-662. 15 March 1894

⁵  Grant of Portion of Brown Hill Creek as a Public Pleasure Resort, &c. The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia: 29: 661-662. 15 July 1915

⁶ Cotton, B.C. (editor). 1953. National Parks and Reserves. An Account of the National Park and Reserves situated near Adelaide, South Australia. Commissioners of the National Parks. Adelaide. South Australia

⁷  National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972.

⁸  Brownhill Creek Recreation Park Management Plan. 2003. Department for Environment and Heritage, Adelaide, South Australia.

Updated: 9/01/2022