Roonka Conservation Park

Where is it?: Roonka Conservation Park is on the western side the Murray River off the Blanchetown-Morgan Road about 5km N of Blanchetown.

Owner: Department for Environment and Water.

Property summary: Total area 102 hectares. Hundred of Hay – Sections 4 and 51.

Landscape Management Region: Murraylands and Riverland

History: This park was proclaimed on 27 July 19782.

At Roonka a long-term collaborative research project with the South Australian Museum addresses prehistoric Aboriginal social complexity, diet, health and landscape use in the lower Murray River region of South Australia. The Roonka archaeological site, located near Blanchetown, South Australia, provides evidence of hunter-gatherer lifeways spanning at least the past 18,000 years 3.

Habitat:  Near the River Murray there is River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis var. camaldulensis) and River Box (E. largiflorens). Understorey plants include Common Reed (Phragmites australis) and Lignum (Duma florulenta).

Total Species Recorded to Date: 55 (non-passerines 29, passerines 26)

Common Species: Little Black Cormorant, Sacred Kingfisher, Yellow Rosella, Welcome Swallow, Dusky Woodswallow

Less Common Species: Black-faced Cuckooshrike, Black-fronted Dotterel, White-winged Fairywren, Red-rumped Parrot, Rufous Songlark


References:
 1 Department for Environment and Water. (2019). Protected Areas Information System. Property Summary Report. 30 March 2019. p. 74.  

 2 Government of South Australia. National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1972-1978: Roonka Conservation Park Constituted. The South Australian Government Gazette. 34: 281. (27 July 1978) 

 3 Pate, F.D. (2000). Bone chemistry and palaeodiet: Bioarchaeological research at Roonka Flat, lower Murray River, South Australia 1983 – 1999. Australian Archaeology 50: 67-74. 


Updated: 27/07/2021

 

Download the bird list