Mugga Lane Zoo Explained

Zoo Name:Mugga Lane Zoo
Date Opened:19 December 1979
Date Closed:2002[1] [2] [3]
Location:Mugga Lane, Symonston
Area:9ha
Num Species:116

The Mugga Lane Zoo was a privately owned zoo located on Mugga Lane in the Australian capital city of Canberra. First opened in 1979 as the Canberra Wildlife Gardens,[4] [5] It was the first permanent zoo in the city,[6] predating the National Zoo & Aquarium by over a decade.[7] In 1981 the park was rebranded as the Mugga Lane Zoo,[8] although the Canberra Wildlife Gardens name continued to be occasionally used until 1986.[9] [10] Before its closure in 2002, the zoo displayed over 116 different species of animals in its 9ha park.[11] [12] [13] Today, the now abandoned site remains a well known location in Canberra due to its popularity with urban explorers,[14] [15] [16] and as a likely source of the feral peacocks often seen around South Canberra.[17] [18] [19] [20] [21] According to the founder, Terry Thomas, the zoo was never financially successful, in part due to difficulties experienced attaining animal permits from the Department of the Capital Territory.[22]

History

The Mugga Lane Zoo first began construction in 1979, following a three-year approval process by the Department of the Capital Territory that had first been sought in 1975 by the owner, Terry Thomas. However, despite receiving approval, the park was not yet licensed as a zoo and it consequently opened on 19 December 1979 as the Canberra Wildlife Gardens.[23] It took a further three years for the park to be issued a licence, after which it rebranded to its final name. Although now a licensed zoo, the park continued to experience difficulty gaining animal permits.[24]

In order to overcome severe water restrictions put in place as a result of the 1979–1983 Eastern Australian drought, a dam was constructed on the property. To date it is one of the few remaining landmarks of the zoo.[25] [26]

In 1989 Thomas sold the zoo to Doug Lloyd,[27] a local secondhand bookstore owner.[28] According to Thomas, this marked the start of the zoos decline. The zoo closed permanently around 2002,[2] and, as of 2020, the area is classified as NUZ1 broadacre land,[29] meaning it is designated as a buffer between neighbouring towns and is a future urban development zone.[30]

Animals

Mammals

References

  1. Web site: 21 Feb 2001 - Reflections of Canberra - Archived Website. Trove. en. 2020-05-10.
  2. ACT . DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY . Legislative Assembly . 2002-04-10 . 889 . John Hargreaves.
  3. News: 1995-12-30. OTHER OUTINGS. 16. Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 2020-05-09.
  4. News: 1979-12-07. Advertising. 22. Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 2020-05-09.
  5. News: 1979-12-14. Wildlife on show in Canberra. 6. Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 2020-05-09.
  6. Book: Zoo, Mugga Lane. Mugga Lane Zoo : Canberra's only zoo. 1970. [Canberra] : Mugga Lane Zoo. English.
  7. News: 1990-05-31. National Aquarium. 1. Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 2020-05-09.
  8. Web site: Deregistered Business List (1950 - 1990). ACT Government. 2020-05-09.
  9. News: 1986-05-02. Advertising. 15. Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 2020-05-09.
  10. News: 1986-05-12. a daily guide to life in the national capital the information page. 12. Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 2020-05-09.
  11. News: 1986-08-24. Influx of visitors. 10. Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 2020-05-09.
  12. News: Harris. Eleri. 2011-04-21. Let's do the time warp again. 3. Canberra CityNews. 2020-05-09.
  13. News: 1988-01-04. Advertising. 15. Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 2020-05-09.
  14. Web site: Canberra Urbex. Google My Maps. 2020-05-09.
  15. Web site: Ghost Zoo! The wreckage on Mugga Lane. johnboy. The RiotACT. en. 2020-05-09.
  16. Web site: urban exploration/ ghost hunting map, canberra and surrounding area. Google My Maps. 2020-05-09.
  17. Web site: Why are there peacocks roaming the streets of Canberra?. Groch. Sherryn. 2018-09-17. The Canberra Times. en. 2020-05-09.
  18. Web site: Life in the suburbs of Canberra: when peacocks become your neighbours. BoomingOn. 2019-01-21. BoomingOn. en. 2020-05-09.
  19. Web site: RSPCA 'disturbed' by plan to get rid of Canberra's feral peacocks. Groch. Sherryn. 2018-05-23. WAtoday. en. 2020-05-09.
  20. Web site: Wild peacocks divide Canberra community as their antics fall foul of residents - ABC News. 2018-05-22. www.abc.net.au. en-AU. 2020-05-09.
  21. Web site: The plan to stop Canberra's feral peacock invasion that's dividing the city. Groch. Sherryn. 2018-04-17. The Canberra Times. en. 2020-05-09.
  22. Web site: Mugga Lane Zoo: post-1062930. ZooChat. en-GB. 2020-05-09.
  23. Web site: Mugga Lane Zoo: post-1062800. ZooChat. en-GB. 2020-05-09.
  24. DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY. ACT. Legislative Assembly. 1992-08-11. Trevor Kaine. Chief Minister. 1486.
  25. Web site: Mugga Ln. Google Maps. en. 2020-05-09.
  26. Web site: Mugga Zoo site as nature reserve?. bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au. 2020-05-09.
  27. News: 1995-05-10. May 9- 16 1995 REHABILITATION WEEK. 26. Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 2020-05-10.
  28. News: 1987-11-07. A store for big readers. 60. Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995). 2020-05-10.
  29. Web site: Territory Plan 2008 Notifiable instruments. ACT Legislation Register. en-au. 2020-05-09.
  30. Web site: Part Three – Land Use Plans And General Land Use Controls. SchofieldS. 2017-05-16. www.nca.gov.au. en. 2020-05-09.
  31. Web site: Mugga Lane Zoo: post-1063107. ZooChat. en-GB. 2020-05-09.

External links

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