TOURISM VETERAN SAVES WARRAWONG SANCTUARY FROM EXTINCTION

A leading Adelaide Hills tourism operator has given Warrawong Sanctuary a lifeline – saving South Australia’s eco-tourism treasure from imminent closure. Mr Anthony Miller and his wife Judy, who also own the Big Rocking Horse and The Toy Factory in Gumeracha, bought Warrawong’s trading operation late last week, vowing to keep the Earth Sanctuary alive.

In a first for Warrawong, its doors will be open seven days a week, as the Millers’ embark on a campaign to attract more locals, tourists, school groups and functions to the unique Adelaide Hills facility. Mr Miller says his passion for tourism led him to save the Big Rocking Horse and The Toy Factory from closure in 2004 and that same drive has led him to Warrawong’s plight.

“The easiest option would be to close the doors and sell the land – but I don’t like ‘easy’ and I am looking forward to taking this challenge head-on,” Mr Miller said. “I am passionate about the tourism industry and believe that Warrawong is an incredibly important part of it – now and in the long-term. “It is a South Australian tourism icon. “I haven’t seen anything like it anywhere in the world and it’s something we should treasure.”

Mr Miller said it would be ‘business as usual’ at Warrawong, with some major improvements on the horizon.

“We will now be open every day offering lunch seven days a week and dinner on Friday and Saturday nights,” Mr Miller said. “Warrawong’s famous guided dawn and dusk walks to view the magnificent nocturnal animals are available and we will be undertaking a major refurbishment of our accommodation facilities.”

Mr Miller encouraged all South Australians to support his plight and put Warrawong on their list of ‘things to do’ this summer.

“Imagine bringing the family to Warrawong for a delicious dinner and topping the evening off with a dusk walk where the children can feed a red necked wallaby or a rufous bettong in such a pristine natural bushland setting,” Mr Miller said. “It’s only 20 minutes drive from Adelaide to see such a large range of native wildlife – why not jump in the car today.”

With its full restaurant and conference facilities, Mr Miller said Warrawong was the ideal spot for a special occasion or business conference.

“It’s something a bit different for that annual conference or an incredibly romantic back-drop for a wedding.”

Warrawong Sanctuary is located on Stock Road in Mylor in South Australia’s Adelaide Hills and provides visitors with a unique blend of wildlife conservation, tourism and education.

Warrawong was founded in 1969 by wildlife crusader Dr John Wamsely, joining a network of conservation facilities across Australia through his company Earth Sanctuaries, which was floated on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2000. Following years of significant financial losses, Warrawong was sold and changed hands several times prior to Mr Miller buying the freehold and leasehold.