Remotely situated in South Australia between the Great Victoria Desert and the large salt lakes of Eyre, Torrens and Gairdner, Bon Bon Station Reserve is a desert jewel that has created history with a landmark alliance with the Federal and South Australian governments to purchase and protect a 216,700 ha former sheep-grazing property near Coober Pedy in May 2008.
The acquisition of Bon Bon marks the first time a Commonwealth and state government have co-contributed to the establishment of a permanent private protected area at such a vast scale.
An enormous property, approximately the size of suburban Sydney, Bon Bon's scenic desert landscape is dotted with shimmering salt lakes, freshwater wetlands, mulga shrublands, bluebush plains, and arid-zone woodlands. These provide a rich diversity of habitats for the region's wildlife including species that are rare or threatened.
Bon Bon protects seven regional ecosystems, three of which are listed as threatened at the state level. It lies within a pastoral landscape, and safeguards ecosystems that are currently not well protected in other reserves. While Bon Bon is regarded as being among the most ecologically intact sheep-grazing properties in South Australia, some of its habitats will need to be actively restored. Returning them to health will help improve the resilience and productivity of this arid landscape and its importance for the local wildlife.
The acquisition of Bon Bon also complement Bush Heritage's existing arid-zone reserves, including the similarly vast Craven's Peak and Ethabuka reserves in Queensland.
Reserve Management
Baseline ecological information has been gathered by Bush Heritage staff and this information will be used to prepare an Interim Management Statement which guides the management of the reserve for the next 12-18 months. Participating in the South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resource Management Board.
Acknowledgement
Bush Heritage gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Australian Government’s National Reserve System Programme and the South Australian Government's Department for Environment and Heritage for assisting with the acquisition of this new reserve.
Page Last Updated: Monday 6 April 2009