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The Ballarat Wildlife Park is a privately owned business run by The Parker family and their team. Here at the Park we offer a nice comfortable walk around our facilities, with the chance to get up close and personal to some of Australia’s most famous native animals. With over 100 Kangaroos roaming free, around the Park, we give you the opportunity to experience hand feeding these amazing animals. We also give you the chance to interact with Koalas, Wombats, and a variety of reptiles ranging from Snakes to Lizards and even a Giant Tortoise. You can enjoy lunch in our fully licensed cafe or bring along a picnic to have on our outdoor table and chairs, surrounded by the Kangaroos. And while at the Park, why not ask our friendly staff about our ‘Animal Encounters’, which is a photo of you and an animal, professionally taken as your souvenir to take home.

The battle of the Eureka Stockade is heralded by many as the birth of democracy in Australia and has an enduring place in the Australian consciousness. In 1854, gold miners and their supporters protested what they saw as unjust regulations and law enforcement imposed by the colonial government, including the prohibitively expensive gold licence. Unrest built for months across the central Victorian goldfields, but especially in the busy goldrush settlements of Bendigo and Ballarat. They were angry at the restrictive rules around mining, land ownership and the right to vote. Tensions continued to rise as the protesters felt the government was ignoring their demands. Finally, the miners and their allies met and agreed to resist the authorities by building a timber stockade at a strategic position on the Eureka Lead, in the heart of the gold mining area of Ballarat East and with a clear view of the road from Melbourne. Before dawn on 3 December 1854, 276 British soldiers and police marched from the government camp in the centre of Ballarat, to confront the rebels. Only 120 people were at the stockade when the soldiers and police arrived as they were not expecting an attack on a Sunday morning. The battle was swift and deadly – it was over within 20 minutes. Six soldiers were killed, and 22 rebels were registered as casualties. The exact death toll remains a subject of debate but has been estimated as being as high as 60. There was a heavy military presence in the town immediately after the battle and more people may have died during this time. Those who survived either fled and went into hiding or were arrested. Thirteen rebels were tried for treason, twelve were acquitted and charges against one were dropped.

The concept of Tuki began in 1985, when the farm was first open to guests as a trout fishing venue. At this time the largest commercial flock of Tukidale sheep grazed on the property, hence the name Tuki. Tukidale sheep are a course wool breed, producing wool for carpets. They are a genetic variation of the Romney Marsh. The unique Tukidale breed was established an s a breed in New Zealand. The first stone cottages were opened in 1993, built with blue stone from the property, they blend well with the dry stonewalls that Don and Robert have created. The next stone cottages were completed in 1997 and feature furniture locally made utilising some of the aged timber from the property. Further cottages were completed in 1999. Don lived on the farm since the 1940’s, his late wife Violet and two children Jenny and Robert created the concept of Tuki together. Jenny has gone on to manage her own business in Ballarat, and now Robert, Jan, David and Alistair keep the concept going. Don passed away in 2007, but the product of his vision remains. The trout that stock the ponds are reared on the property in a variety of growing ponds. The good quality water they live in contribute to the wonderful flavour of our trout. The water that is provided for drinking and the spas is high quality water with excellent mineral qualities, it is also filtered. The lamb & beef products on the menu come from our own flock; they are pasture fed so giving a wonderful flavour. We pursue organic & sustainable principles.