Conservation and Recreation

The cause of environmental conservation has a long history of support by a few South Australians, but there was little effective action by governments until the 1940s. After the world's first national park was created at Yellowstone in the USA in 1872, small groups of people in Sydney and Adelaide sought to extend the national park concept to Australia. In 1879, the world's second national park was dedicated on land south of Sydney and later named Royal National Park. South Australia soon followed the New South Wales example. After a prolonged and lively controversy concerning its intended alienation as working men's blocks, the Government Farm at Belair was made a national park on 19 December 1891. It was the second national park in Australia and the eighth in the world. Now known as Belair Recreation Park it is visited by an estimated half a million people annually.

It took almost another thirty years of lobbying by the Royal Society of South Australia to persuade reluctant politicians to set aside in 1919, a native fauna and flora reserve on the western end of Kangaroo Island. The island offered a unique opportunity for reserving a sanctuary, as it was free from the introduced rabbit and fox. The 53,000 hectare reserve, later enlarged to 59,000 hectares, became known as Flinders Chase.

The difficulties faced by farmers in the marginal agricultural lands in the 1930s prompted an official reappraisal of the remaining uncleared areas of mallee scrub. By the 1940s politicians were more readily persuaded to reserve from alienation - albeit temporarily - large areas of scrub in the Murray Mallee and Eyre Peninsula. These included Billiatt, Hambidge and Hincks reserves. Although the improved farming outlook in the 1950s brought strong pressures from the farmers for resuming these lands of agriculture, most areas survived and were incorporated in 1962 under the management of a statutory authority, the Commissioners of National Parks and Wildlife Reserves.

The years 1962-72 saw a remarkable expansion in the numbers and areas of conservation reserves in South Australia. The number of parks and reserves rose from nineteen to ninety-five during this period, while the area involved rose from 233,000 hectares to 3 546,000 hectares. In 1972 the National Parks and Wildlife Act established the South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service as the authority responsible for the development and management of parks and reserves, and the protection of native vegetation and wildlife throughout the State. By late 1985, more than 6.5 million hectares (6.6% of the total area of South Australia) had been declared in 220 reserves. They fall into four categories:

National parks (12) are areas judged to be of national significance in terms of their natural landscape features or wildlife. Informal camping areas are provided, but large-scale caravan parks are not seen as appropriate. Visitors are encouraged to camp and to enjoy a relaxed holiday.

Conservation parks (183) are areas with valuable wildlife or interesting natural features. They are intended to be enjoyed by day-visitors on foot. Although camping is allowed in some parks, facilities for visitors are kept to a minimum.

Recreation parks (15) are managed primarily for public recreation in pleasant surroundings with some native vegetation. Sporting facilities such as tennis courts, ovals and golf-courses are developed, and areas are available for picnics.

Game reserves (10) are areas of land and water for the conservation of native game species such as ducks and quail. Shooting of specified species is permitted during a restricted open season.

The map shows the twelve Aquatic reserves administered by the South Australian Department of Fisheries.

The diversity of landscapes and habitats within the State's system of reserves is considerable, ranging from the forested high rainfall areas of the Mount Lofty Ranges to the arid sand dunes of the Simpson Desert. The system preserves a variety of the most spectacular geological features of the State such as Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges National Park, Remarkable Rocks in the Flinders Chase National Park and limestone caves at Naracoorte Caves Conservation Park. Many private rural landowners now participate in the State's conservation programme though a vegetation retention scheme which provides fencing subsidies and rate relief to landowners who enter into Heritage Agreements to retain and manage areas of native vegetation.

Only a few examples of the many diverse forms of recreation and tourism can be depicted in this atlas. For the active and adventurous person, approximately 1300 kilometres of walking trails are maintained by the Department of Recreation and Sport. In particular, the Heysen Trail, which will ultimately traverse Kangaroo Island and then extend from Cape Jervis to the North Flinders Ranges, is becoming recognised as one of the world's classic long distance walks. The first section of 9 kilometres was opened in the Cleland Conservation Park in 1976. Since then the route has been extended, generally in areas of attractive scenery close to roads and settlements. As far as practicable the trail lies across public lands, but indemnity agreements have been entered into with private landowners to allow passage by walkers across some private property.

Holiday homes in South Australia are concentrated in three distinct clusters - on Fleurieu Peninsula, along the lower River Murray, and on Yorke Peninsula - a pattern which reflects the attractions of water-based recreation activities such as surfing, boating, swimming and fishing. As most owners of second homes are Adelaide residents there is an emphasis on waterside location within easy access of Adelaide.

In 1983-84, an estimated 129,000 international and 856,000 interstate tourists visited South Australia for 8.6 million nights and spent $315 million during their stay. In addition, an estimated 3.3 million tourist trips were made by South Australians within the State.

Adelaide is clearly a dominant attraction for visitors from beyond the State. Other districts which are most frequently visited, principally by day-trippers, are the Mount Lofty Ranges, Fleurieu Peninsula, the winemaking districts of the Barossa Valley and the Southern Vales, and the three towns of the former 'Copper Triangle' - Moonta, Kadina and Wallaroo. The more spectacular scenery of the Flinders Ranges, Kangaroo Island and the coast of Eyre Peninsula attracts visitors during extended holiday periods.