Interpretive Signs at West Beach & Henley Beach

Our March 2014 newsletter (No.409) reported the installation of 3 interpretive signs at West Beach & Henley Beach – see “MDC information signs”.

According to the report, the signs were sponsored by our Society by way of a grant to the Marine Discovery Centre at the Star of the Sea School at Henley Beach.

The 3 signs were located at:

1. The West Beach Surf Life Saving Club

2. The beach end of Marlborough Steet, Henley Beach

3. The Henley Sailing Club

These were the designs and locations of the 3 signs at that time (2014).

Note that each sign features our Society’s leafy seadragon logo, along with the logos of several other organisations.

Our April 2024 newsletter (No.410) featured this photo of then Society President, Philip Hall, and Tim Hoile, then Director of the Marine Discovery Centre, shaking hands at the site of the sign at the beach end of Marlborough Street: –

That newsletter also featured another photo of the sign: –

According to the April 2014 newsletter, “The Marlborough St sign is the closest sign for the 7,000 Marine Discovery Centre visitors per annum.  The project promotes catchment to coast issues, including biodiversity and ecosystem restoration and catchment management. This includes improved environmental behaviours of our community.

The West Beach Surf Lifesaving Club sign highlights coastal issues, waves, tides and currents. The Henley Sailing Club sign features important information about coastal dunes and how they need protection.

The Marlborough St sign features seagrasses and stormwater, and promote ways in which the general community can help. Activities which assist our catchments, such as recycling, fixing car oil leaks and using lawn clippings for mulch are promoted.

Partners in the Marine Discovery Centre signs include Marine Life Society of SA (MLSSA), the Adelaide Airport, the City of Charles Sturt, the EPA, Landcare and Coastcare.”

According to Tim Hoile at the time, the signs were known as Seaweek Coastal Signs (for “Seaweek 2014). He told us that Kelly Mader, NRM Project Officer from the City of Charles Sturt had requested that the MDC manage the development and design of the signs. Each sign was installed at a prominent place in consultation with the Council. Our leafy seadragon logo was positioned in the most prominent position.

It was also suggested at the time that MLSSA would gain:

 promotion from the MDC website – number 1 (Google) in the world for “Marine Centre”

 an invitation to the End-of Year Sponsorship Celebration

 appreciation in the community as an organisation with high integrity

It was also stated that the MDC continues to strive to provide the “world’s best interactive marine science learning experience.”

I recently revisted the area to check on the signs. I parked my car in Marlborough Street, right outside the MDC, where I found this additional sign: –

This sign was one of the many bonuses that I found on the day.

I then found the sign that is located at the beach end of Marlborough Street: –

There was another bonus to be found there in the way of some leafy seadragon mosaic artwork on the rock behind the sign: –

I subesquently found lots more mosaic artwork on beach rocks between Marlborough Street and the Henley jetty. I have posted details about these at The Mosaic Sea Creature Trail at Henley Beach – Marine Life Society of South Australia Inc.

I was later able to photograph the sign at the Henley Sailing Club: –

I didn’t get as far as the West Beach Surf Life Saving Club though due to my confusion about the location.

There are several other signs along the area, plus other works of art: –

I have found some information about the MDC’s interpretive signage online at https://www.marinediscoverycentre.com.au/education/interpretive-signage

I also found a list of “Coastal Interpretive Signage Locations” within the City of Charles Sturt (southern boundary to northern boundary) at

https://www.marinediscoverycentre.com.au/__files/d/12992/MDCSignLocations.pdf 

I was particularly hoping to find the two signs at Henley Square listed as items 7 at https://www.marinediscoverycentre.com.au/__files/d/12992/MDCSignLocations.pdf but I could not find those two at all. I have asked the Council to look into the matter for me.

This is one of those two signs: –

Most of the signs on the list can be seen at https://www.marinediscoverycentre.com.au/education/interpretive-signage , including a couple of signs that are not within the Charles Sturt Council area: –

The Witton Bluff sign references our Society, our old website and it features four MLSSA images at the bottom RHS.

The webpage at https://www.marinediscoverycentre.com.au/education/interpretive-signage  features 3 signs about the Tennyson Dunes, including this one: –

These Tennyson Dunes signs can probably be seen during the Tennyson Dunes Open Day being held on 19th October 2025. Our Society will have a display at the open day. Some excellent video footage by our members will be on show.

Please try to visit some of these signs and artwork soon.