Taronga Zoo opens Edwardian Entrance for its 95th birthday

To celebrate its 95th anniversary, Sydney's Taronga Zoo has officially opened its Edwardian Entrance and a new visitors' plaza.

On Friday, Miya the Australian Sea-lion joined NSW Environment Minister Robyn Parker to open the refurbished historic Edwardian Main Entrance Building on the anniversary of the Zoo's opening in 1916.

New visitor facilities, admissions offices and a renovated copper-domed roof are among the features of the entrance building, which has been constructed at a cost of $16 million as part of the Taronga Master Plan project.

Visitors will now be able to call in at a coffee shop and see some wildlife without having to pay the admission fee as a result of the work.

Taronga Zoo Director Cameron Kerr said the completion of the initiative adds to what he described as a "world-class facility", adding "the renovation of the heritage-listed main entrance has really returned the building to its original 1916 glory."

To help recreate the atmosphere of 1916, Friday's event was attended by staff in historic-themed zoo keeping uniforms, the Australian Army Band Sydney, vintage cars and Australian wildlife.