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Miniature Train and Elephant Rides

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DecriptionThe miniature (sometimes 'midget') train began operation at Adelaide Zoo in 1925. 'Here She Comes', as the train was known, was an immediate hit, and soon after its introduction was carrying a thousand children a day during school holidays. According to an article in the Advertiser (21 May 1925, p9), 'To see "Here She Comes" ... come puffing round the bends in Jungle Land fills the children with delight. Even a casual observer will be satisfied that this recent Zoo attraction is a boon to the children.'
The image shows the original train and carriages. 'Over the years there were many alterations to the train, its engine type, its carriages and track mounting. Up until 1976/77 its route remained the same, running behind the present small cat enclosure, in front of the North Terrace aviaries, the lions, tigers, tree kangaroos and condors with a stop at the Rock wallaby exhibit near the Tree kangaroos. In 1976/77 the train changed to rubber wheels and was re-routed to avoid disturbing important breeding animals such as the Red pandas.' (Source: Adelaide Zoo)
The engine pictured is now in use at the Moonta Mines Railway, run by the Moonta Branch of the National Trust, South Australia.
Elephant rides for children were immensely popular at Adelaide Zoo for decades. This image taken in the late 1920s shows children riding Mary Ann, the zoo's second elephant, who had arrived from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1904 aged 8. Every afternoon between 2pm and 4.30pm, children could ride on her back for 3d. The headkeeper, Mr Bradshaw, led her around a circular track. The rides were so popular that Mary Ann paid for her own upkeep, and earned more in a day than Bradshaw earned in a week. Mary Ann died in 1934.
The Adelaide Zoo first opened on 23 May 1883, occupying 6.5 hectares (16 acres) (now 8 hectares (20 acres)) of land granted by the Government. It was founded by the South Australian Acclimatization and Zoological Society. The society later became the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia after a Royal Charter was granted by King George VI in 1937.
(See Patricia Sumerling, Elephants and Egotists: In search of Samorn of the Adelaide Zoo, Wakefield Press, 2016; C E Rix, Royal Zoological Society of South Australia 1878-1978, Royal Zoological Society of South Australia, 1978.)
Similar photos are at GN04369, GN04370, GN04373, GN04374, GN04380, GN07657 CreatorState Government PhotographerLocationnot specifiedDate of Creation1920Catalogue NumberGN07659

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Photographer(Image)State Government PhotographerCopyright(Image)out of copyrightLicense(Image)Public Domain

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SubjectsAdelaide ZooCollectionSouth Australia Through the LensAnimal companions

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