Sydney’s Taronga Zoo will soon have a new exhibit showing native flora and fauna, with the NSW government approving a $16 million revamp project.
Designed by Lahznimmo Architects with landscape architecture practice Spackman, Mossop and Michaels, the Upper Australia exhibit will feature minimal built forms and will not be visible from the nearby harbour.
The exhibition, which is built on the Country of the Cammeraigal people of the Gai-mariagal, will be home to a wide variety of landscape types and native animals.
“The main exhibit path will snake through various native landscapes, ranging from lush rainforest through to arid woodland and then up into the tree canopy via an elevated boardwalk to view koalas at their natural sitting height in the tree canopy,” the architects wrote.
The treehouse of the Upper Australia exhibit at Taronga Zoo by Lahznimmo Architects and Spackman, Mossop and Michaels.
“The Australia journey then winds its way down through the Blue Mountains rock escarpment and then underground into the Nocturnal House; where a complete refurbishment of the existing building will provide state-of-the-art keeper facilities and unique night-time viewing of Australia’s nocturnal creatures.”
NSW environment minister Matt Kean said the approval signalled a new chapter for the zoo, which has been an important part of Sydney Harbour’s landscape since 1916.
“The Australia Precinct at Taronga is home to some of our Aussie icons including the koala, platypus and bilby,” he said.
“The project will see new life breathed into parts of the precinct that are more than 30 years old, improving the visitor experience and encouraging more people to get out and learn about the conservation of our iconic Aussie animals.”
Works on the exhibit are scheduled to begin in the coming months and the project will be completed by 2023.
