'' In 1970 Aubrey and Cath Chugg opened the Banamah
Wildlife Park on the banks of the Dugulup Brook; at one
stage the largest private wildlife park in Western
Australia. The park housed more than 40 species of
animals including kangaroos, wallabies, quendas,
quokkas, eagles, owls, a variety of small birds as well as
tammars, deer, fox, camel, guinea pigs, possums and
donkeys. One such resident of the park was a large
wedge tailed eagle named ‘Tom’ who became famous as
the subject of a petition of 27,000 people to save his life
from vermin protectors in Albany. The petition was
successful in preventing his destruction and while Tom
was not granted complete freedom, he lived for the rest
of his days in the park. The park has since closed and
the only commercial use of the property is a garden
nursery occupying a small corner.''
I visited three times 1995, 1998 and 1999. I also remember at least two Dingos, an Indian Ringnecked Vulture if I recall correct, a group of Freshwater Crocodile, at least one Western Tiger Snake and one other snake species (can't remember, maybe a python species), a species of Goanna, and I remember a few Ostriches on the final visit. It was nice to find out that the beautiful Eagle I remember from my childhood visits was probably Tom from abouve mentioned. I remember that the camel's name was Bluey as I asked a staff member on my last visit.
Would love to hear anyone else's memories or thoughts about this place as its hard to find information online about it now that it is long closed and long forgotten it seems. As it had more than 40 years of history and was located in a popular summer holidaying area and seemed to provide the Bussselton/Dunsborough catchment area's families of at least a couple of generations with a fairly decent animal park i doubt i'd be the only former Perthite (Perth resident) to have recollections about this place.
p.s The 'Country Life Farm' still runs next door and opened in 1998? so shared a neighbouring fence with Bannamah for at least 3 years? plus Quindalup Fauna Park (which i've never visited) is not far away and would be interested to hear about. Anyway peace out
@steveroberts I was a keeper there from approx 1983-1988.
I worked under Head Keepers Des Hume, then Peter Tootle.
I eventually worked alongside Wayne Evans, the owners son.
When Bob Evans (owner) sold the park about 1988, I was let go.
Although the pay was poor, it remains to this day one of my fondest working memories.
@jim hill Hi Jim sorry for the very late reply but I didnt get a notification for your message. That is awesome I use to love visiting Bannamah in the 1990s. I was wondering if you could tell me what species were kept there during your time there as keeper. I always assumed Tom the Wedge-Tailed Eagle was there since the 1970s right up to the closure in February 2002 and I always wanted to know if Bluey the Camel was there in the 1980s aswell as the Koalas, Freshwater Crocodiles, Goannas, and Indian Vulture species that I recall from mid 1990s. Again thanks for the post.
Thankyou so much for your memories shared guys really appreciate.
I remember Bluey the Dromedary (not sure how long he'd been at park), the Freshwater Crocs',
the Snakes, Koalas, Wombats, Kangaroos and Wallabies, Dingo, Wedgetail Eagles, Emus and even Ostriches in 1999 (I swear I remember a White-rumped Vulture in the larger area of bird avairy rows to walk-past this would of been in January of 1999, also remember a Monitor Lizard at the same visit in Jan' 1999 that hadnt been there on the previous visits in January 1998 and January 1995, I also dont remember the Ostriches until January 1999 either, I remember an Owl, think Barn Owl on the 1999 visit too and Ring-necked Parakeets in the bird collection area too).
