On Saturday the 5th of October, you have the opportunity to join South Australia’s former Minister for the Environment and Water and Member for Black, David Speirs MP, for a walking tour of one of South Australia's newest national parks, Glenthorne National Park-Ityamaiitpinna Yarta.

Glenthorne is located approximately 17 kilometres south of Adelaide on Majors Road in O'Halloran Hill. The site has a fascinating and eclectic history having been the site of one of South Australia's earliest farms following European settlement, before playing a pivotal role in our state's contribution to World War One as a horse training facility, and then becoming a centre of scientific exploration under the CSIRO.

Following the CSIRO's closure in 1996, Glenthorne looked set to become a housing development, but the community rallied and saved it from urban sprawl when David Speirs became Environment Minister in 2018.

Since then, significant strides have been taken to revitalise the park as an environmental and recreational precinct, for people and for nature. The park features walking trails, wetlands, the state’s largest nature play space, and preserved heritage buildings.

Prepare to be awestruck by the scale of the gum trees, the presence of native flora and fauna and the extensiveness of the play space.

Departing from the Old Barn (located adjacent to the nature play area) at 2:30 PM, the walking tour will cover approximately three kilometres, along unsealed and undulating trails. Plenty of time has been allocated for questions and answers about the creation of the park and the history of the site.

There is no cost associated with this walk, however, bookings are required and can be made via the Nature Festival website. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.