Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Location	28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin, Queensland, Australia
Built	1947 onwards
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Type	state heritage (landscape, built)
Designated	18 September 2009
Reference no.	602720
Significant period	1947 onwards
Significant components	watercourse – creek, aviary, animal enclosure/s, pens/cages, trees – remnant scrub, zoological garden, miniature tram/train, other – recreation/entertainment: component
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The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a famous animal park located in Currumbin, Queensland, Australia. It's known for its huge flocks of wild rainbow lorikeets. These colourful birds visit the sanctuary twice a day to eat a special mixture. Visitors can even help feed them!

The sanctuary offers many fun activities. You can meet dingoes, watch amazing free-flight bird shows, and see the park's giant saltwater crocodile being fed. Beyond the fun, the sanctuary also has a very important job. It runs a modern veterinary hospital that helps injured wildlife.

The sanctuary first opened in 1947. It was started by a man named Alex Griffiths. He was a flower farmer and bee keeper. He wanted to stop the lorikeets from eating his flowers and honey. His solution was to feed them! This simple idea grew into a world-famous wildlife sanctuary. Today, it is home to one of the largest collections of Australian native animals. You can see Tasmanian devils, reptiles, and even exotic animals like lemurs and red pandas in the "Lost Valley" area. There's also a huge walk-through aviary where birds fly freely. A miniature railway has been taking visitors around the park since 1964.

History

The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary began in 1947. Alex Griffiths, a beekeeper and flower grower, started it. He called it the Currumbin Bird Sanctuary. He wanted to protect his flowers from hungry lorikeets. He started feeding the birds honey and bread. Soon, many people came to watch this amazing sight.

By the 1950s, it was a popular tourist spot on the Gold Coast. Visitors could see many birds and animals. They could also ride a miniature train and buy souvenirs. In 1976, Alex Griffiths gave the sanctuary to the National Trust of Queensland. This meant the park would be protected forever. In 1995, its name changed to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. It is one of the oldest wildlife parks still open in Queensland.

The sanctuary grew over time. Alex Griffiths added more land for the animals. He even built a tunnel under the Gold Coast Highway. This tunnel connected the main park to a larger area called the Western Reserve. This allowed the park to expand and house more animals.

In 1956, a famous American magazine, National Geographic, sent a photographer to the sanctuary. They wanted to show the world the amazing lorikeet feeding. This helped the sanctuary become known around the world.

The 1960s brought more growth. A miniature railway was added in 1964. Alex Griffiths also built a "Rock Shop" to show off his rock collection. Many buildings from this time were shaped like octagons. This was a nod to his bee-keeping past.

The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary was one of the first places on the Gold Coast to focus on native animals. Other attractions at the time were more about entertainment. Alex Griffiths believed in keeping animals in natural settings. He also cared for sick and injured wildlife.

A new main building, called the Kiosk, opened in 1972. It was a three-story building. A famous artist, Hugh Sawrey, painted a large mural inside it. This building became the main entrance for visitors.

Alex Griffiths wanted to make sure the sanctuary would continue helping wildlife after he was gone. So, in 1976, he officially gave it to the National Trust of Queensland. He stayed involved for a while. He passed away in 1998. He received many awards for his work. A park nearby was named Alex Griffiths Park in his honour.

The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a very important place. It shows how tourism has changed in Queensland. It's also a beloved place for many Queenslanders. It has been featured in many tourist guides. It was even named one of Queensland's "150 must do's."

What You Can See

Entrance to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, 2015

The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a big place. It covers about 40 hectares. This includes the main park and a special area called Coolamon. Coolamon is used to release animals that have been treated at the sanctuary's hospital.

As you walk around the sanctuary, you might spot some cool sculptures:

• Wild Island Entry Statement
• Underground Viewing Burrows
• Giant Golden Orb Weaving Spider & climbing Net
• A spotted Quoll on a tree branch
• Cassowaries in the Garden
• Fossil digs in the sandpits
• Rock climbing Walls for the Playground
• Artificial Trees – For Creatures of the Dark Forest
• Large Artificial Rock Cave (Displayed on the front page of the old Telephone Directory book)
• Many artificial trees and rocks throughout the park and walkways.
• Stepping Stones with indigenous Australian animals engraved into the concrete steps

The Main Sanctuary

The main part of the sanctuary is where most visitors go. It's close to the beach. The Gold Coast Highway runs through it. A special tunnel under the highway connects the two sides of the park.

On the eastern side, you'll find the main entrance. This area has the famous lorikeet-feeding arena. This is where the wild lorikeets come to eat. You can also see the Spirit of the Outback Store. This used to be the "Rock Shop." There's also the Kiosk building, which has a cafe.

The miniature train runs through the park. It takes you past many animal enclosures. You can see koalas and other native animals. There's also a Rainforest Pool Aviary. Here, you can see nocturnal birds and animals.

On the western side of the highway is the Western Reserve. This area is more natural. It has lots of trees. The miniature train also loops through here. You can see water birds in the ponds. There are many animal displays here too.

Coolamon

Coolamon is a large property in the Currumbin Valley. It's about 9 kilometres from the main sanctuary. Alex Griffiths named it Coolamon, which is an Aboriginal word for a carry basket. This area is used to release rehabilitated animals. It helps them get back to the wild.

Species Kept at the Sanctuary

Alex Griffith's Aviary

Entrance Exhibits

Ngagan (Reptile) & Nocturnal Species Den

Chungurra (Pelican) Country

• Australian pelican

Forest Fringe Aviary

Garima (Conservation) Country

Garima (Conservation} Aviaries

Bubura (Bush) Country

Muni (Kangaroo) Country

Lost Valley

Scales & Tails Show

Wild Skies Show

Other Species

• Kroombit tinker frog
• Rainbow lorikeet (wild roaming)

Frog-breeding

In 2008, the sanctuary opened a special facility just for breeding frogs. Their main goal is to help the critically endangered Kroombit tinker frog. In November 2020, there were fewer than 200 of these frogs left in the wild. They live in tropical rainforests in Kroombit Tops National Park. Threats to these frogs include climate change, loss of their homes, and a disease called chytrid fungus.

Scientists at the sanctuary had been trying to breed these frogs since around 2000. Finally, in 2020, they succeeded! The captive frogs laid eggs, and the first tadpole turned into a frog in November 2020. This gives great hope for saving this special frog from extinction.

Why Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is Important

The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's a very important historical place.

It shows how tourism has changed in Queensland. It started as a small bird-feeding spot. Now, it's a world-famous wildlife attraction. It's one of the oldest nature-based tourist places in Queensland.

The sanctuary is also very special to many people. Millions of Queenslanders have visited it since 1947. People showed their support in 1956. Hundreds signed a petition to stop sand mining near the sanctuary. It's seen as one of Queensland's most iconic places.

Finally, the sanctuary is linked to the life of Alex Griffiths. He started the park in 1947. He worked hard to make it a safe place for wildlife. Many parts of the park today were part of his original vision. This includes the Kiosk, the Spirit of the Outback Store, the lorikeet-feeding area, and the miniature railway. The tunnel under the highway and the Coolamon property are also part of his legacy.

Awards

In 2009, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary was named one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland. This award celebrates its role as an important "location" in the state's history.