Guests at the opening day of Taronga Park Zoo, as it was then called, on 7 October 1916.

While officially opened in 1916, Taronga Zoo’s history dates back to 1884 on a site known as Billy Goat Swamp in Moore Park. Eventually considered unsuitable, the site was relocated to the zoo’s present location in Mosman. In all, 228 mammals, 552 birds and 64 reptiles were moved, many – such as Jessie the Asian elephant, pictured – crossing the harbour on board a flat-top barge.

Jessie being transferred from the barge in 1916.

Once popular, the last elephant ride at Taronga Zoo was given in 1976 – 60 years after the zoo’s opening. Up until then, elephant rides were a feature at Taronga Zoo, where favourites like Jessie and Jumbo carried up to 10 people at a time.

A lady poses next to koalas (unknown date). Animal encounters remain a drawcard at Taronga Zoo, with the opportunity to pose next to a koala and take away a souvenir photo still a popular attraction, a century later.

School group at Taronga Zoo (unknown date). 

Located in the heart of Sydney, Taronga Zoo has offered education and entertainment to school children from Sydney and beyond for 100 years.

The main entrance to Taronga Zoo, the first public zoo in New South Wales.

The first exhibits to be built at Taronga Zoo in the Sydney suburb of Mosman were the seal ponds, elephant temple, monkey pits, top entrance, aviaries, paths and roadways and the refreshment rooms.

The Mosman site of Taronga Zoo covers 52 acres.

Zoo keeper with a small star tortoise (date unknown).

After a critical review in 1967, a new era in the style and philosophy for the operation of Taronga Zoo began, with new emphasis on scientific research, conservation and education.

Zoo keeper Cody brushing the teeth of a hippo. (Unknown date)

Taronga Zoo staff member with two elephants (unknown date).

Taronga has housed elephants since its beginning and today is home to 10 Asian elephants and one African elephant across both its Sydney and Dubbo locations (Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo was opened in February 1977).

The Giraffe House at Taronga Zoo was completed in 1923.

The Zoo’s ‘Sky Safari’ cable cars provide transport for guests from the lower entrance near the wharf to the zoo’s plaza.

A Taronga Zoo keeper with wallabies in the 1940s/50s.

The Taronga Zoo seal theatre was opened in the late 1970s as an educational facility. This photo was taken in the 1980s.

The Taronga Zoomobile in the 1980s/90s.

The Zoombile outreach program is still in operation today.

The Australian bicentennary in 1988 was one of just two occasions when Taronga Zoo closed in a century. The other time was in 1917 when the site was used to house labourers employed on the Sydney wharves during the transport strike.

Keeper John West feeds a seal in the 1980s.

Keeper John West with two seamen from HMAS Launceston photographed with turtles, probably in the 1980s.

John West started his career in the Taronga Zoo Aquarium in 1966.

Visitors observe a giant panda in the 1980s.

Children get up close with a pair of kiwis. Date unknown, but likely the 1920s.

A Taronga Zoo keeper with rhinos in the 1960s, including a baby white rhino before it was moved to Dubbo.

Keeper Renae Moss with Monifa, a pygmy hippo born at the zoo 2008. Monifa was the zoo’s first pygmy hippo calf birth in 23 years.

Taronga Zoo Bird Show Keeper Brendan Host with a juvenile Andean condor in 2012.

Giraffe photographed against a backdrop of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge in 2014. Taronga Zoo currently has four giraffes.