The small collection of birds and mammals that would over thirty years lead to the formation of the zoological collection of the Launceston City Park was begun in 1850.  The People's Park, as it was first known, was a seven-acre block of land owned by the Launceston Horticultural Society and located between Ence Street to the North and Tamar Street to the South.  In 1850, the park is believed to have exhibited the last two captive Tasmanian emus (Dromaius .  The Tasmanian emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae diemenensis), illustrated by John Gerrard Keulemans, circa 1910.

novaehollandiae diemenensis).  This unique Tasmanian bird is believed to have become extinct during the early 1850s, although there is evidence to suggest that the species existed into the 1870s.     On the 28th October 1863, the Launceston City Council took over direct financial responsibility for the running of City Park from the Launceston Horticultural Society.  The first superintendent of the zoo was William McGowan (senior). William McGowan was born in Banffshire Scotland in 1858.  He arrived in Launceston on the 7th June 1882, and three weeks later took up the position of Superintendent of Public Reserves.

"Messrs. B. P. Farrelly and H. Button are to be congratulated upon the success which has attended their persistent efforts to form a public collection of living specimens of natural history.  When the matter was brought forward in the Municipal Council many months ago by those gentlemen, permission was granted to set apart a small portion of the Public Gardens for the purpose of a collection, and a small amount was voted for cages, etc.  The action of the council was at the time adversely commented upon by many who considered that the collection would cost a considerable amount, in the first instance for cages and specimens, and in the next for maintenance, and that 'the game was not worth the candle'; in other words, the collection would not be appropriate.  In the first place, the cages cost a small sum, the whole of the animals and birds in the

. . City Park Zoo showing animal cages in the background. . collection have been presented to the council, and the annual maintenance is covered, I believe, by between £20 and £25.  That the collection is appreciated by the public a visit to the park at any time is the best evidence.  I give a list of the animals and birds in the collection, which will show what energy on the part of the promoters and the hearty co-operation of the public have done at the North :-In the cages, which are placed near the pavilion and off the main entrance, are four Tasmanian eagles, four white hawks, several swamp and sparrow hawks, eight owls and mope hawks, bronze wing pigeons and plovers, cockatoos and parrots, English starling and quail, crows and ravens, magpies and jays, peacock and hens, guinea-fowls, Australian and Tasmanian laughing jackasses, and a large emu.  There are also in the cages an Adelaide dingo, a native dog, an English fox, Tasmanian devils, tiger and native cats, Australian bear, wombats, porcupine, forester kangaroo, several brush kangaroo and wallaby, kangaroo-rats, black, ring-tailed, and other opossums, rabbits and hares, a stag from Ben Lomond and one from Creasy, and four monkeys.  Near the entrance from the Main Line Railway station there is an enclosure containing a large pond with a miniature islet in the centre.  Here are to be found six black swans, Cape Barron geese, mountain duck, black duck, gulls, diver, native hens, bald coots, platypus, etc.  ln the day time the deer, emu, and kangaroo are placed in an enclosure where they find ample room.  The following have been promised to the council:-Several deer, a Tasmanian tiger, a native companion (Victoria), and golden pheasants".

    An article in The Colonist of the 11th May 1889 (p. 21) reports on the exchange of two leopards from Adelaide Zoo in exchange for two thylacines from City Park:

    "ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTION, CITY PARK. - By the s.s. Flinders, which arrived here on Tuesday afternoon, there arrived a pair of very fine leopards consigned to the superintendent of public reserves, from the collection of the Zoological Society, Adelaide.  They were dispatched on Saturday, arriving in Melbourne by the s.s. Adelaide at noon on Monday, when they were immediately transhipped into the Flinders, which left for this port at 2 o'clock on the same day, and arrived here as above in splendid condition.  A word of thanks is due to the T.S.N. Company for their usual courtesy and kindness in carrying the animals over free of charge.  We understand that the fine pair of Tasmanian tigers lately in the City Park were dispatched last Thursday in exchange for the leopards.  In conversing with Mr McGowan, he informed us he would be very glad if friends in the country would interest themselves in donating healthy specimens of our native birds and animals, such as green parrots, black magpies, jackasses, native hens, Tasmanian devils, kangaroos, wallabies, etc., etc., for the purpose of making exchange with the neighboring colonies, as several offers are pending the question of exchange.  In our opinion it is time the Council were bestirring further in providing more suitable accommodation for several of those lots of birds imprisoned in the old green terrace facing the east, where from the unhealthy construction they can scarcely be expected to exist".