The geese are honking, the dingoes howling, the camel has a bird’s eye view and the aviaries are aflutter with activity.
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Over in the paddock, a donkey and a pig are mixing it, llamas grazing and Parma wallabies sticking their heads up like meerkats checking it all out.
They’re not the sights and sounds Taralga locals are accustomed to but thanks to one man’s dream, it’s all happening on the town’s outskirts. Upper Lachlan Shire Deputy Mayor John Stafford has opened Taralga Wildlife Park in a story line almost straight out of the UK series, The Zoo.
But unlike that show, the locals were mostly supportive, save for a few skeptics who have now converted.
The park, 2km from the town on the Bannaby Road, has been five years in the planning, with more than a few regulatory hoops to jump through. Finally, last week Cr Stafford and wife, Tracey Avery received the licence required to open, at least in a ‘soft’ way. The Department of Primary Industries’ licence has 50 individual permits sitting within it for the different enclosures.
The park includes more than 50 exhibits, including wombats, deer, alpacas, donkeys, miniature ponies, rabbits, guinea pigs and the big hit – a lamb petting zoo. There are over 100 bird species, like topknot pigeons, channel billed cuckoos and Bush Stone-curlews.
Over the past five years, Cr Stafford and his family have been building the enclosures and installing infrastructure for the park, nestled behind his home. There are plans for further landscaping and regeneration to restore bird life to previously cleared areas and creation of a wetland around a spring-fed dam.
The wildlife park covers nine acres of the 25-acre property. The couple bought the holding some 10 years ago and moved there permanently from Bowral in 2014 after falling in love with the area.
“People ask ‘why Taralga?’ It’s home and the town is kicking on now with very strong visitation, particularly since the Argyle Inn was restored and opened. People staying there are being referred on here, ” he said.
“...It’s the basic issue for all towns in the Shire. They’re quaint and peaceful but from a tourism point of view, what is there to do? This is very much appealing to that market.”
But the seed was planted years ago. Birds were a mainstay of his childhood. Cr Stafford recalled filling with birds the red phone boxes his grandfather brought home from work at the Post Master General’s department. His interest continued throughout adulthood and various careers.
“It was always a dream to do this but it was a question of how to make it happen,” he said.
Cr Stafford considers the current work as just stage one, with plans for more animals and enclosures, permits allowing. In time, a railway carriage purchased from a Canberra museum will be converted, possibly for children’s parties, complementing the existing stone cottage venue and picnic facilities. He also hopes to offer packages, including sheep shearing, whip-cracking and such, and for the wildlife park to be just one stop on bus tours showcasing the region.
Cr Stafford said the park would never grow to a Canberra Zoo but focus on native animals and a hospitable country experience for people to enjoy at reasonable cost. The weekend alone drew about 50 people to the park, purely from Facebook posts.
The response has been heartening for the man who started out with an idea.
“It’s been interesting and challenging. There’s a lot to learn but that’s what I enjoy,” he said.
“It’s the opportunity to learn something different. The animals all have their own traits and personalities and are very gentle.
“...Taralga is really coming along. People by and large are supportive but from a business perspective, it all works for us. We all benefit from pulling more people into the area,” he said.