The Bunya Park Wildlife Sanctuary which occupied a 25 acre site on the banks of the South Pine River was established by the Hogan Family in 1968 and operated as a major tourist attraction in South East Queensland. In the 1980’s it boasted the world’s second largest koala colony and prided itself on its ability to rehabilitate sick and orphaned native animals to full recovery.
Bunya Park was sold in 1989 to Koala Corporation. In 1993 Bunya Park was 25 years old and its animal population included turtles, dingoes, wombats, birds, kangaroos and koalas. Koala Corporation announced the closure of Bunya Park at Eatons Hill and its relocation to The Ginger Factory at Yandina in 1994.
A development proposal was submitted to Pine Rivers Shire Council to develop the site into a 56-lot housing development. Development of this magnitude would have resulted in the loss of the significant vegetation onsite and the loss of infrastructure that could be utilised by the wider community. Its position strategically placed on the South Pine River riparian corridor would also have severely affected the local fauna species that had ever reducing habitat due to urban sprawl.
A 2-year battle began between the developer and S.O.B.S (Save Our Bunya park Sanctuary) Community Action Group. In the end a compromise proposal was agreed to by both parties and 16 acreage housing lots were developed and the remaining 6 hectares were designated a Fauna and Flora Reserve and returned to Pine Rivers Shire Council.
