Old Gold Coast Zoo - Coolangatta

[Naturelandkid]

Natureland Zoo, Coolangatta

Hope this might give a little insight into where the Natureland Zoo originated,

1948 - Balwyn Wildlife Sanctuary

This is an article about the Balwyn Wildlife Sanctuary. If you are interested there are a lot of historical photos from the zoo, construction and early PR, on the Remembering Natureland Zoo, Coolangatta Facebook page.

 

[Grant Rhino]

I'm currently holidaying on the Gold Coast, and I was just thinking today that the Gold Coast seems to have everything other than a zoo.

Does anyone know why there isn't one here? Or whether there were ever plans to build one? Obviously they have a few animals at the theme parks and a few Australian wildlife parks - but no major zoo with high profile exotic animals.

 

[Sunsetoaks]

It was actually located at Kirra - just inside the NSW border.

Prior to it opening there used to be a zoo in the grounds of the Coolangatta pub - before my time.

The chimps at Rockhampton came from Natureland Zoo at Kirra.

I still have some macaques that also came from there when it closed.

At one stage they even had Cape Hunting Dogs, Leopards, Entellus Langur and heaps of Macaws - including hybrids. The Macaws went to Broome and subsequently some returned to the East.

I could tell you many stories about the place but they might upset the forum nanny.

Might have to wait until I write the book!

Hi Steve do you have any info on the chimp occy that was at the zoo when it closed or Rocky the puma my dad Tom mason was a keeper there and we where wondering what happened to all the animals like Ben the grizzly bear thanks

 

[marmolady]

Chimpanzee Ockie lived at Rockhampton Zoo, but died a few years back.

 

[Zoofan15]

Cassius also came to Rockhampton Zoo from here. He was the half brother of Octavius (Ockie).

Cassius is a nephew of Shiba at Taronga Zoo, despite being several years old than her (Mary was Susie's eldest offspring and was born 1960; Shiba was her youngest and was born 1981):

Susie > Mary > Cassius
Susie > Shiba

 

[Jake]

Did they have any reptiles?

 

[Zorro]

Not that I can remeber

 

[Jake]

Not that I can remeber

Ok thanks 4 that

 

[Hix]

I don't remember reptiles being held there either. Or birds.



Hix

 

[Benjamin John]

It was actually located at Kirra - just inside the NSW border.

Prior to it opening there used to be a zoo in the grounds of the Coolangatta pub - before my time.

The chimps at Rockhampton came from Natureland Zoo at Kirra.

I still have some macaques that also came from there when it closed.

At one stage they even had Cape Hunting Dogs, Leopards, Entellus Langur and heaps of Macaws - including hybrids. The Macaws went to Broome and subsequently some returned to the East.

I could tell you many stories about the place but they might upset the forum nanny.

Might have to wait until I write the book!

Hi Steve did you end up writing your book? I have a few questions about thew big cats being bred in the old zoo at Kirra. I live around the corner and have a little project I'm working on and found it hard to track down people who know anything about this place.

 

[Steve Robinson]

Or birds.

Did you not remember the Macaws? Nice long flight aviaries - probably the best enclosures in the place.

 

[Steve Robinson]

Hi Steve did you end up writing your book? I have a few questions about thew big cats being bred in the old zoo at Kirra. I live around the corner and have a little project I'm working on and found it hard to track down people who know anything about this place.

No book yet - I've still got a few chapters to live before I can start writing it. And then it will probably have to be published as fiction. Some of it would be unbelievable to today's young experts.

Sorry I haven't replied to your email yet. I've been out of action for a while and am only slowly catching up on a lot of things. It seems that, for every email that I catch up on, another dozen or so take it's place.

 

[Benjamin John]

No book yet - I've still got a few chapters to live before I can start writing it. And then it will probably have to be published as fiction. Some of it would be unbelievable to today's young experts.

