{{Short description|Zoo in Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox zoo |zoo_name = Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary |logo = Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary Logo.png |logo_width = |logo_caption = |image =Forest - Warrawong.JPG |image_width = |image_caption= Forest habitat in Warrawong Sanctuary |date_opened = |date_closed = |location = [[Mylor, South Australia|Mylor]], [[South Australia]], [[Australia]] |coordinates = {{Coord|-35.037596|138.734885|format=dms|type:landmark_region:AU-SA|display=inline,title}} |area = {{convert|35|ha}} |num_animals = |num_species = |members = |exhibits = |website = {{URL|www.warrawongws.com.au}} }}
'''Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary''', formerly '''Warrawong Sanctuary''', is a wildlife reserve in the Australian state of [[South Australia]] located in the suburb of [[Mylor, South Australia|Mylor]] about {{convert|17|km}} south-east of the centre of the state capital of [[Adelaide city centre|Adelaide]].<ref name="LMV">{{cite web |title=Search results for "Warrawong Sanctuary" with the following datasets selected - "Suburbs and Localities" and "gazetteer"|url=http://location.sa.gov.au/viewer/?map=roads&x=138.74995&y=-35.00159&z=12&uids=19,105&pinx=138.736250&piny=-35.036140&pinTitle=Location&pinText=Warrawong+Sanctuary,+Park |website=Location SA Map Viewer |publisher=South Australian Government |accessdate=6 October 2018}}</ref>
==History== The land was established as Warrawong Sanctuary<ref>{{cite web | title=Yookamurra | website=Johnwamsley.com | date=7 October 1992 | url=https://www.johnwamsley.com/may23.html | access-date=12 October 2020}}</ref> by [[John Wamsley]] to conserve [[endangered]] Australian wildlife. He purchased the first {{convert|35|acre|ha|0}}, a degraded [[dairy farm]], in 1969, with {{convert|50|acre|ha|0|abbr=on}} later added.<ref>{{cite news | title= Australia: Out on a limb | last = Newton | first= Richard | date=8 March 2002 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=UK | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/australiaandpacific/australia/723669/Australia-Out-on-a-limb.html| url-status= dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612183859/http://www.telegraph.co.uk:80/travel/australiaandpacific/australia/723669/Australia-Out-on-a-limb.html|archive-date=12 June 2008}}</ref>
Wamsley eradicated all [[feral]] plants and animals (including [[fox]]es, which are predators of [[platypus]]) from the sanctuary and erected a surrounding fence to preserve the sanctuary's feral-free state, completed in 1982.<ref>{{cite web | title=Life reinstated to much-loved Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary | first=Melissa | last=Keogh | website=The Lead SA | date=3 October 2018 | url=http://theleadsouthaustralia.com.au/industries/regional-showcase/life-reinstated-to-much-loved-warrawong-wildlife-sanctuary/ | access-date=12 October 2020 | archive-date=12 October 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012171044/http://theleadsouthaustralia.com.au/industries/regional-showcase/life-reinstated-to-much-loved-warrawong-wildlife-sanctuary/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> Warrawong was opened to the general public in 1985 with the goal of generating enough money to set up more sanctuaries. A company, Earth Sanctuaries Limited, was started in 1988 with a forty-year strategy to create a network of eighty sanctuaries, spanning all of Australia's habitats. The company was listed on the [[Australian Stock Exchange]] on 8 April 2000. The float was under-subscribed leaving the company {{AUD|10 million}} short of funds and unable to complete its network of sanctuaries in the eastern states of Australia.<ref>{{cite news|last=Radford|first=Leigh|title=John Wamsley|work=Rural Legends|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|url=http://www.abc.net.au/rural/legends/stories/7_1.htm|accessdate=29 August 2007}}</ref> In 2003, part of the site was subdivided by [[property developers]] During the mid-2000s, Earth Sanctuaries Limited was delisted from the Australian stock exchange.<ref>{{cite news|last=Adams|first=Prue|title=Wamsley walks away from Earth Sanctuaries|work=Landline|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|url=https://www.abc.net.au/local/archives/landline/content/2005/s1330004.htm|date=27 March 2005|accessdate=12 October 2020}}</ref>
Due to the company's poor commercial performance, Warrawong was closed for five months of 2005. In 2006 the sanctuary was bought by Anthony Miller, owner of the [[Gumeracha, South Australia|Gumeracha]] Toy Factory and [[Big Rocking Horse]], with a commitment to continue operations.<ref>{{cite news | title=SA's Warrawong Sanctuary sold for more than $1m | work=ABC News | publisher = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | date = 2 June 2006 | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200606/s1654329.htm}}</ref>
