Andrew Arthur Wellesley Wilkie (c. March 1853 – 1 February 1948) was director of Melbourne Zoo from 1923 to 1936, and closely associated with that institution for 70 years.
[2] His first job was as assistant to botanist Ferdinand von Mueller, first secretary of the Zoological Society, which in 1858 was granted £3,000 and 33 acres (13 ha) of bushland at Richmond Park on a bend of the Yarra River opposite the Botanic Gardens.
[3] When in 1869 the Acclimatization Society acquired land at Royal Park to raise deer, golden pheasants, hares and partridges (for the benefit of sportsmen), Von Mueller secured the job of attendant there for his young protégé and his elder brother David Wilkie.
He enlisted the aid of Wilkie, who arrived at Fremantle in 1896 by the steamer Barcoo, and with the assistance of Henry Giles (later head keeper), laid out the zoo's parks, enclosures and pathways.
He was succeeded by Hector Kendall, who was appointed assistant director in March 1933 and had been honorary veterinary surgeon to the zoo for 20 years.