Sorry I haven't replied to your email yet. I've been out of action for a while and am only slowly catching up on a lot of things. It seems that, for every email that I catch up on, another dozen or so take it's place.

No problems at all Steve I know what its like to keep filling up the day to a point where catching up with everything else is near impossible. If it's easier I'd be happy to just have a brief chat over the phone sometime that suits you rather than putting an email together. I'm very interested in the old zoo at Kirra and the stories I've heard there. You seem to also carry a bit of knowledge on it which is why I'm pestering you with my questions
Believe me some of the stuff I've heard and uncovered with some of the zoos around the country nothing would surprise me. Let me know if you'd be open to a chat sometime. And thanks for the reply.

 

[Hix]

Did you not remember the Macaws? Nice long flight aviaries - probably the best enclosures in the place.

Nope. Don't remember any birds. Just a bunch of primates in roughly square wire enclosures with concrete bases, and larger but similar enclosures with the bears.



Hix

 

[Benjamin John]

No book yet - I've still got a few chapters to live before I can start writing it. And then it will probably have to be published as fiction. Some of it would be unbelievable to today's young experts.

Sorry I haven't replied to your email yet. I've been out of action for a while and am only slowly catching up on a lot of things. It seems that, for every email that I catch up on, another dozen or so take it's place.

I spoke with an old employee who worked at both Currumbin Sanctuary and Fleays Wildlife Sanctuary two days ago. He was telling me when the park closed down he could see over the fence that there were animals still living in there and the conditions were a shambles. He would stand on the top of his van parked next to the fence and look in which he did on a regular basis because he lived close by and loved animals. I won't go into his story but he believes some of the animals may have escaped or were potentially released due to their poor condition. He witnessed something himself around the same time. I will be digging around some more on this place which is why it'd be great to chat with you. Happy to share some anecdotes I find to contribute to your project. I've been meaning to bring the wife and kids for a road trip up to your zoo at some stage as they keep pestering me. Lets talk soon, my phone number should be in my email.

 

[steveroberts]

 

[Benjamin John]

[/QUOTE

What a great find. Still can't ever imagine a zoo being there. I live on top of the hill next to it and my 90 year neighbour who's lived here her whole life says she could hear the lions roaring some nights. Some great history here.

 

[steveroberts]

@Benjamin John

Thanks man. Saw the video in January or February. Its good to see the animals (especially ones no longer in the region like Papuan Singing Dogs etc) could comment on the enclosures being small, although it was the 1970s so was still the norm with a few exceptions at the time.

@Steve Robinson

That's something am looking forward to someday in the future your book, will be so fascinating a read am certain. Thanks for bringing Leopards and De Brazzas' back to Australia with Canberra and Launceston (and other species too, was late on reading about it but the big Zebra import).

 

[Zoofan15]

@Zoofan15

Hey have you guys seen this. NG wild dogs too cool hey.

Not to go off topic but I was surprised the amount and range of animal species they had for a small zoo which I believe straddled both sides of the NSW/Qld boarder!

What an incredible collection (especially of primates) with Mandrill, Chimpanzee, Chacma baboon, spider monkeys and macaques. It’s hard to imagine Chacma baboon (a species that is now non-existent in Australasia) was once wide-spread across zoos and circuses in the region.

Other notable species included Giraffe Jaguar, Ocelot, lions, tigers and bears.

 

[Zorro]

What an incredible collection (especially of primates) with Mandrill, Chimpanzee, Chacma baboon, spider monkeys and macaques. It’s hard to imagine Chacma baboon (a species that is now non-existent in Australasia) was once wide-spread across zoos and circuses in the region.

Other notable species included Giraffe Jaguar, Ocelot, lions, tigers and bears.

I remember one brown bear, 3 tigers, a pair of Lions, two Giraffes, Sitatuga,Cape hunting dogs and lots of Macaws! I still have the zoo booklet. Also a young Chimp being walked around the pathways by the hand!