Remembering the moments that made Featherdale Wildlife Park

IT HAS become one of western Sydney’s greatest tourist attractions and a strong contributor to the conservation of native animals. But Featherdale Wildlife Park started as a farm in 1953. Danielle Jarvis looks back at it history.

Featherdale Wildlife Park founder Bruce Kubbere built the park from the ground up over several decades. Picture: David Swift.

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FEATHERDALE Wildlife Park has come a long way since the property was a poultry farm, established by Charles and Marjorie Wigg in 1953.

The couple’s daughter Margaret married a passionate Australian fauna buff, Bruce Kubbere, who opened the farm to the public in 1972.

In 1975, the State Government wanted to level the property for housing but western Sydney residents were having none of that and the decision was overturned due to public outcry.

Charles Wiggs holding daughter Margaret at Featherdale when it was a farm. Possibly in 1940s. Picture: Bruce Kubbere.

Mr Kubbere with Chad Staples, the park’s director of life sciences in the main corridor of the park today. Picture: David Swift.

Featherdale’s current director of life sciences Chad Staples was employed by Mr Kubbere in 1996 as a one-day-a-week casual.

“I knew nothing; I was taught the ropes on the job,” Mr Staples said. “I started full-time in ‘97.”

In the 22 years since, the park has become one of western Sydney’s greatest tourist attractions and a strong contributor to the conservation of native animals.

“It’s changed in a hell of a lot without changing much at all,” Mr Staples said.

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“The park itself is the same size. By the time I came along it was similar to what it is now but it’s just really evolved into a very sophisticated collection that’s managed as a major zoo should be.”

The park installed a proper reptile house in 2001 and later built a 90-seat amphitheatre designed for school groups.

“You not only fall in love with animals but you go home having learned something,” Mr Staples said.

The park’s Robert Houlihan shows people can pat koalas but not hold them shortly before the new law came into effect in 1997.

The opening of the park's new reptile enclosure in 2001. Picture: Ann Moran

He said Mr Kubbere still visited every week and his legacy remained at the heart of Featherdale.

“It would be so easy for (him) to be negative about the changes made ... but he really relishes the fact that the park is even better now than when he owned it — and he can still own that,” he said.

“Bruce is an amazing man and he always had a real passion for Australian animals.”

Mr Staples said the team at Featherdale would always strive to be better.

“We will always want to be the greatest Australian animal collection there is. The most diverse,” he said.

“Truly doing proper work for conservation work and captive breeding programs and working with Department of Primary Industries and national parks for potential release programs.

“Just being able to be that place where overseas visitors can come and really experience the depth of amazing Australian animals is a big key.”

That time Will Smith visited Featherdale. Picture: Supplied

Japanese tourist Masami Takahashi at Featherdale with koala "Billy" many years ago.