1993
Based on material in the zoo archives, press cuttings and Paw Prints zoo newsletter.
Photographs exist in the zoo archive taken by the late Ernie Littlefield, Head Gardener for the local Council, of the zoo being built including aerial views of the site before and after building, the mountains of earth and mud moved, the changing Newquay skyline and of long gone animals like Queenie and Charlie the first pair of lions.
Recently postcard images of Chinese Leopards and Asian Black Bears have been found to add to the photos in the 1970s, 1989, 1996 and subsequent guidebooks. The zoo photograph archive is currently (2009) being catalogued and scanned. Donations of original or scanned images or film footage especially from the pre-1994 period are very welcome; contact details can be found on the website for Mark Norris, co-ordinator of the Newquay Zoo Archive (part of the education department). Newquay Zoo is also researching the history of the site where the zoo is located, as well as the early history of zoos, Victorian Zoos and zoos in World War Two. The Bartlett Society is a good source of reference for those researching zoo history.
1950s - Small seasonal animal collection established each summer in Newquay's Rose and Trenance Gardens near the Boating Lake, thought to be linked to the now-closed Exmouth Zoo of Charles Trevisick FZS and run by the late Ken Smith & family. Few images or information currently exist about this early pre-zoo collection which shut in 1969. A brief account of its features is given in Trevisick's autobiography My Home is a Zoo (Stanley Paul, 1976) & Russell Tofts 2012 biography of Ken Smith.
1967 - Torrey Canyon oil spill contaminated sand spread over part of future zoo site, mostly in current car park area. Oil was reported to surface when digging holes for many years to come.
1968 - Building and landscaping work begins on developing 6 acres (24,000 m2) of the Trenance farmland (dairy) site into the present zoo site, funded by Newquay Urban District Council. Construction cost over £30,000 (in 1968/9) and was undertaken by a range of local companies including ACE Engineering and Western Road Construction. Planting was planned and undertaken by the Council Parks and Gardens department, head gardener Mr. Ernie Littlefield who photographed the changing site.
1969 - Whit Monday opening of the zoo, over 4000 paid visitors attended (according to the West Briton newspaper May 29, 1969) and the first child through the gates at 10 a.m. was one Christopher Minns paying 1/6 (Child, one shilling and six pence in LSD pre-decimal coinage) and his father Councillor Norman Minns (Adult cost 3/6, three shillings and six pence).
The zoo opened two days behind schedule due to the difficulty of moving animals from various sources and other zoos into the zoo and settling them down under the watchful eye of Curator Peter Lowe, formerly of Chester Zoo. Other staff at the time included Alex Charity and Norman Marshall (Head Keeper).
The zoo usually closed to visitors at the end of each summer season (September / October until Easter/ Whitsun) until the change of ownership 1993 /1994.
Original structures from 1969 can still be seen include the Asian Black Bear Pit (home to Sulawesi macaques since 1995),Chinese Leopard and / or Puma enclosure (now home to Macaws), Deer Paddock (now home to Visayan Warty Pigs and Philippine Spotted Deer), the Old Lion House (now home to Madagascan Fossa), Penguin Pool (now adapted to a meerkat enclosure), Sea Lion pool (now adapted to Humboldt Penguin) and the main office block. Many of these structures have been redeveloped or are due to be replaced in the current redevelopment plan. The Walk Through Aviary, a scaled-down version of the famous Snowdon Aviary at London Zoo built in 1967, finally closed around 2005/6 to become a garden area awaiting redevelopment.
1970s - small colony of 'Cornish' Chough established (from Irish stock), which later possibly transferred to Paradise Park at Hayle, Cornwall into the Operation Chough breeding programme. Councillor W.J. Rogers, one of those behind the decision to set up the zoo, was thought to be one of those involved in this project.
1976 - Dangerous Wild Animals Act covers large wild and exotic animals kept as pets leading to:
1977 - Ross and Demelza, pair of ex-pet African Lions handed into Newquay Zoo by local farming family! Ross lives until 1997. The first pair of African Lions were known as Queenie and Charlie (male). A lion was strikingly featured in the early adverts and press publicity for the zoo in 1969 and remained regularly part of the advertising until the early 2000s.
1983 - Dragon Maze planted 1982/3 by Adrian Fisher.
1985 to 1989 - redevelopment by Restormel Borough Council of the zoo's Activity play areas, Tarzan Trail, Oriental garden and Children's Farm area. A small hedgehog hospital established and run until about 2004.
1987 - new two storey version of Tropical House built with free-flight avairy, small aquarium and education centre / reptile room, with recorded visits of 5000 children in 1988.
1988 - new Penguin Pool developed out of old Sealion Pool (1969).
1989 - new walk though Rabbit warren opened (closed by 1996)
- new Lion House built and opened by 1990.
1990- 1996? Change of name and logo to Newquay Animal World temporarily.
Read more about this topic: Newquay Zoo, Timeline 1969