Reef HQ

Reef HQ (typeset as ReefHQ) is the world's largest living coral reef aquarium. It is located in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The aquarium was built as a Bicentennial Commemorative project and is a part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). The Coral Reef Exhibit has 130 coral species and 120 fish species along with hundreds of species of sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, brittle stars, feather stars, snails, worms and sponges.

Reef HQ closed in 2021 and a new aquarium is expected to open at the site in 2026.

History
Reef HQ was originally the vision of Dr Graeme Kelleher, a former chairman of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). Dr Kelleher's primary objective was to bring the marine environment onto the land and make it easily accessible to the public whilst also encouraging the public to help protect the reef.

Reef HQ was originally known as Great Barrier Reef Aquarium when it opened on 14 June 1987. The aquarium was renamed "ReefHQ" in 1999. Since 2009 the name of the aquarium was changed to reflect its original name. It is now known as Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium.

In 2021, Reef HQ closed for refurbishment, but after a detailed inspection it was decided to demolish it entirely and built a new aquarium at the site, which is expected to open in 2026. In the meantime, most of the aquarium's inhabitants have been rehomed at other public aquariums and facilities.

Description


Reef HQ Aquarium is inclusive of the Coral Reef Exhibit, a Predator Exhibit, a children's section, a gift shop and cafe. In 2006 Reef HQ opened new 'Exploring our Wetlands' interactive kiosks developed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Location
Reef HQ Aquarium is located in the same complex as the Museum of Tropical Queensland and the Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Centre and an IMAX theatre in the Central Business District. Over 110,000 visitors tour Reef HQ Aquarium every year.

Coral Reef Exhibit
Water motion is created in the Coral Reef Exhibit by a pneumatic wave machine. Unusually, the aquarium is open to the weather, receiving precipitation, sun- and moonlight, just like natural coral reefs. The tank holds approximately 2.5 million litres of water.

Predator Exhibit
The underwater tunnel is open one side to view the Coral Reef Exhibit, the other side is a mesmerizing display of larger predatory species such as potato cod, blacktip reef sharks and leopard shark (which have been bred successfully at Reef HQ). The backdrop of this exhibit resembles a wreck, which could be taken as a replica of the world famous the SS Yongala (lying submerged south off the coast from Townsville).