Red Gum Native Forest Reserves - ForestrySA

3.1.1 Acquisition and Name
Round Waterhole NFR
17
The Lands Department purchased sections 330-342 Hd of Penola on 9.8.44 for
pasture development. Because this land adjoined the Penola Forest Reserve, and
the Woods and Forests Department at that time was seeking additional suitable land
to expand its pine plantations, this area was purchased from the Lands Department
on 6.3.45 for $15.89 per hectare. The land was gazetted as Forest Reserve on
20.2.47.
Section 345 was purchased from J.R. Rymill on 4.12.41 and gazetted as Forest
Reserve on 12.3.42.
Muddy Flat NFR
Details on the original survey diagram book are difficult to interpret and indicate that
Section 196, Hd of Nangwarry was gazetted as Forest Reserve either in 1910 or
1930. Information is not readily available to identify the former lessee, however there
is some local opinion suggesting that this land formerly part of “Krongart” was
repurchased from David Skene.
The derivation of the names used to identify these Reserves is as follows:
Round Waterhole refers to that physical feature constructed by horse-drawn scoop
to provide stock-water at least as long ago as the early 1940s. This Reserve was
previously known within ForestrySA as The Horseshoe due to the shape of the
surrounding plantations..
Muddy Flat refers to the nature of the physical environment, a flat sand-plain which
becomes wet and muddy as a result of winter rainfall.
3.2 Historical Impacts
3.2.1 Grazing
It is recorded that fifty-six horses grazed Sections 330-342 in an agreement with the
Minister of Agriculture to agist starving stock from Karoonda and Halidon from
21.12.44 to 14.5.45. A local resident Mr. H. G. Kowalick cared for these horses.
Apart from that and some recent sheep grazing on those small open areas adjoining
the main road at Muddy Flat NFR, there has been no grazing on either Reserve since
purchase by ForestrySA.
3.2.2 Timber Production
Red gum trees were cut from Muddy Flat NFR and surrounding areas to produce
wooden street pavers in the early 1900s. (Pannell pers. comm. 2000)
“Tarred hardwood blocks were used to pave roads in Adelaide and suburbs from 1908
until 1925 with construction peaking in 1918…. Jarrah from Western Australia and
Stringybark and Redgum from the Adelaide Hills and the South-East of the State were
used” (Morton. P. 1996).
Final Plan – February 2001