Port Macquarie
Australia's first koala hospital (1973). Rescues 300 koalas/year with 150 volunteers. 100K+ visitors annually. Guulabaa breeding centre opened post-Black Summer. Major redevelopment 2025-26.
Port Macquarie opened Australia's first koala hospital—and now the hospital draws more visitors than many could imagine caring about marsupials. Established in 1973, the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital was Australia's first dedicated koala facility and licensed wildlife rehabilitation centre. It rescues about 300 koalas annually with help from 150 volunteers.
Over 100,000 visitors arrive each year. The hospital became a tourism asset—proof that conservation can generate economic activity. Following the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, donations enabled construction of Guulabaa ('Place of the Koala' in Gathang language), a Wild Koala Breeding Program and Visitor Centre in Cowarra State Forest.
The original hospital site closed in May 2025 for major redevelopment, with reopening planned for 2026. Construction includes new pathways, skylights, and expanded facilities, remaining within the Restart NSW budget allocation. Operations temporarily relocated to Guulabaa.
Port Macquarie itself grew from a penal settlement (1821) to a retirement and tourism destination. The population of the broader region exceeds 80,000. Coastal location, mild climate, and proximity to Sydney (4 hours by road) attract retirees and sea-changers.
The koala hospital model—conservation as tourism, volunteers as workforce—has influenced wildlife facilities across Australia.
By 2026, Port Macquarie tests whether a koala hospital can remain relevant as the species it treats faces climate and habitat pressures.