Restoring the Grossmans Block: Breathing Life Back into the Southern Flinders

In the heart of South Australia, the Southern Flinders stretch from Beetaloo to Wilmington. It is a landscape of rugged peaks, winding gorges, and ancient woodlands. More than scenery, this region is alive with rare plants, unique animals, rich cultural heritage, and a growing tourism economy shaped by nature.

One of the newest pieces of this living puzzle is the Grossmans Block – 434 hectares now protected as part of the Southern Flinders Precinct Park Complex. Securing this land is a vital step in stitching the region’s ecosystems back together.

Why the Grossmans Block matters

For decades, Grossmans was worn down by grazing and cropping. Native plants were trampled, waterholes disturbed, and fragile soils left exposed. The damage spread beyond the property, fragmenting habitats and putting vulnerable species at risk.

Now that the land is under protection, those pressures have been lifted. The difference is already clear:

• 13 rare plant species are safeguarded.
• 9 conservation-listed animals now have secure habitat.
• The nationally significant Flinders Worm-lizard has a protected refuge.

The transformation has already begun. With stock removed, weeds controlled, and careful management in place, Grossmans is shifting from a degraded paddock to a thriving refuge. Looking ahead, the goal is to scale up restoration, expand habitat corridors, and strengthen First Nations partnerships across the region.

This is not just one patch of land saved. It is a critical link in restoring ecological connections across the Southern Flinders.

A mosaic of life

Grossmans is a patchwork of ecosystems. River Red Gums shade the creeks, rocky ridges hold native grasses and Yakka, and Blue Gum and Sheoak woodlands provide shelter for birds, reptiles, and small mammals. Even areas scarred by fire or grazing still hold the seeds of renewal.

These ecosystems include:

• River Red Gum creek lines, once overgrazed, now offering nesting space for woodland birds and shelter for reptiles.
• Blue Gum woodlands, beginning to rebound, providing food for small marsupials and pollinators.
• Sheoak and Blue Gum woodlands, among the most intact areas, rich with insects that sustain species like the diamond firetail.
• Open Blue Gum woodland, degraded but with strong potential to recover as habitat for the Flinders Worm-lizard.
• Mallee pockets, small in size yet vital for ground-dwelling fauna and nectar-feeding insects.
• Burnt Blue Gum and Sugar Gum woodland, recovering since the 2014 Bangor Fire, now offering food and perches for wedge-tailed eagles.
• Exotic grasslands, still dominated by non-native species, but with grazing removed they can regenerate into native habitat for small mammals and ground-nesting birds.

A Bushland Assessment in 2022 confirmed the importance of this diversity, identifying seven vegetation types and awarding the site 2,724.95 SEB (Significant Environmental Benefit) points. In simple terms, Grossmans is among the most valuable conservation land in the region. With grazing gone and good rains ahead, many of these areas will bounce back quickly, creating fresh shelter and food for wildlife.

Connecting the bigger picture

On the map, Grossmans sits beside Beetaloo Reservoir and on the edge of the newly created Wapma Thura–Southern Flinders Ranges National Park. Protecting this land:

• Closes gaps in habitat corridors.
• Links creek lines, woodlands, and ridges into one connected system.
• Places the block under the same protections as the wider park.

Strategic acquisitions like this do more than save individual sites. They turn scattered fragments into functioning landscapes.

A shared effort

Securing Grossmans was only possible through strong partnerships and major investment.

The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife contributed, enabling the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) to purchase the property. Covering 496.51 hectares across four parcels, the block is now protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 and will be managed by DEW for at least the next decade.

This project came to life thanks to the combined efforts of governments, councils, local organisations, and the Nukunu Wapma Thura Aboriginal Corporation. Together, they are shaping the Southern Flinders into a conservation stronghold and a destination for people who love nature.

Key partners include:

• The South Australian and Australian Governments
• Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife
• Northern Areas Council
• District Council of Mount Remarkable
• Port Pirie Regional Council
• Regional Development Australia Yorke and Mid-North
• Nukunu Wapma Thura Aboriginal Corporation

How you can help

Securing Grossmans was just the beginning. Real restoration takes patience, monitoring, and ongoing resources. You can play a part:

• Donate to support weed control, habitat recovery, and species surveys.
• Become a monthly donor to provide steady, reliable support.
• Spread the word so more people know why this land matters.

Every action helps turn Grossmans into a cornerstone of a thriving Southern Flinders Precinct.