Everybody remembers Skippy the Bush Kangaroo - the family show about the kid and the kangaroo was sold in 128 countries and watched by hundreds of millions worldwide, showing for the first time that Australian stories could and did find a worldwide audience. The show put Australia firmly on the global map.
The 91 episodes of Skippy were in production for two and a half years at a time when there were very few rival productions. Therefore the series trained an entire generation of media industry professionals both in front of and behind the camera that went on to make a mark both at home and overseas.
Waratah Park is a landmark site in Sydney, situated about 30 minutes drive north of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park at Duffys Forest. Waratah Park is most famous for the Iconic 1960's TV series, "Skippy The Bush Kangaroo".
After the series ended, both the set and the animals used in filming remained. Over the years the place deteriorated, unsure whether it was an animal sanctuary, a petting zoo, or a movie set. Eventually, in 2003, Waratah Park was taken over by Earth Sanctuaries Limited who have a track record of restoring native wildlife habitats. So successful was this undertaking that the park was referred to as the "1788 sanctuary" due to its effectiveness in showcasing the flora and fauna that existed in the area prior to European settlement. Its future was bright as the first native earth sanctuary in Sydney that focused on the promotion and protection of Australian native flora and fauna and presented an invaluable opportunity for tourists, school groups and university field students to witness first hand the splendor of the Australian environment. Sadly the parent company of Waratah Park failed, pulling the rug from under Waratah Park before it could begin to succeed commercially.
Subsequently the Government consented to a transfer of the lease for Waratah Park to Melbourne-based property development group. Since then, the park again has been closed. The gates were locked and once again the park was allowed to deteriorate and all animals removed in August 2009.
Today, international tourists are still driving out to the home of Skippy, only to be turned away. It is terribly sad!
The major objective of the Wartah Park Nature Reserve Foundation is to ensure that the park remains a place for all to enjoy.