Ironstone Hill Conservation Park

Where is it?:Ironsrtone Hill Conservation Park is c. 50km SW of Whyalla off the Whyalla-Kimba Road.

Owner: Department of the Environment, Water and Natural Resources.

Property summary: Total area 19,650 hectares. Hundred of Moonabie – Allotments 81, 84 and 88, Section 8, 10 and 13.

Landscape Management Region: South Australian Arid Lands

History: This park was first proclaimed on 26 August 2010. Sections 10 and 13 (5,682 ha.) were added on 6 September 2012. Prior to being proclaimed this park was part of the Shirrocoe Pastoral Lease.

Habitat: The main habitats within the park are:

  • Herbland – small-leaf bindyi (Sclerolaena brevifolia) with emergent sheep bush (Geijera linearifolia), narrow-leaf hop-bush (Dodonaea viscosa ssp. angustissima), false sandalwood (Myoporum platycarpum ssp. platycarpum)
  • Chenopod Shrubland – bitter saltbush (Atriplex stipitata) over small-leaf bindyi (Sclerolaena brevifolia), Holt’s bindyi (Sclerolaena holtiana), desert goosefoot (Chenopodium desertorum ssp.)
  • Shrubland – (Eremophila oppositifolia ssp. oppositifolia), (Alyxia buxifolia) over (Rhagodia ulicina), (Atriplex vesicaria ssp.) with emergent red mallee (Eucalyptus oleosa ssp. oleosa), white mallee (Eucalyptus dumosa)
  • Mallee – yorrell (Eucalyptus gracilis), red mallee (Eucalyptus oleosa ssp. oleosa) over hook-leaf wattle (Acacia ancistrophylla var. lissophylla), dark turpentine bush (Beyeria opaca)
  • Open Mallee – red mallee (Eucalyptus oleosa ssp. oleosa), yorrell (Eucalyptus gracilis), red mallee (Eucalyptus oleosa ssp. ampliata) over bladder saltbush (Atriplex vesicaria ssp.), Tecticornia disarticulata or over bluebush daisy (Cratystylis conocephala), sheep bush (Geijera linearifolia), boree (Melaleuca pauperiflora ssp. mutica)
  • Open Low Mallee – red mallee (Eucalyptus socialis ssp.), ridge-fruited mallee (Eucalyptus incrassata), white mallee (Eucalyptus phenax ssp. phenax) over spinifex (Triodia irritans), common eutaxia (Eutaxia microphylla) +/- sticky goodenia (Goodenia varia), dryland bitter-pea (Daviesia benthamii ssp. acanthoclona)

More information: DEW

Total Species Recorded to Date: 63 (non-passerines 19, passerines 44)

Common Species: Mulga Parrot, White-eared Honeyeater, Weebill, Striated Pardalote, Willy Wagtail, Jacky Winter

Less Common Species: Purple-crowned Lorikeet, Rufous Treecreeper, Blue-breasted Fairywren, Striated Grasswren, Chestnut Quailthrush, Western Yellow Robin


Updated: 25/07/2021

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