Innes National Park

Where is it?: Innes National Park is at the south-western foot of Yorke Peninsula.

Owner: Department for Environment and Water.

Property summary: Total area 9,415 hectares. Hundred of Warrenben – Sections 13, 57, 76, 83, 88-89, 93, 95, 99-102, 104, 107, 116, 121, 124-128, 131-136, 138-139, Allotment 100 (Deposited Plan 32565), North Out of Hundreds – Sections 958-959 ¹.

Landscape Management Region: Northern and Yorke

History: Sections 99-102 were proclaimed as Innes National Park on 5 March 1970 ² to provide protection for the White-throated Whipbird. Sections 958 and 959 were added on 27 April 1972 ³. Sections 13, 57, 76, 83, 88, 89, 93, 95, 104, 107, 116, 121, 124, 125-128, 131 and 132 were added on 8 July 1976 ⁴ and Sections 133, 134-136, 138 and 139 on 2 June 1977 ⁵.

Habitat: Innes National Park incorporates the largest remnant of native vegetation on the Yorke Peninsula. With such a large area there are a number of varied habitats within the park including

• Coastal Heath – Along the coastal cliffs, salt spray, windy conditions and shallow calcareous soils create an environment favouring the establishment of mat plant communities and coastal heath vegetation. The heath includes a wide range of species, mostly below one metre tall, including Coast Beard-heath (Leucopogon parviflorus), Coastal White Mallee (Eucalyptus diversifolia), Dune Wattle (Acacia ligulata), Coast Velvet-bush (Lasiopetalum discolor) and various bush pea species (Pultenaea sp).
• Mallee Woodland – Coastal White Mallee (E. diversifolia) dominates the mallee woodland near the coast. Further inland, Kingscote Mallee (E. rugosa), Red Mallee (E. oleosa) and Narrow-leaved Red Mallee (E. leptophylla) become increasingly apparent, with stands of She-oak (Allocasuarina verticillata) and Scrub Pine (Callitris canescens) throughout. Understorey species includes Dryland Tea-tree (Melaleuca lanceolata), Cockies Tongue (Templetonia retusa) and other heath plants.
• Salinas – There is a pronounced plant succession correlated with decreasing soil salinity and period of inundation. Immediately surrounding the salinas, where salinity is high, saltmarsh communities of samphire (Salicornia spp.) occur, with increasing thickets of Paperbark Tea-tree (Melaleuca halmaturorum) as salinity declines. Dominant groundcover species in areas of low salinity include Cutting Grass (Gahnia trifida), Leafless Ballart (Exocarpos aphyllus) and Black-anther Flax lily (Dianella revoluta) ⁶.

More information: NPWSSA

Total Species Recorded to Date:  147 (non-passerines 93, passerines 54)

Common Species: Brush Bronzewing, Brown Currawong, Emu, Rainbow Lorikeet, Malleefowl, Rock Parrot, Spotted Scrubwren, Red Wattlebird

Less Common Species:  Australian Boobook, Painted Buttonquail, Cape Barren Goose, Osprey, Little Penguin, Red-capped Robin

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

 ² Government of South Australia (1974). The South Australian Government Gazette. National Parks Act, 1966: Hundred of Warrenben—Innes National Park. 10: 926. (5 March 1970)

 ³ National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 as amended 3 October 2019 (SA)

 ⁴ Government of South Australia (1976). The South Australian Government Gazette. National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1972-1974: Hundred of Warrenben—Innes National Park—Alteration of Boundaries. 29: 74. (8 July 1976)

 ⁵ Government of South Australia (1977). The South Australian Government Gazette. National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1972-1974: Hundred of Warrenben—Alteration of Boundaries of Innes National Park. 24: 1581. (2 June 1977)

 ⁶ Department for Environment and Heritage (2003). Innes National Park Management Plan. Adelaide, South Australia.

Updated: 25/07/2021