The Age of Dinosaurs Museum, Winton

Clear and sunny and 28 degrees today.

Today we went to the Age of Dinosaurs Museum which is about 13 km south of Winton on the Landsborough Highway, and then a further 12 km south east on a gravel road. The Museum is located on the top of an ancient mesa called The Jump-Up, with huge rocky outcrops, cliffs and canyons, and spectacular views. The museum is the home of the largest Australian collection of preserved dinosaur fossils, and the most productive fossil preparation laboratory in the southern hemisphere. The visit is in two parts - firstly a conducted tour of preserved dinosaur fossils collection followed by a tour of the fossil preparation laboratory.

The fossil display is centred on the fossilised bones of two dinosaurs found together in what is believed to be the site of an ancient billabong. Firstly, Banjo a carnivorous dinosaur of medium size, with large claws and slashing teeth, about half a tonne and five metres long. Secondly, Matilda a large plant eating dinosaur the size of a Tyrannosaurus, 20 tonnes and about 15 metres long.

The Fossil Preparation Laboratory shows the collection of fossils that have been wrapped in newspaper and plaster while they await restoration. About a dozen volunteers are working on preserving the fossils for display in the museum. At the present rate of discovery of fossilised bones there is about 10 years work on hand.

View from the Age of Dinosaurs Centre.

Dinosaur bones.

More dinosaur bones.

Still more dinosaur bones.

Banjo the carnivore skeleton.

Matilda's foot.

Banjo the carnivore.

Dinosaur bones encased in plaster for protection.

Dinosaur backbone compared to a cow.