A southern hairy-nosed wombat has been spotted in South Australia's north, believed to be the first sighting of the creature in the area in more than 50 years.

Andamooka resident Katalin Wilby said she and her son spotted it about 15 kilometres out of Andamooka about a week ago, as they were driving home from Roxby Downs.

"I was quite surprised to see it wandering around, it looked quite happy, it didn't look disturbed or anything, it just looked like it was doing its normal wombat thing," Ms Wilby said.

She said she has lived around Roxby Downs all her life but has never seen a wombat in the area.

"Being a Friday night we went down to the local for a few drinks, we mentioned that we saw a wombat and I showed them the photo and a couple of old regulars said over 50 years ago there were wombats in the area, so it was news to me."

Southern hairy-nosed wombat facts It is one of three species of wombat

It is one of three species of wombat It can grow to be as heavy as 32kg yet is capable of reaching speeds of 40kph

It can grow to be as heavy as 32kg yet is capable of reaching speeds of 40kph Southern hairy-nosed wombats are listed as endangered

Ms Wilby said locals would be keeping an eye out for more after this sighting.

"I think it's important to keep the wildlife around that is around, so, if it's wombats, then that's who we're looking out for," she said.

Dr Kath Tuft from nearby nature reserve, Arid Recovery, said she was shocked to hear about the native animal's appearance in the area.

"I nearly fell over when I heard the news, we only know of wombats over 130km to our west and 300km away to the south, so it's a pretty surprising scene," she said.

She said she did not know where it could have come from.

"It seems that they might be sort of expanding, spreading out from the areas that they're known from, so this one might have gone for a really long walk.

"There might be more out there, or one possibility is that occasionally people do keep them as pets, they get young ones and when they get a bit big and boisterous they let them go, so it could be one of those."

But Dr Tuft said it was good news, and researchers have already been in touch to find out more.

"I think wombats face a different set of challenges so they're not affected as much by feral cats and foxes, more around run-ins with people that don't want them on their land, so it's really good to see them expanding," she said.

Southern hairy-nosed wombats are usually found in the southern coastal region of South Australia and the south-eastern corner of Western Australia.

They are listed as an endangered species.