Melbourne Zoo History Book For 150th Anniversary

snowleopard

snowleopard

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Since Melbourne Zoo was founded in 1862 this year marks its 150th anniversary, and there is an excellent, glossy, highly detailed chronological history book that is currently for sale. I would highly recommend it to any fellow zoo enthusiast!

Melbourne Zoo?s 150th Celebrations - Zoos Victoria (scroll down to see the elephant cover)

My wife and two kids actually just came back from a visit to my father-in-law's home in Melbourne, as he paid for their passage and 26-day holiday. My wife is a school teacher but she is on maternity leave, and I'm also a school teacher but I could not get time off during the semester. I'm quite jealous of the number of wildlife attractions that they visited as they went to 8 in total: Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, Melbourne Aquarium, Phillip Island Wildlife Park, Ballarat Wildlife Park, Moonlit Sanctuary and Bundoora Park. All of those 8 attractions are within about an hour-and-a-half drive from the large city of Melbourne.
 
I agree. It has some great photos of the early collection. There are pictures of a lot of Indian species from our Commonwealth links in the early days and great maps of the zoos grounds (which have barely changed shape due to the heritage listed wall that surrounds the zoo).
 
Melbourne Zoo does not publish a guide book.

I purchased the hardback edition of the book yesterday. Very satisfying purchase. I now know the age of virtually every feature of the zoo, which is awesome. Between 1967 (lion park, which is dated now but was progressive in its time) and 1992 (opening of stage two of gorilla rainforest, with mandrill and pygmy hippo exhibits) Melbourne did a lot of good things. This period also encompasses the opening of the reptile house (1969, and it has more than stood the test of time), the treetop apes and monkeys boardwalk (which I understand is due to be demolished in the next few years, which I think is a big mistake) in the late 1970s, the butterfly house in 1985, new gorilla exhibit in 1989 and other bits and pieces around the zoo.

I have to admit to being less enthused about developments since the late 1990s. I think the Australian Outback area has been a failure. If it were not for the Great Flight Aviary I doubt I would ever enter it. As I get older, I see the limitations imposed on Melbourne's elephant herd by its enclosures more and more too. Wild Sea is a bipolar development. The outdoor areas are great, the indoor section is awful and distracts from the animals. The positives from this period have been the orangutan and siamang enclosures (at least, the two outdoor ones. The day room doesn't work for me) and the massive baboon enclosure.
 
CGSwans said:
Melbourne Zoo does not publish a guide book.

I purchased the hardback edition of the book yesterday. Very satisfying purchase. I now know the age of virtually every feature of the zoo, which is awesome. Between 1967 (lion park, which is dated now but was progressive in its time) and 1992 (opening of stage two of gorilla rainforest, with mandrill and pygmy hippo exhibits) Melbourne did a lot of good things. This period also encompasses the opening of the reptile house (1969, and it has more than stood the test of time), the treetop apes and monkeys boardwalk (which I understand is due to be demolished in the next few years, which I think is a big mistake) in the late 1970s, the butterfly house in 1985, new gorilla exhibit in 1989 and other bits and pieces around the zoo.

I have to admit to being less enthused about developments since the late 1990s. I think the Australian Outback area has been a failure. If it were not for the Great Flight Aviary I doubt I would ever enter it. As I get older, I see the limitations imposed on Melbourne's elephant herd by its enclosures more and more too. Wild Sea is a bipolar development. The outdoor areas are great, the indoor section is awful and distracts from the animals. The positives from this period have been the orangutan and siamang enclosures (at least, the two outdoor ones. The day room doesn't work for me) and the massive baboon enclosure.
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They did in the Past, last one was published in 2001, so I thougt, the 150 years anniversary could be reason enough publish a new edition, but it seems, I was wrong. Zoogidebooks are a highly endangered species, so also in australia.

So is the hardback edition of that book well illustatred with many historic pictures, maybe old maps also ? I think about to order that book.

thanks.
 
Is the hardback version significantly better? Because I'm thinking of getting it but it's quite expensive and shipping to the UK pretty much doubles the price.
 
It's bound and has an extra chapter of photos. So probably not worth it once you factor in the cost of postage to the UK. With a member's discount of 15% the difference in price was around $A30, which I felt was worth it for me because I'm a bit of a bibliophile. Basically, it looks nicer.
 
@CGSwans: what are the chances of Treetops Apes and Monkeys boardwalk being demolished in a few years? Are you basing that information on the master plan or is it just conjecture? I'm honestly interested as for a 1979 structure I think that the exhibit complex holds up fairly nicely over 30 years later.

Does anyone know exactly what will be in the new precinct other than an education building? What happened to the tree kangaroos and red pandas in that part of the zoo? Is there any discussion revolving around an expansion of the elephant exhibit? Does anyone know the size of it? The success of the breeding herd could create problems in terms of space in the future.
 
There was a commemorative 'Melbourne Zoo's 150th Anniversary" magazine in the local newspaper (The Herald Sun) last Saturday. Did anyone manage to get a hold of it? Is it good? We are trying to get an issue because we forgot to buy it. :(
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nanoboy said:
There was a commemorative 'Melbourne Zoo's 150th Anniversary" magazine in the local newspaper (The Herald Sun) last Saturday. Did anyone manage to get a hold of it? Is it good? We are trying to get an issue because we forgot to buy it. :(
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We managed to get a copy of the commemorative magazine today. It turns out that the magazine is really a picture/activity book for kids. Lots of awesome pics with Zoos Victoria animals, lots of stuff to colour-in, but not much on the actual history of the zoo. In fact, there was not even a historical pic: all the photos were of current animals. In retrospect, it's not bad for $2 - if you have young kids.
 
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