Snake Park / Koala Farm
Peace Park (Park 12)
Between 1927 and 1960 this site was used for one of the more unusual activities on the Adelaide Park Lands. First established as a snake park and later a koala "farm", the operation was always controversial because it represented commercial intrusion into highly valued public land.
However, the koalas, snakes, camels, seals and albino kangaroos were very popular with the public. There was also the occasional sensational incident such as one which involved a fatal snake bite, a second involving a python attempting to devour its handler instead of a live chicken and that involving a large escaped snake holding up traffic on an adjacent road.
The "Adelaide Park Lands and City Layout" is included on the National Heritage List. Adelaide was designed by Colonel William Light in 1837, creating the only City in the world completely surrounded by Park Lands.