By the time this poster advertising the Zoo was created in 1893, attractions of the Zoo included elephant rides, an Australian fauna collection, lions, monkeys, bears, beautiful gardens and amusements for children. However, this was not the case in the first few years of the Zoo.

Melbourne Zoo was founded by the Zoological Society of Victoria in October 1857 prior to the zoo being established in its first location in Richmond. The society was renamed The Acclimitisation Society of Victoria in 1861 leading up to the Zoo opening in its current location in Royal Park in 1862.

The principle of acclimitisation involved transporting fauna from other places in the world to see which animals could adapt and be integrated into a new environment. Animals such as blackbirds, pheasants, quail, salmon, camels, goats and sheep were brought to the Zoo and then introduced into the Australian environment. Many of these species did not establish in the Australian landscape. By the late 1860s the Zoo was in financial trouble and the public had lost interest.

The Zoo made changes in order to survive and expanded their role to include building a collection of animals for the amusement and instruction of the people of the colony. This new direction was driven by Albert Le Souef, appointed secretary of the Zoo in 1870 and then director in 1882.

As a result of this shift in ideology, by 1880, Melbourne Zoo’s animal collection included lions, tigers, a panther, deer and hoofed animals such as sheep and cows, which were exotic for the colony at the time. In 1883, Melbourne Zoo purchased its first elephant, Ranee. An Australian fauna collection was also established.

Further information:

Melbourne Zoo: Acclimatisation to Conservation, Mark Kellet, Australian Heritage Magazine, 2009

Evolution of a zoo: history of Melbourne Zoo 1857 - 1900, Catherine de Courcy, Quiddlers Press, 2003