Our Story
For over five decades, Symbio Wildlife Park has been a place where people connect with animals, nature, and each other. Our journey has been shaped by the passion and dedication of the families who have cared for Symbio since it's official opening 1971.
Before there were red pandas to meet and kangaroos to feed… there were cockroaches and rats.... thousands of them.
Symbio Wildlife Park has come a long way since its unlikely origins as a small scientific lab in Sydney's southern outskirts. Our journey began with a love for nature, a passion for education, and a vision to inspire future generations to care for the world around them.
Symbio Animal Gardens
1971 – 1975
Maxwell (Max) and Patricia (Pat) Mapleson were the original founders of Symbio, which began in 1962 as a small specimen laboratory. At the time, Max worked as a laboratory technician at the University of New South Wales while studying science, and Pat was teaching English and History after completing her arts degree.
In 1970, the Maplesons purchased a five-acre property in Helensburgh. Once home to an old sawmill and piggery, the land had been left in disrepair and was buried under more than 250 tons of rubbish. Through hard work and determination, they cleared the site and began transforming it into a modern laboratory complex.
Over the next five years, their vision grew into something more: Symbio Animal Gardens, a place where education and enjoyment came together in a truly unique way.
Symbio Animal Gardens officially opened on 18 December 1971. Described as an “offbeat miscellany,” it offered visitors the chance to interact with emus, donkeys, silky bantams, kangaroos, lambs, and a diverse collection of birds, all set within beautifully landscaped grounds. Viewing windows inside the complex gave the public a rare glimpse into the laboratory, home to over 2,000 rats, funnel-web spiders, and toads used for scientific study and care.
With entry priced at just 40 cents for children and 60 cents for adults, Symbio quickly became a standout attraction in the Illawarra region.
In 1975, after years of dedication, Max and Pat made the difficult decision to put Symbio up for auction. On 15 February 1975, it was listed by LJ Hooker as a “tremendous tourist attraction.”
Max and Pat Mapleson's lives were defined by curiosity, creativity, and the courage to pursue the unconventional. Symbio exists today because of the foundations they laid. Built with heart, hard work, and imagination.
Symbio Koala Gardens
1975 – 2000
Robert (Bob) and Frances (Fran) Grover became the second owners and stewards of Symbio in 1975. Both pharmacists by profession, Bob owned and operated a pharmacy where Fran worked alongside him. Purchasing Symbio marked the beginning of a new and unexpected chapter, one they embraced with a leap of faith that would shape the next 25 years of their lives.
After acquiring the modest five-acre park, Bob and Fran moved onsite, converting the existing laboratory complex into their family home. They raised their children there, balancing family life with the demands of running both the pharmacy and the park. Within a year, they knew Symbio was their future, and committed themselves fully to its growth.
Over the next two and a half decades, the Grovers transformed Symbio from a quiet local attraction into a well-known wildlife park, recognised for its open spaces, hands-on experiences, and community values. They expanded the animal collection and introduced memorable visitor offerings, many inspired by Bob’s deep affection for rural life.
Among the most beloved of these was the farmyard cow milking, which gave thousands of schoolchildren a chance to experience authentic farm practices. Horse and cart rides with Punch, the resident draught horse, and the installation of a summer pool added even more charm and appeal.
Bob believed in giving city kids a chance to experience “real life,” and that ethos shaped Symbio’s identity from the 1970s through to the 1990s. Under the Grovers’ stewardship, the park became a favourite destination for school groups, families, and animal lovers alike.
By the late 1990s, Symbio had grown into a thriving wildlife park with a reputation for education and immersive animal experiences. In 2000, after 25 years of dedication, Bob and Fran made the difficult decision to retire.
Their legacy is deeply embedded in Symbio’s story. Through vision, resilience, and round-the-clock commitment, Bob and Fran Grover helped shape the Symbio we know today, a place built on connection, learning, and community.
Symbio Wildlife Park
2000 – 2016
John and Margaret Radnidge became the third owners and stewards of Symbio on November 13, 2000.
Their path to ownership was anything but straightforward—driven by persistence, personal sacrifice, and a belief in Symbio’s long-term potential. While their official chapter began in 2000, the Radnidge family had been connected to the park for nearly a decade, with several family members gaining valuable experience under the guidance of Bob and Fran Grover.
At the time, no one could have foreseen that they would one day all carry forward the responsibility of Symbio’s future.
In the early years of ownership, resources were limited. With no budget for major upgrades or expansion, and unexpected hardships, the family worked hard and focused on what they could control: maintaining high standards in cleanliness, presentation, guest experience, and operational efficiencies. Together, they embraced the principle of Kaizen; a Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement - a value that remains deeply embedded in Symbio’s culture today.
Through disciplined management and a shared commitment to detail, the family laid the foundations for growth: introducing new species, expanding wildlife experiences, contributing to ex situ conservation efforts, and strengthening Symbio’s reputation for quality education and care.
Symbio Wildlife Park
Into the Future
Now under second generation Radnidge custodianship, Symbio has continued to evolve into one of the Illawarra’s most respected and valued institutions.
Symbio continues to grow while remaining committed to its founding purpose.
In 2025, we proudly launched the Symbio Conservation Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to native species restoration and habitat preservation.
This marked a bold new chapter—expanding Symbio’s impact beyond the park boundaries, and deepening our commitment to conservation and rewilding projects.
Today, Symbio operates as two distinct but interconnected entities:
Symbio Wildlife Park – a vibrant, family-friendly destination that connects people from all walks of life, from all over the world, to animals and the environment.
Symbio Conservation Foundation – working behind the scenes to deliver meaningful outcomes for Australian wildlife and habitats.
This chapter has been shaped by the legacy of the Mapleson, Grover, and Radnidge families, each united by a commitment to wildlife education, inspiration, and preservation. From Max and Pat Mapleson’s original 1971 vision, to the launch of a formal conservation arm in 2025, Symbio’s journey continues with integrity and purpose.
Our second-generation custodians are honoured and humbled to carry this legacy forward—preserving what has come before while driving innovation and excellence into the future.
Above all, we remain guided by our enduring purpose: to foster meaningful connections between animals, people, and the environment.
