Australian Reptile Park
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Entrance to the Australian Reptile Park
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| Date opened | 1948 (1996 at current location) |
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| Location | Somersby, New South Wales, Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°25′06″S 151°16′38″E / 33.418247°S 151.277222°ECoordinates: 33°25′06″S 151°16′38″E / 33.418247°S 151.277222°E |
| Land area | 22 acres (8.9 ha) |
| No. of animals | 2,000+ |
| No. of species | 400+ |
| Annual visitors | 200,000+ |
| Memberships | ZAA |
| Website | www |
The Australian Reptile Park is located at Somersby on the Central Coast, New South Wales in Australia. It is about 50 kilometres (31 mi) (a one-hour drive) North of Sydney, and is just off the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway. The park is home to a variety of reptiles, including snakes, lizards and crocodiles, as well as other Australian animals, such as koalas, kangaroos, cassowaries and Tasmanian devils.
The park is heavily involved in snake and spider venom collection for use in the production of Antivenom and is credited for saving the lives of thousands. It is an institutional member of the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA).
The park was founded by Eric Worrell in 1948 at the Ocean Beach Aquarium Umina Beach. In 1959, it was renamed the Australian Reptile Park and moved to Wyoming, north of Gosford.
A second move occurred in September 1996, to Somersby, adjacent to Old Sydney Town.
1948 - Ocean Beach Aquarium operates at Umina Beach
1955 - Ocean Beach Aquarium contributes to production of first antivenene to Taipan envenomation
1959 - Australian Reptile Park commences at Wyoming
1962 - Reptile Park contributes to availability of a full range of antivenenes
1963 – ‘Ploddy’ (originally named Dino), the dinosaur erected, the first of Australia’s big icons
1968 - First noctarium in southern hemisphere opens
1970 - Eric Worrell receives MBE recognising his role in producing antivenenes
1972 – Captive breeding of Cassowaries
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Wikipedia