A Merry Christmas Holiday

Camel rides at Wellington Zoo

Wellington Zoo opened in 1906 and was New Zealand’s first zoo. It started with just a lion but grew rapidly. The camel was purchased in 1908 for £20 from the owners of ‘Wonderland’ in Miramar. It was a one-humped ‘draught’ camel and his enclosure was built on King Dick’s Hill (the lion). A stand was built to save the camel from kneeling down for passengers to climb on to his back.

‘… and the sad expression which the camel, in common with all his brothers and sisters, wears, may be changed to one of sweet satisfaction with himself if he can be made to realise that he is to be a revenue earner’. (Evening Post, 11 December 1908)

Rides were charged at 3d for children under 15, and 6d for older ‘children’. It was hoped that the revenue would not only pay for his maintenance but fund the purchase of a two-humped camel or to go to the lioness funds to procure a mate for Leo the Lonely. Rides were available every afternoon between 2 and 4pm, with the exception of Sundays.

In his first month, the camel earned over £2 10s from carrying visitors (this has the purchasing power of around £195 in present day currency).

‘The proceeds are to go towards buying more “prisoners” for the “Zoo”’ (Dominion, 1 January 1909).

A Merry Christmas Holiday, Auckland Weekly News, 28th December 1911. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19111228-02-01