The most amazing contribution to the zoological collection was a pair of Galapagos Tortoises (probably born 1830) originally owned by Charles Darwin and collected in 1835. One source has the delivery of these animals in 1939 but the true date of their arrival is yet to be confirmed. The animal collection was located largely within the Queens Park section of the gardens and closed in 1958. The last surviving Giant Tortoise Harry (later found to be really Harriet) was given to Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park (now Australia Zoo) and eventually died on 23 June 2006 as a much beloved superstar! Here’s her story: https://www.australiazoo.com.au/our-animals/harriet/
