[2] In addition to the aquarium with its marine life ranging from seals to sharks, there were the "finest collection of tigers in captivity", a black Java panther, a cheetah, bears, monkeys, a collection of birds (parrots, cockatoos, pigeons, doves, English finches and black swans) and reptiles.
The Aquarium and its hall were equipped with every modern convenience including electric light which was connected in September 1889.
The Brisbane Courier reported, "Professor Fernandez, an aeronaut who has performed many remarkable feats in the Southern colonies, appeared at the Queensport Aquarium and made his first balloon ascent in this colony", a feat which nearly ended in disaster when the balloon began to deflate and appeared likely to sink into the river.
[1] The Aquarium was not greatly troubled by the large flood in 1890, even though the wharf in the city was inundated.
However, the flood on 5 and 6 February 1893 tore down the fences,[3] liberating many of the animals, and ruined the carefully landscaped gardens.