Waldegrave Islands Conservation Park

Waldegrave Islands Conservation Park
South Australia
Waldegrave Islands Conservation Park is located in South Australia
Waldegrave Islands Conservation Park
Waldegrave Islands Conservation Park
Nearest town or cityElliston[2]
Coordinates33°35′38″S 133°45′34″E / 33.59389°S 133.75944°E / -33.59389; 133.75944
Established16 March 1967[3]
Area3.94 km2 (1.5 sq mi)[4]
Managing authoritiesDepartment for Environment and Water
See alsoProtected areas of South Australia

Waldegrave Islands Conservation Park is a protected area located on the following islands within the Investigator Group in South Australia: the Waldegrave Island, Little Waldegrave Island and the Watchers (collectively known as the Waldegrave Islands in some sources).[2][5]

The conservation park is located off the west coast of Eyre Peninsula about 8.5 kilometres (5.3 miles) north-west of Elliston. The land under protection was first declared in 1967 as fauna conservation reserve under the Crown Lands Act 1929-1966, and was re-proclaimed in 1972 under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 to 'conserve Cape Barren geese (Cereopsis novaehollandiae) breeding habitat and Australian sea lion haul-out areas'.[3][6][5]

In 1980, the conservation park was described as follows:[7]

As two uninhabited offshore islands, this reserve is largely free of human interference and as such is an important breeding ground for such uncommon bird species as cape barren geese and white-breasted sea-eagles. Also present are ospreys, mutton birds, black tiger snakes and Rattus fuscipes…

Two offshore islands covered with a largely introduced flora of sage brush and boxthorn over a grass understorey. Only the coastal fringes retain a predominantly native vegetation of nitrebush and saltbush…

Though exhibiting a predominantly introduced flora, the Island is uninhabited and free of introduced terrestrial predators.

The conservation park is classified as an International Union for Conservation of Nature Category Ia protected area.[1] In 1980, it was listed on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b "Terrestrial Protected Areas of South Australia (refer 'DETAIL' tab )". CAPAD 2016. Australian Government, Department of the Environment (DoE). 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Search results for "Waldegrave Islands Conservation Park" with the following datasets selected – 'NPW and Conservation Properties', 'Suburbs and Localities', 'Hundreds' and 'Gazetteer'". Location SA Map Viewer. Government of South Australian. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b "CROWN LANDS ACT, 1929-1966: FAUNA CONSERVATION RESERVES DEDICATED" (PDF). THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. Government of South Australia. 16 March 1967. pp. 961–962. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Protected Areas Information System - reserve list (as of 17 Feb 2014)" (PDF). Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  5. ^ a b Anon (2006). Island Parks of Western Eyre Peninsula Management Plan (PDF). Adelaide: Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia. p. 5. ISBN 1-921238-18-6.
  6. ^ Robinson, A. C.; Canty, P.; Mooney, T.; Rudduck, P. (1996). "South Australia's offshore islands" (PDF). Australian Heritage Commission. pp. 186–189. ISBN 978-0-644-35011-2. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  7. ^ a b "Waldegrave Islands Conservation Park, Cape Finnis via Elliston, SA, Australia - listing on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate (Place ID 6679)". Australian Heritage Database. Australian Government. 21 October 1980. Retrieved 5 March 2019.