Ruby Morris has a close encounter with a diamond python at Birdland Animal Park. Photo: Belinda Morris.
The closure of one of Batemans Bay’s oldest tourist attractions has sparked a wave of nostalgia among visitors and locals alike.
Over the past 50 years, Birdland Animal Park has provided many people’s first introduction to Australian wildlife and a safe haven for animals injured or donated by owners who couldn’t care for them properly.
This week it advised on social media that its gates would close for good following the hospitalisation of owner David Burnett.
Fans of the park from across the globe shared their devastation at the news.
“I went as a kid and subsequently took my kids many years later,” commenter Scott Bishop said.
“An iconic location on the Bay and an attraction that will be sadly missed.”
Another commenter from the US said the unique park lived on in their memories.
“My family from the States has wonderful memories from our visit,” Terry Barton said.
“Thank you and good luck.”
Birdland provided people like Ben Venn, from Scotland, with the chance to have an up-close experience with some of Australia’s unique wildlife. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
Established by former Wollongong man Colin Merret and his wife Violet in 1971 (they also owned Ulladulla’s Funland) Birdland was purchased by David about 30 years ago.
The privately-owned park is set on eight acres of Crown land and was threatened with closure on a number of occasions.
Most recently the Black Summer bushfires, floods and COVID all affected operations and visitor numbers.
It’s even been struck by a number of thefts over the years, with the most notable the theft of a beloved diamond python and a collection of birds.
After an outcry, all animals were eventually returned.
The park was home to hundreds of birds, reptiles and animals.
Set between Beach Road, Joes Creek and Corrigans Beach, the line where the park ended and the natural environment began was always a little blurry. Wild pelicans, black swans and egrets were regular visitors.
Birdland didn’t discriminate between native and exotic animals – kangaroos, emus, wombats and echidnas coexisted alongside peacocks, deer and ostriches.
Some came to the park because they were not able to survive in the wild due to injury, while others were given to the park by people who did not have the ability to care for them properly, or from other animal parks across the country.
Many of the animals were beloved by visitors and former owners due to their quirky natures, like Hawk the pigeon dove, Harry the (female) long-billed corella, Mr Goat and the resident ostrich.
The park offered daily snake, koala or wombat information sessions, where visitors could cuddle a diamond python, or feed an orphaned baby wombat.
Social media has also been flooded with questions from visitors about the fate of their favourite animals. All have been rehomed.
The miniature railway made the park feel like something straight out of a fairy-tale for young visitors. It was a popular spot for children’s birthday parties – even if you did have to make sure the peacocks didn’t steal your picnic.
It’s unknown what the future of the Birdland site will be – but it’s certainly going to be tough for any new business to bring as much joy to as many people as the park did.
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