Mark Oliphant Conservation Park

Where is it?: The park is between Upper Sturt and Aldgate. Scott Creek Road forms the SE boundary and Evans Drive dissects the park and also forms part of the northern boundary where it meets Scott Creek Road.

Owner: Department for Environment and Water.

Property summary: Total area 190 hectares – Hundred of Noarlunga – Sections 1557, 1558, 1663 and 1681, Allotments 3 and 205.

Landscape Management Region: Hills and Fleurieu

History: The Loftia recreation zone of the park was first developed and used for public recreation in the 1930s. It was acquired by the Young Men’s Christian Association of Adelaide Incorporated (YMCA) in 1945 and used as a camp for their members until 1953. The YMCA then offered the area to the Government to be retained as a National Pleasure Resort. In 1953 Loftia National Park was dedicated under the control of the National Parks Commission. In 1972 the National Parks and Wildlife Act was passed and the park was renamed Loftia Recreation Park. The park was expanded in 1992 and 1995, and renamed in 1996 in recognition of its conservation values and to honour physicist and humanitarian Sir Mark Oliphant’s contribution to conservation.

Habitat: The majority of the park is sclerophyll forest with messmate stringybark (Eucalyptus obliqua)  and  pink gum (E. fasciculosa). In some locations it is associated with cup gum (E. cosmophylla). The understorey contains needle bush (Hakea rostrata), silver banksia (Banksia marginata), native cherry (Exoxcarpos cupressiformis) and fire-weed (lxodia achillaeoides). On the lower slopes there are scattered individuals of South Australian blue gum (E. leucoxylon) along with golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha) and guinea-flowers (Hibbertia exutiacies).

More information: DEWNR

Total Species Recorded to Date: 73 (non-passerines 28, passerines 45)

Common Species: White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairywren, New Holland Honeyeater, Crescent Honeyeater, Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Brown Thornbill, Australian Golden Whistler, Grey Fantail, Silvereye

Less Common Species: Eastern Rosella, Buff-rumped Thornbill, Willie Wagtail


Updated: 25/07/2021