On the 1st of May, 1954, a public aquarium opened in Largs, which over time grew into a miniature zoo.
On Monday 8th March 1954, Largs boat-hirer Frank Roche, owner of the motorboat ‘Carefree’ was granted permission by Largs Town Council to turn the south-side of the Largs municipal bathing station, which was on two levels with access to the beach, into a public aquarium.
To accommodate the aquarium, the north end of the bathing station was altered, to create separate ladies and gents changing areas and a new access point created for the ladies’ changing cubicles through the central ladies’ toilets.
The opening of the Aquarium on the afternoon of Saturday 1st May 1954 was a gala occasion for Largs and drew a large crowd. The event began with a display of country dancing performed by children from Largs Higher Grade School, followed by an exhibition of snake manipulation on the roof of the Aquarium performed by Mr D. Carr of Greenock who brought three snakes including a young South American boa constrictor.
At the Pierhead a group of pirates captured a mermaid, played by Glasgow University drama student Colette McCrossan, and headed by Piper Robert Dornan, the pirates and their captive made their way to the aquarium where they were greeted by Father Neptune, played by Hector Cameron, and Provost Andrew Montgomery who officially opened the Aquarium.
By closing time around 1,300 people had been in to visit the aquarium to see the exhibitions of cold water and tropical fish held in the electrically lit heated glass tanks set into the former bathing cubicles. Amongst the exhibits were ‘Anthony and Cleopatra’, two baby alligators from South America. For the next fourteen years it would prove to be a popular visitor attraction.
During the mid-to-late 1950’s Largs was hit by a storm which flooded the aquarium. With the help of local tradesmen, Frank was able to secure the building and save the fish and reptiles, although his supply of fish-food was ruined. A new exhibit was added to the aquarium on 4th April 1958 after a fishing smack caught an octopus in its nets.
Over time, the aquarium slowly turned into a miniature zoo. In the 1950’s and 60’s it was still possible to legally buy exotic animals, so each time that Frank visited London he would return with a new animal. By 1962 the zoo had a collection of birds, animals, reptiles and sealife.
On Friday 26th May 1962 an overheated compressor caused a bag of rags to catch fire sending plumes of smoke into the animal enclosures. Frank quickly took Bimbo the monkey, a bush baby and a snake, to safety. Largs Fire Brigade using their newly acquired breathing apparatus quickly put out the fire. Thankfully, although the fire caused some damage, Frank lost none of his exhibits.
The miniature zoo was especially appealing to children, who were able to get up close to the animals, especially the bush babies, whose cage door was left open so the children could interact with them. There were three monkeys named Hing, Doon and Bimbo, as well as a giant tortoise named Odd Job, whom Frank sometimes took a walk with, along the seafront. What a great advertising feature for a small zoo!
In 1964 Bimbo II escaped from the zoo and was found sitting in a pram with a six-week-old baby in Brisbane Street. The following year he escaped again, this time taking off along the prom chased by enterprising zoo visitors who caught him. Bimbo, not happy at being deprived of his freedom, bit the leg of the person who captured him, and as a result Frank Roche was fined £2 for not properly securing a dangerous animal.
In June 1967 Bimbo II died and was replaced by a female baby monkey named Bimbo III who along with the zoo’s other monkey Coco, entertained both children and adults with their tricks. In March 1967, Largs Town Council gave Frank Roche a year’s notice to quit the bathing station premises which were earmarked for demolition by May 1968. The Council aware that the zoo brought large numbers of visitors to Largs each summer, offered alternative sites, such as Aubery Crescent and the Barrfields Rose Garden which were both deemed unsuitable by Mr Roche. By August 1967, over 14,000 people had signed a petition protesting against the loss of the zoo. Frank applied for and was granted an extension until September 1968, allowing him one final summer season. After the zoo closed ‘Odd Job’ the giant tortoise was sent to Calderpark Zoo.