History of the Hallett Cove Conservation Park

 

The area was previously inhabited by Aboriginal groups for tens of thousands of years. The Aboriginal camping area at the Cove covers many (hectares), and is the largest and possibly the oldest in the vicinity of Adelaide (Cooper, p.24). The large number and range of stone implements found at the site indicate a long period of Aboriginal occupation. Large and crude stone implements lay on an old land surface buried beneath marine sediments of younger age, confirming they belonged to the ancient Kartan Culture. The most recent occupants were the Kaurna Tribe. These implements are now housed at the South Australian Museum.

The Park was named after John Hallett, who arrived in South Australia on 6 November 1936 in the Africaine. Entering the area in 1837 while looking for missing stock, he then took up land for grazing. Consequently the area was known as Hallett’s Cove.

From colonisation until the 1960s, the area was farmed and grazed. For a short time, mining occurred nearby.

Ruins

The precious geological significance was realised by Professor Ralph Tate in 1877, when he discovered glacial striations, or scratching, along the exposed siltstones of the coastal cliff tops. It was later revealed that these markings were made by the extensive Permian ice sheet that covered much of Gondwana, the Southern Hemisphere supercontinent, 270 million years ago.

In 1958 the National Trust expressed its desire to preserve by purchase 1.3 hectares of land along the cliff-top, containing the exposed glacial pavements. In 1965 this protracted process was legislated, with the Trust owning in total 3.54 hectares. The area was called Sandison Reserve after George Sandison, who had helped with negotiations to acquire the land.

During the two decades up to 1976, fierce community lobbying, involving all levels of government, culminated in the declaration of the 51 hectare Conservation Park and saved the area from destruction through urban development. Present and future generations will now benefit scientifically and recreationally from those efforts.

Farmhouse Ruins

Farmhouse ruins within Hallett Cove Conservation Park 2012

Further Reading

Cooper, H M et al (1970): Hallett Cove, a Field Guide , South Australian Museum, Adelaide.

Giesecke, R (Ed., 1999): A Field Guide to the Geology of Hallett Cove, Field Geology Club of SA.

Dolling, A (1981): The History of Marion on the Sturt, Peacock Publications.

Hallett Cove and Marino conservation Parks Management Plan (2010), SA Dept. for Environment and Heritage, Adelaide.

 
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