‘A world class place’: Hobart Zoo and Aquarium prepares for official opening

There’s more behind a name change at a popular Southern Tasmanian zoo. Check out what’s happening in preparation of an official opening.

Stuart Webster owner and director with Mandy Prestage general manager of life sciences at Hobart Zoo & Aquarium. Zoodoo at Tea Tree has been rebranded under new owner Stuart Webster to Hobart Zoo & Aquarium. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

10 months on from when he first took over ZooDoo Zoo, Stuart Webster’s dreams are becoming reality.

The Richmond site, now trading under the name Hobart Zoo and Aquarium, will officially be launched at a members-only event on July 3.

But Mr Webster said the rebranded zoo was already being embraced by the community.

“Attendance is up by 30 per cent, the average stay is up from an hour and fifteen minutes to three hours, and we’ve gained significant family membership,” he said.

“It’s a huge achievement after a massive undertaking.”

Stuart Webster owner and director with Mandy Prestage general manager of life sciences at Hobart Zoo & Aquarium. Zoodoo at Tea Tree has been rebranded under new owner Stuart Webster to Hobart Zoo & Aquarium. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Along with a tight-knit team, Mr Webster has overseen the construction of five new playgrounds, a landscaped garden, a world-standard Cotton Top Tamarin exhibit and of course, the marketing for the name change – “a world class name for a world class zoo”.

But the crown jewel remains the newly built $300,000 aquarium.

Lit by bright blue lights, the space features a series of custom-made tanks to represent different reefs from around the world, and is enclosed by specially-built sustainable roofing.

Having been at the zoo since before its rebranding, life sciences general manager Mandy Prestage said being part of the redevelopment was “hugely exciting”.

“As a zookeeper in the industry, that you get the opportunity to come into a situation like this where there is such a big rebuilding of an institution is massive,” she said.

“I love what I do and it makes it very easy to come into work each day.”

Stuart Webster owner and director with Mandy Prestage general manager of life sciences at Hobart Zoo & Aquarium. Zoodoo at Tea Tree has been rebranded under new owner Stuart Webster to Hobart Zoo & Aquarium. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Among the species on show are stingrays, lion fish, marine fish and corals, and in the touch pool, starfish, seahorses and sea cucumbers.

Animal care curator Talei Burness said ensuring the site was appropriately designed took nearly six months of painstaking work.

“Water parameters need to be perfect before the animals are put in there,” she said.

“We couldn’t just throw the fish and water in, we had to stagger the process.”

The final groups of marine fish and coral will arrive this week in time for the zoo’s grand opening celebration.

It comes as a relief for Mr Webster, who has dreamt of owning his own zoo since he was eight years old and has visited more than 300 in his lifetime.

But with more dreams down the track, including the construction of accommodation, re-introduction of the Safari Bus, many new animal exhibits and development of Marine school information sessions, the work has just started.

“We’re going to be open every day of the year, nine to five, Monday to Friday and it’s going to be very interactive,” he said.

“We’re going to make this a world class place.”

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Originally published as ‘A world class place’: Hobart Zoo and Aquarium prepares for official opening