HomeColonial Track History

Colonial Track Project History

The Colonial Track site has a long and varied history. Grazing was allowed in this area for many years. A number of different community groups have worked to restore the habitat in this location.

The project has been worked on by the Friends of Black Hill and Morialta members since 2016.

heath tea-tree
(Leptospermum myrsinoides)

erect guinea flower
(Hibbertia riparia)

bluegrass lily
(Caesia calliantha)

nodding greenhood
(Pterostylis nutans)

Gate 12 to Gate 13 on Colonial Drive

Circa 2000 An “Our Patch” site was created by Norton Summit school for weed control/tree planting near gate 12.
2013 Fourth Creek catchment Group took over “The Patch” as the school no longer worked there.
2014-21 Fourth Creek catchment Group expanded the site to include “The Strip” which is the area between Colonial Track and the Creekline.
2017 Contractors commenced watsonia removal using Dalapon.
2018 FOBHM commence weed sweeps.
2019-21 FOBHM weed sweeps continue.

Gate 13 to Gate 14 on Colonial Drive

Circa mid 1990’s Departmental Staff fenced the area between the creek and the road and goats were introduced for a number of years to control blackberry. Tree planting performed along adjacent creek flats.
1994 Gate 14. Contractors commenced work on major muraltia infestation.
2017 NRM District Officer commenced an Ornithogalum control program beside creekline.
2017 Fire Management Unit undertook a controlled burn in Spring.
2018 Contractors commenced watsonia removal using Dalapon.
2018 FOBHM commence weed sweeps.
2019 First FOBHM bushcare event.
2019 Fire Management Unit, Fourth Creek Catchment group, Track Volunteer crew, YATZ (Youth at the Zoo) and Uni SA Outdoor Education team came through to help with the post fire removal of broom. Substantial in-roads made into eliminating broom from this area.
2019-21 FOBHM weed sweeps continue.

Before image - 2019 post fire management of broom Gate 13 to 14

After image - 2019 post fire management of broom Gate 13 to 14

Gorse Corner – the area opposite Heysen trail Bootscraper across the creek from gate 14

2005-21 FOBHM individual works to remove many Gorse from this area. Since then patrolled for seedlings outside scheduled events.
2018 Contractors commenced watsonia removal using Dalapon on high side of Colonial Track.

Green Army site upstream from M09 to Bootscraper

Circa 2000 Tree planting.
2015 Willow eradication scheme commenced.
2016-21 Yearly willow followup sweeps commenced by FOBHM, still continued.
2017 FOBHM Green Army worked through this site removing broom and gorse.
2018 Contractors commenced watsonia removal using Dalapon on high side of Colonial Track.
2019 Contractors commenced watsonia removal using Dalapon on low side of Colonial Track.
2020 Trail Runners SA (TRSA) commenced working through this site removing woody weeds with a strong focus on broom.
2021-22 TRSA weed sweeps continue.

Before image - August 2021 seedling broom TRSA team event

After image - August 2021 TRSA event, Green Army upstream site

M09 – Also known as Pine Corner

Circa mid 1990s Parks removed Pine plantation from this site.
Circa mid 1990s Parks removed dam in creek 200m downstream from pines.
2004 Major Muraltia site treated by contractors.
2016 Willow eradication scheme commenced.
2017-21 Yearly willow followup sweeps commenced by FOBHM, still continue.
2017 FOBHM Green Army worked through this site removing broom and gorse.
2017 University of South Australia's Outdoor Education program has performed follow-up work through this area every year since 2017.
2018 Contractors commenced watsonia removal using Dalapon on high side of Colonial Track.
2019 First FOBHM community bushcare event.
2019 Contractors commenced watsonia removal using Dalapon on low side of Colonial Track.
2020-21 FOBHM community bushcare events.

Before image - September 2019 M09 broom works

After image - December 2021 M09

Green Army site downstream from M09 to Third Falls Track.

2016 Willow eradication scheme commenced.
2017-21 Yearly willow followup sweeps commenced by FOBHM, still continued.
2017 FOBHM Green Army worked through this site removing broom and gorse.
2017-21 University of South Australia's Outdoor Education program has performed follow-up work through this area every year since 2017. In 2021 they commenced hand removal of watsonia.
2017 Contractors commenced watsonia removal using Dalapon.
2018 Contractors commenced watsonia removal using Dalapon on high side of Colonial Track.

Last major flood event September 2016.
Muraltia works have been performed on and off as funding permits through the entire area since 1994.

short-beaked echinda
green army upstream site, April 2018

eastern bearded dragon
gate 13 to 14 site, November 2019

superb fairywren
M09, November 2020