It is located at Healesville in rural Victoria, Australia, and has a history of breeding native animals.

[1] The zoo is set in a natural bushland environment where paths wind through different habitat areas showcasing wallabies, wombats, dingoes, kangaroos, and over 200 native bird varieties.

Dr Colin MacKenzie (knighted in 1929) set up the Institute of Anatomical Research in 1920 on 78 acres (32 ha) of land formerly part of the Aboriginal reserve known as Coranderrk.

The Reserve passed to the Healesville Council in 1927 and became the Sir Colin MacKenzie Sanctuary in 1934.

The first platypus bred in captivity was born in the Sanctuary in 1943 when David Fleay managed it.