Belair National Park
Encyclopedia
Belair
National Park (formerly known as Belair Recreation Park) is a national park in South Australia
(Australia
), 13 km south of Adelaide, covering an 835ha area. It was proclaimed in 1891 and was the first National Park in South Australia, second in Australia (after Sydney's Royal National Park
which was proclaimed in 1879) and the tenth in the world. The park lies within the Adelaide Hills and Mitcham council area, and forms part of a chain of national park reserves located along the Adelaide Hills Face Zone
. The Belair National Park is administrated by the Department for Environment and Heritage
.
The Belair National Park has excellent recreation and social facilities within on outdoor environment. There are many areas of interest within the park, including Old Government House
, the park Nursery, Playford Lake and the Adventure Playground. It has numerous tennis courts and ovals, and has walking, bike and horse-riding trails. The park has an outstanding presentation of the State’s native fauna, attracting visitors, showcasing the State’s park system and contributing to the community awareness of the natural environment. Some species of fauna commonly encountered in the park include the Southern Brown Bandicoot
, Tawny Frogmouth
, Brown Tree Frog
and Shingleback Lizard.
The first Europe
an people traversed the Belair area in 1837. In 1840, Governor Gawler
raised a government farm on which sick horses and bullocks from government departments could be agisted. In 1881, a proposal was put forward for small agricultural holdings and also, the park was dedicated, making it the first National Park in South Australia. Many exotic and non-indigenous plants were introduced and are now found in the park as weeds. Numerous native plants, such as Cootamundra wattle
, have become environmental weeds after being introduced into areas outside their natural range.
The Belair National Park has suffered major disturbance to its natural ecosystems and natural vegetation communities through the accidental invasion of non-indigenous plants as well as the deliberate introduction of exotic and non-indigenous plants to certain zones within the park.
Wood Duck Dawdle
A short circuit around Playford Lake.
Lorikeet Loop Walk
A 3km circuit walk from the main car park to the Adventure Playground.
Valley Loop Walk
A 3km circuit walk to Long Gully.
Microcarpa Walk
A 4km circuit departing from near Playford Lake.
Waterfall Hike
The park's best walk. A 6.5 km circuit that visits the park's waterfalls and travels
to the higher areas away from the recreation areas.
Yurrebilla Trail
The first 5km of the Yurrebilla Trail
is in the Belair National Park. It begins at the Belair railway station and continues toward the Lower Waterfall before departing the
park at the Sheoak Road boundary.
Belair, South Australia
Belair is a suburb situated in the southern foothills of Adelaide, South Australia.-Geography:A leafy suburb, Belair was established during the settlement of Adelaide as a source of timber. Parts of Belair have views of the city of Adelaide, the Adelaide Plains and the coast...
National Park (formerly known as Belair Recreation Park) is a national park in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
(Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
), 13 km south of Adelaide, covering an 835ha area. It was proclaimed in 1891 and was the first National Park in South Australia, second in Australia (after Sydney's Royal National Park
Royal National Park
Royal National Park is a national park in New South Wales, Australia, 29 km south of Sydney CBD.Founded by Sir John Robertson, Acting Premier of New South Wales, and formally proclaimed on 26 April 1879, it is the world's second oldest purposed national park, the first usage of the term...
which was proclaimed in 1879) and the tenth in the world. The park lies within the Adelaide Hills and Mitcham council area, and forms part of a chain of national park reserves located along the Adelaide Hills Face Zone
Hills Face Zone
The Hills Face Zone is a large planning zone in Adelaide, South Australia. It restricts development in the Adelaide Foothills and Mount Lofty Ranges and extends from Gawler in the north to Sellicks Beach in the South. First suggested by the Liberal Playford Government in 1962, legislation was...
. The Belair National Park is administrated by the Department for Environment and Heritage
Department for Environment and Heritage
The Department for Environment and Natural Resources is a department of the Government of South Australia . It is responsible for protecting, conserving and managing South Australia's natural environment, and cultural heritage.-External links:* Government of South Australia...
.
The Belair National Park has excellent recreation and social facilities within on outdoor environment. There are many areas of interest within the park, including Old Government House
Old Government House, South Australia
The Old Government House of South Australia is a historic building located in Belair National Park. It was the summer residence of the Governor of South Australia from 1860-1880, and was used by governors Richard Graves MacDonnell and Dominick Daly...
, the park Nursery, Playford Lake and the Adventure Playground. It has numerous tennis courts and ovals, and has walking, bike and horse-riding trails. The park has an outstanding presentation of the State’s native fauna, attracting visitors, showcasing the State’s park system and contributing to the community awareness of the natural environment. Some species of fauna commonly encountered in the park include the Southern Brown Bandicoot
Southern Brown Bandicoot
The Southern Brown Bandicoot , also known as the Quenda from the local Noongar tongue from South Western Australia, is a short-nosed bandicoot found mostly in southern Australia....
, Tawny Frogmouth
Tawny Frogmouth
The Tawny Frogmouth is an Australian species of frogmouth, a type of bird found throughout the Australian mainland, Tasmania and southern New Guinea. The Tawny Frogmouth is often mistaken to be an owl...
, Brown Tree Frog
Brown Tree Frog
The Brown tree Frog, , also known as the Whistling Tree Frog, is a species of tree frog native to most of southern Victoria, eastern South Australia, southern New South Wales — from about Ulladulla , though there are reports of this species occurring further north — throughout Tasmania, including...
and Shingleback Lizard.
Weed invasion
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an people traversed the Belair area in 1837. In 1840, Governor Gawler
George Gawler
-External links: – Memorials and Monuments in Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK...
raised a government farm on which sick horses and bullocks from government departments could be agisted. In 1881, a proposal was put forward for small agricultural holdings and also, the park was dedicated, making it the first National Park in South Australia. Many exotic and non-indigenous plants were introduced and are now found in the park as weeds. Numerous native plants, such as Cootamundra wattle
Cootamundra wattle
Acacia baileyana, commonly known as Cootamundra Wattle, is a shrub or tree in the genus Acacia. The scientific name of the species honours the botanist Frederick Manson Bailey. It is indigenous to a small area of southern New South Wales in Australia, but it has been widely planted in other...
, have become environmental weeds after being introduced into areas outside their natural range.
The Belair National Park has suffered major disturbance to its natural ecosystems and natural vegetation communities through the accidental invasion of non-indigenous plants as well as the deliberate introduction of exotic and non-indigenous plants to certain zones within the park.
Walking Trails
A short circuit around Playford Lake.
Lorikeet Loop Walk
A 3km circuit walk from the main car park to the Adventure Playground.
Valley Loop Walk
A 3km circuit walk to Long Gully.
Microcarpa Walk
A 4km circuit departing from near Playford Lake.
Waterfall Hike
The park's best walk. A 6.5 km circuit that visits the park's waterfalls and travels
to the higher areas away from the recreation areas.
Yurrebilla Trail
The first 5km of the Yurrebilla Trail
Yurrebilla Trail
The Yurrebilla Trail is a walking trail passing through the Mount Lofty Ranges in the immediate vicinity of Adelaide, South Australia. It is named after the adopted indigenous moniker for the Greater Mount Lofty Parklands, itself an extension of the parklands around the city of Adelaide itself.The...
is in the Belair National Park. It begins at the Belair railway station and continues toward the Lower Waterfall before departing the
park at the Sheoak Road boundary.