Tidbinbilla Wildlife Park is located on the border of Namadgi National Park near Canberra. The 54.5 km² area of the park consists of a huge valley, Tidbinbilla Mountain and the Gibraltar Range.
The valley slopes are very steep and in a relatively undisturbed state, although traces of Aboriginal and European settlers can be found here. Mount Tidbinbilla is believed to have been used as a place for initiation ceremonies for local tribal youths. The name of the mountain itself comes from the Aboriginal word "Jedbinbilla", which means "the place where boys become men". One of the most famous Aboriginal sites here is Birriagi Rock Grotto, the oldest Aboriginal camp site in the Australian Capital Territory. Moth Rock is another Aboriginal site, where Aboriginal people used to collect sleeping night moths, the bogong.
Other inhabitants of the area who left evidence of their lives were European settlers. The Neil Desperandum and Stone Valley farmsteads were built of clay mixed with gravel in the 1890s. Nearby are the remains of a camellia plantation and a eucalyptus oil factory, best preserved in the Australian Capital Territory. Both buildings were severely damaged in the 2003 forest fires. "Stone Valley" was partially restored and "Neil Desperandum" was restored to its original form, even retaining the late 19th century design, but had to abandon the covered veranda which was irreparably damaged.
In 1936, about 8 km² of the area around the houses was reserved for a park, and in 1939 an aviary for koalas was built there. The government later acquired the land in 1962, expanding the park to its current size. In 1971, the park was officially opened.
In January 2003, 99% of the park was burned in a fire, and many of the park's inhabitants died in the blaze. Only one koala, 6 wallabies, 4 potoroos (a type of kangaroo rat), 4 mottled ducks and 9 black swans survived. But time is slowly erasing the traces of the devastating disaster, and today you can see kangaroos, wallabies, platypus, koalas, emus, ostriches, lyrebirds and other animals in the park again. There are many different walking trails, which take between 30 minutes and 6 hours to complete. The park's ecosystems are very diverse - wetlands, grassy plains, woodlands, subalpine meadows and others. There are a total of 14 habitat types here.
"Tidbinbilla is considered a leader in conducting research on wildlife breeding biology, including through its breeding programmes for the southern keystone stone kangaroo and other kangaroos - Potoru and Wallabies. A state-of-the-art veterinary clinic and breeding centre have contributed to the success of the programmes.
In 1980, the park established the Birrigai Environmental Education Centre, where school children can expand their knowledge of Australia's natural environment, most often through hands-on outdoor activities. Children can also enjoy the "Discover Nature!" playground, where they can pump water like the pioneers of the area, take a ride on a flying dog or become part of a giant sundial. Another attraction invites visitors to explore wildlife and learn how plants, animals and habitats are connected.
On 7 November 2008, the park was designated as one of 11 areas protecting the landscapes and wildlife of the Australian Alps National Heritage Area.
