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Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Australia - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Callum Francis Callum Francis Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: January 2025 ANZSIC R8921

Revenue

$889.3m

2025-26

$905.6m

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xm

Employees

5,101

Businesses

156

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Australia industry analysis

Tourism trends have largely influenced the Zoological and Botanical Gardens industry’s performance over the past five years. Performance faltered during 2019-20 and 2020-21 due to pandemic restrictions, which significantly disrupted the industry's revenue-earning capacity from both local and tourist visitors. However, many businesses rebounded strongly as conditions returned to normality.

Trends and Insights

  • Consumer attitudes have shifted towards conservation and wildlife protection. Zoos and aquariums are investing in facilities that mimic natural habitats and use renewable energy to tap into consumer ideals and keep demand high.
  • The industry's reliance on local visitors escalated in 2019-20 and 2020-21 due to falling tourism. However, this trend reversed when international travel recommenced in 2022-23, leading to an expected decline in local visitors’ revenue share through 2024-25.
  • New South Wales houses the most zoos and botanical gardens in the country. Its temperate conditions enable nature to flourish, adding to its attraction.
  • Zoos, gardens and aquariums compete internally on customer quality and the content of information that they provide. Sites offer entertainment and educational value to visitors in a bid to attract consumers.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $889.3m in 2025.

Trends and Insights

The industry’s performance has reflected tourism trends

  • Tourism is a key driver for how well zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens are performing, as tourists account for a significant share of total visitor numbers.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Australia
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Changing societal attitudes about the environment will encourage boosted government funding

  • Most zoos and gardens receive significant levels of government funding, particularly those that are deemed strong tourist attractions to the city in which they’re located. Levels of government funding will determine how well zoos and gardens perform financially in the near future.

Biggest companies in the Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Taronga Conservation Society Australia
215.4
Zoos Victoria
163.0
Merlin Entertainments Australia
114.7

To view the market share and analysis for all 5 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Zoological gardens, Aquariums and Botanical gardens. Zoological gardens is the largest segment of the Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Ethical concerns have caused zoos’ revenue share to decline

  • Zoos are the industry’s largest segment based on revenue share. They serve as an attraction for visitors, a rehabilitation centre for endangered species and a veterinary facility for wounded or neglected animals.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry includes businesses engaged in the management, breeding, preservation, study and exhibition of live plants and animals in a controlled environment, like zoos, aquariums and botanical gardens.

What's included in this industry?

Zoological gardensAquariumsBotanical gardensArboretumsAviaries

Companies

Taronga Conservation Society AustraliaZoos VictoriaMerlin Entertainments Australia

Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

OPEN-RANGE ZOOAQUARIUMENCLOSURE

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 8921 - Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Consumer attitudes have shifted towards conservation and wildlife protection. Zoos and aquariums are investing in facilities that mimic natural habitats and use renewable ene...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The industry's reliance on local visitors escalated in 2019-20 and 2020-21 due to falling tourism. However, this trend reversed when international travel recommenced in 2022-...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

New South Wales houses the most zoos and botanical gardens in the country. Its temperate conditions enable nature to flourish, adding to its attraction.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Zoos, gardens and aquariums compete internally on customer quality and the content of information that they provide. Sites offer entertainment and educational value to visito...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The industry's largest players own multiple establishments in diverse locations, which builds their market share. Merlin Entertainments has invested in zoos and aquariums acr...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of Taronga Conservation Society Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Zoos Victoria's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Merlin Entertainments Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Taronga Conservation Society Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Zoos Victoria, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Merlin Entertainments Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Public assistance is vital to the industry. Public funding programs heavily support many entities, particularly botanical gardens that have low revenue-earning capabilities.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Despite the industry’s heavy reliance on labour and rising employment numbers, wage costs have decreased as a share of revenue. However, total expenses remain high due to maj...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Zoological and Botanical Gardens industry in Australia in 2025?

The market size of the Zoological and Botanical Gardens industry in Australia is $889.3m in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Australia industry in 2025?

There are 156 businesses in the Zoological and Botanical Gardens industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.9 % between 2020 and 2025.

Has the Zoological and Botanical Gardens industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Zoological and Botanical Gardens industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 4.7 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Zoological and Botanical Gardens industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Zoological and Botanical Gardens industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Zoological and Botanical Gardens market in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Zoological and Botanical Gardens market in Australia are Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Zoos Victoria and Merlin Entertainments Australia

What does the Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Australia include?

Zoological gardens and Aquariums are part of the Zoological and Botanical Gardens industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Zoological and Botanical Gardens in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Taronga Conservation Society Australia.

How competitive is the Zoological and Botanical Gardens industry in Australia?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Zoological and Botanical Gardens industry in Australia.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.