Morialta Conservation Park

The park is in a rugged bush environment, with a narrow gorge set with three waterfalls, bounded by steep ridges and cliffs. The park caters to many activities, including bushwalking, bird watching and rock climbing. The name is probably derived from the Kaurna name Marriyarta, meaning "eastern land or country".

History

John Smith Reid who was a landholder in the area, is reported as offering to donate part of his land in 1911 to create a national reserve.[citation needed] Reid donated 218 hectares (540 acres) in 1913.[citation needed] On 15 July 1915, the land was declared a National Pleasure Resort under the National Pleasure Resorts Act 1914 with the name, Morialta Falls Reserve.[2] Much of the construction work in the National Pleasure Resort was begun in the 1920s and 1930s, although floods and bushfires have destroyed much of this original work. In 1966 additional property to the east was added. On 29 September 1966, a proclamation made under the Crown Lands Act 1929 resumed all of the land occupied by the National Pleasure Resort and then divided it into a reserve for "waterworks purposes" and a reserve with the name, the Morialta Falls National Pleasure Resort.[4] On 27 April 1972, the national pleasure resort was reconstituted under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 as the Morialta Conservation Park.

In 1980, it was listed on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate.

Major rebuilding was required after flooding in 1980, and flooding in November 2005 again caused damage to paths and walkways.

Address: Morialta Falls Rd, Woodforde SA 5072, Australia
Area: 5.33 km²
Hours: Open 24 hours