🐍 Reptile House Grand Opening!
On Tuesday the 21st of October we’re going to be celebrating our grand opening on International Reptile Awareness Day!
We officially unveil our brand-new, state-of-the-art Reptile House — a vibrant new precinct celebrating Australia’s incredible scaly and slimy wildlife.
This thoughtfully designed space provides a fresh start for our resident reptiles, amphibians and insects, featuring 28 new enclosures with bioactive environments and innovative co-housing arrangements that put animal wellbeing first. Visitors will discover an amazing diversity of species — from local Northern Rivers natives to creatures found across Australia — all housed in habitats that mimic the natural world.
More than just an exhibit, the Reptile House is an educational hub, giving guests a hands-on opportunity to learn about often misunderstood species, their roles in healthy ecosystems, and how we can all help protect them.
A Landmark in the Making
One of the centrepiece features is “Arthur,” a 5-metre Red-Bellied Black Snake sculpture created by Natureworks. The Reptile House shall bea stunning collaboration between artists, builders, and the local community, including Cat Gerke Artist and Dane from Rolling Stone Projects. This impressive installation weaves together art, education, and conservation, and is set to become a must-see landmark for visitors of all ages.
Built with Local Community Support 🛠
The Reptile House has been a true community effort, brought to life with the expertise and generosity of our incredible partners and suppliers:
Construction: Rolling Stone Projects
Enclosure Specialists: King Enclosures & Habitats at Home
Electrical: New Age Electrical
Plumbing: Camel and Sons
Project Management: Cat Gerke
Construction Supply Partners:
CSR Group (Gyprock, Bradford Insulation, Cemintel)
Plateau Landscaping Supplies
Lysaght Gold Coast (Colorbond)
Finlaysons Timber Supplies
Weathertex Cladding
Dulux Paint
Bunnings Ballina
Koelner Steel Ballina
Off the Rails (Australian Hardwood)
Natureworks (Giant Snake Sculpture)
DJ City (Audio & Speakers)
🎉 Come Celebrate with Us!
Join us on Monday 21st October as we open the doors to this exciting new chapter for the Sanctuary. Explore the new precinct, meet our scaly residents, and celebrate the fascinating world of reptiles with us!
Some photos from our humble renovation beginnings, join us later in the month for the grand reveal!
