Get to know Adelaide’s newest national park

Did you know there’s a new national park being created in Adelaide’s southern suburbs?

The 208-hectare Glenthorne property used to be a working farm but is being converted into an exciting national park where people can connect with nature.

It will join a precinct of existing parks and open spaces in Adelaide’s south that will span almost 1500 hectares, which is bigger than Belair National Park.

In April and October last year, more than 3000 people flocked to the Glenthorne property on Majors Road at O’Halloran Hill to help shape the future of Glenthorne National Park. They gave feedback about incorporating things like nature play and education, nature for physical and social health, mental health and wellbeing, Kaurna culture, native flora and fauna, and history and heritage.

These ideas are another step closer to being realised, with the Glenthorne property and adjacent O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park officially proclaimed as Glenthorne National Park—Ityamaiitpinna Yarta this week.

If you're interested in learning how to pronounce the park's name and the meaning behind it, you're in luck, audio and video resources are currently being developed and will be available soon on the Glenthorne website.

Other nearby parks and open spaces will join the Glenthorne National Park precinct, but will keep their existing names. These areas include Hallett Cove Conservation Park, Marino Conservation Park, and also Happy Valley Reservoir which is set to open its gates to recreation by the end of 2021.

When can I visit?

In the meantime, demolition work is underway on the former Glenthorne property to make way for the eventual construction of the Glenthorne Hub area, which will include a space for education, learning and social connection and learning about Kaurna culture and history. Heritage precincts will also be established, and also a nature play and picnic area.

What else is in store for Glenthorne?

Also in the pipeline is an upgrade to Majors Road, establishment of vehicle access and parking, the planting of almost 36,000 native plants across 10 hectares of the park, the construction of the Glenthorne Hub area, establishment of the heritage precinct, picnic and nature play space, camping area, pond area, interpretation and wayfinding – including Kaurna cultural interpretation, a trail network and lookouts, a wetland area and boardwalks, and a plan to use and re-use water sustainably.

This work was all earmarked in the master plan that was developed as a result of the community feedback received at last year’s open days, and is being worked on by a group of community members known as the Glenthorne Partnership who are working closely with the Department for Environment and Water.

How can I be part of the creation Glenthorne National Park—Ityamaiitpinna Yarta?

If you’d like to roll up your sleeves and lend a hand, you may be interested in joining the Glenthorne Action Team – a dedicated volunteer program that has been established across the precinct.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteer events have been placed on hold for the time being, but you can still register to be the first to know when the program re-starts.

You can also subscribe to bi-monthly updates via the Glenthorne National Park e-newsletter.

Find out theresults of Glenthorne’s recent water surveyand get to knowGlenthorne Senior Ranger Bec Brown.