History
Welcome
Adelaide Zoo is home to over 1,800 animals and almost 300 species of exotic and native mammals, birds, reptiles and fish exhibited in 8 hectares of magnificent botanic surroundings.
Adelaide Zoo focuses on endangered and rare animals from continents which made up the super continent Gondwana - South America, India, Africa and Australia (also South East Asia). The Zoology and Botany of these continents show interesting similarities and are the regions represented in the Zoo’s major exhibits; South East Asian Rainforest, Seal Bay, Australian Rainforest Wetlands walk-through aviary, Africa, South America, India, Nocturnal House and Reptile House.
The Zoo is the second oldest zoo in the nation and represents a significant and important part of South Australia’s heritage and social history. It is unique among Australian zoos as it has retained many original and significant architectural features giving it a style and character all its own.
The zoo is also a botanic garden, and the magnificent landscaping is the result of more than 125 years of care and attention. The original park layout can still be determined. There are many significant exotic and Australian trees in the gardens, including a superb Moreton Bay Fig near Minchin House, planted in 1877 before the establishment of the zoo.
Many of the trees are identified with their botanic names. This emphasis on botany reflects the changing role of the zoo.
Adelaide Zoo is owned and operated by the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia. Adelaide Zoo is the only major metropolitan Zoo in Australia to be owned and operated by a not for profit organisation and is governed by a volunteer board on behalf of its members. Adelaide Zoo has a workforce of 100 paid staff and 350 volunteers.
History
Adelaide Zoo was opened to the public on 23rd May 1883 and was established at a time of great resurgence and interest in natural history. All Australian zoos reflected this trend and were modelled on the major European zoos of that time, particularly, Regents Park Zoo in London.
The Adelaide Zoo was originally constructed on 6.5 hectares of the Botanic Park and now occupies 8 hectares and is situated within a 15 minute walk of the City of Adelaide.
Adelaide Zoo is owned and operated by the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia. In 1878 the Acclimatisation Society of SA was formed. In 1881 it became the SA Acclimatisation and Zoological Society and the government granted land for a Zoological Gardens on 16 acres (six hectares) of land obtained from the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide. In 1882 the name changed to SA Zoological and Acclimatisation Society and Adelaide Zoo opened in 1883. In 1937, King George VI granted the Society a Royal Charter to celebrate the Society’s Diamond Jubilee. With it came the right to use the prefix ‘Royal’ and the opportunity was taken to remove ‘Acclimatisation’ from the title.
The Zoo is the second oldest zoo in the nation and represents a significant and important part of South Australia’s heritage and social history. It is unique among Australian zoos as it has retained many original and significant architectural features giving it a style and character all its own.
Five structures are listed on the Register of State Heritage Items and the City of Adelaide’s Register of Heritage Items.
The Elephant House – Built in 1900 and reflecting a uniquely ‘Victorian’ approach to housing zoo animals, namely in a building style symbolic of their place of origin. The ‘Indian-style’ temple is architecturally unique in South Australia.
Head Keeper’s Cottage – Built in 1883, the original keeper’s residence and one of the earliest structures at the Zoo.
The Main Gates and Entrance Walls – Built in 1883 and the principal public entrance of the Zoo. They reflect a distinctive decorative masonry pattern typical of Victorian architecture.
The Rotunda – Built in 1884 and presented as a gift by Sir Thomas Elder as a venue for public entertainment. It is believed to be the largest of this kind in South Australia.
The Directors Dwelling (now Minchin House) – Built in 1887 Minchin House was formerly the residence of the directors of Adelaide Zoo until the 1970s and currently houses the Society administration. In 2004 the house was renamed Minchin House to recognise the long association between the Minchin Family and Adelaide Zoo. R E Minchin was the first Director of the Adelaide Zoo (1882 to 1893). He was followed by his son and grandson, giving a total of over 61 years to 1946.
The National Trust of South Australia lists the Rotunda and the Elephant House as Classified. The Directors Residence, main gates, piers and walls and the Head Keepers lodge are on the Recorded list, and the Guinea Pig Cottages and Lyrebird Café (originally the Monkey House) are listed on file.
Adelaide Zoo leads the way in exhibit design but some of its original animal enclosures, while not occupied, have been retained to reflect past eras. The two most prominent examples are the Elephant House, and the Nile Hippopotamus House which features a motif on the front depicting the sun rising over the River Nile, flanked by two Egyptian geese.
The zoo is also a botanic garden, and the magnificent landscaping is the result of more than 125 years of care and attention. The original park layout can still be determined. There are many significant exotic and Australian trees in the gardens, including a superb Moreton Bay Fig near Minchin House, planted in 1877 before the establishment of the zoo. Many of the trees are identified with their botanic names. This emphasis on botany reflects the changing role of the zoo.
While the Zoo is proud of its heritage, it is also a modern zoo. Adelaide Zoo is one of the leaders in Australia in enclosure design and new developments provide a vision of the future.