Date opened 1934 Area 30 ha | Opened 1934 Phone +61 1300 966 784 | |
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Address Badger Creek Rd, Healesville VIC 3777, Australia Hours Open today · 9AM–5PMSunday9AM–5PMMonday9AM–5PMTuesday9AM–5PMWednesday9AM–5PMThursday9AM–5PMFriday9AM–5PMSaturday9AM–5PM Exhibits Kangaroos, Rock-wallaby, Tasmanian Devils Similar Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo, Yarra Valley, Puffing Billy Railway, Yarra River | ||
Healesville sanctuary animals
Healesville Sanctuary, formally known as the Sir Colin MacKenzie Sanctuary, is a zoo specialising in native Australian animals. It is located at Healesville in rural Victoria, Australia, and has a history of breeding native animals. It is one of only two places to have successfully bred a platypus, the other being Sydney's Taronga Zoo. It also assists with a breeding population of the endangered helmeted honeyeater.
Contents
- Healesville sanctuary animals
- Roger shah signum healesville sanctuary roger shah mix ardi2010 01
- History
- References
The zoo is set in a natural bushland environment where paths wind through different habitat areas showcasing wallabies, wombats, dingoes, kangaroos, and over 200 native bird varieties.
Guided tours, bird shows and information areas are available to visitors.
Roger shah signum healesville sanctuary roger shah mix ardi2010 01
History
Dr Colin MacKenzie (knighted in 1929) set up the Institute of Anatomical Research in 1920 on 78 acres (32 ha) of land which had formerly been part of the Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve. The Reserve passed to the Healesville Council in 1927 and became the Sir Colin MacKenzie Sanctuary in 1934.
The first platypus bred in captivity was born in the Sanctuary in year 1943 when it was managed by David Fleay.
In 2009, the sanctuary was threatened by the Black Saturday bushfires, and the sanctuary evacuated their threatened species to Melbourne Zoo.