Once
inside, there were camel and pony rides, a monkey circus, birds, kangaroos and emus.
Most
of the wildlife was native to Australia and during the 1940s American servicemen were
to make their first acquaintance with kangaroos, koalas, Tasmanian devils, wombats,
wedge-tailed eagles and emus in their respective enclosures.
A reader writing to the Herald-Sun
paper in 2010 said:
"Peacocks roamed freely and
there was much on offer for the children with
free rides on Shetland ponies, donkeys and camels; also a small train which
ran on a circular track and a merry-go-round."
The sanctuary closed in 1954 and was sub-divided into 62 blocks -
all the animals were moved to Southport
in Queensland for a new sanctuary.
But times past are
still immortalised by two local street names -- Wildlife
and Maughan Parades.
I recall
being taken to the Park in 1946, in the horse and dray - I remember the
huge eagle enclosure, and getting on the donkey for the ride around the circular
track. We called that donkey "Razorback"
- the animal was very thin and I am still sore from
that ride!
In those days, the area
was mainly paddocks and orchards - nowadays it is a
residential suburb, part of Balwyn.