In May 2010 Warrawong was bought by [[Zoos South Australia]] and the [[Ngarrindjeri]] People.<ref>{{cite news | title=Zoo partnership puts South Australia's Warrawong Sanctuary in safe hands | work=Adelaide Now | publisher = [[News Limited]] | date = 16 May 2010 | url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/zoo-partnership-puts-south-australias-warrawong-sanctuary-in-safe-hands/story-e6frea83-1225867482582}}</ref> However, in February 2013 Zoos South Australia announced that they had withdrawn their support for the Sanctuary due to it being an unsustainable return on their investment.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blog.conservationark.org.au/index.php/entry/zoos-sa-to-cease-business-operations-at-warrawong|title=Zoos SA to Cease Business Operations at Warrawong|date=4 February 2013}}</ref>
In 2017, the abandoned Sanctuary was purchased by Narelle MacPherson and David Cobbold, a couple from [[Peel Zoo]] in [[Pinjarra, Western Australia|Pinjarra]], [[Western Australia]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/adelaide-hills-warrawong-wildlife-sanctuary-acquired-by-wa-couple/news-story/113683e86a550fb0078042a72797a2bf|title=New-look Warrawong to be 'jewel in crown'|access-date=2017-06-10}}</ref>
In 2017, there were unconfirmed sightings of [[platypus]] in the [[Sturt Gorge Recreation Park]], on the [[Sturt River]], and another further east at [[Coromandel Valley]], suspected to be former escapees from Warrawong. The last confirmed record on mainland South Australia had been in 1975, near [[Renmark, South Australia|Renmark]], nearly {{convert|300|km}} away in the [[Riverland]] region. Cameras were set up in Sturt Gorge to try to photograph the shy creatures, but did not manage to do so.<ref name="Sutton 2017">{{cite web | last=Sutton | first=Malcolm | title=Platypus 'sighting' in the Adelaide Hills sparks camera set-up to capture extinct species - ABC News | website=ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) | date=3 May 2017 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-04/cameras-set-up-to-confirm-platypus-sighting-in-adelaide-hills/8492400 | access-date=12 October 2020}}</ref>
Initially purchasing just {{convert|11|ha}} in 2017, McPherson and Cobold were able to source another {{AUD|45,000}} by [[crowdfunding]] in 2018, which covered most of the purchase price of the adjacent {{convert|5.6|ha|adj=on|abbr=on}} Lake Cumbungi. Wamsley had created this lake as the main source of water for the [[ecosystem]], but this had been cut off from the sanctuary in when it had been subdivided in 2003, and also lacked an electricity source after purchase.<ref name="Sutton 2020">{{cite web | last=Sutton | first=Malcolm | title=V6 Commodore water pump gets the tick from nesting platypus at Warrawong | website=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=1 October 2020 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-02/playtpus-nesting-in-restored-swamp-at-warrawong/12719346 | access-date=7 October 2020}}</ref> After lack of success with a [[solar pump]], a volunteer with experience in the [[automotive industry]] had thought of using the [[V6 engine]] of a [[Holden Commodore]] to power a pump to bring water uphill from Lake Cumbungi so it could flow back down and create a "[[swamp]]". Walmsley had provided advice and assistance in adjusting the [[pH level]] to that preferred by the platypus.<ref name="Sutton 2020"/>
==Today== In September 2020, a female platypus was seen nesting in the [[swamp]]. Further down the hill, there had been two breeding pairs in the previous season, and it is thought that this female was one of the offspring.<ref name="Sutton 2020"/> Warrawong is thought to be the only remaining location of platypus on mainland South Australia.<ref>{{cite web | title=Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary | website=Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary | url=https://www.warrawongws.com.au/ | access-date=12 October 2020}}</ref> (There is an introduced population in [[Flinders Chase]] on [[Kangaroo Island]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Platypus Waterholes Walk | website=Walking SA | url=https://www.walkingsa.org.au/walk/find-a-place-to-walk/platypus-waterholes-walk/ | access-date=12 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ees.adelaide.edu.au/research/fbp/ki_res/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040706181309/http://www.ees.adelaide.edu.au/research/fbp/ki_res/|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 July 2004|title=Research on Kangaroo Island|publisher=University of Adelaide|date=4 July 2006| accessdate = 23 October 2006}}</ref>)
The sanctuary had to close during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Australia]], but was planning to reopen for the summer of 2020–2021.<ref name="Sutton 2020"/>
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
== External links == * [http://www.warrawongws.com.au/ Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary] * [http://www.fame.org.au/ Foundation for Australia's Most Endangered Species]
{{Zoos of South Australia}}
[[Category:1969 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Zoos established in 1969]] [[Category:Zoos in South Australia]] [[Category:Animal sanctuaries]]