After watching a doco on dinosaur fossil finds in Winton, I have always wanted to visit the sites and museums there. So last month we did. After touring around the towns of Longreach and Winton we were finally on our way to the dinosaur laboratory. Unfortunately, I didn't feel 100%, (due to dehydration-not drinking enough water in the hot dry climate even though it was winter) so I didn't take many photos.
The Age of Australian Dinosaurs Museum is a not for profit organisation and they get little help from governments so they divised a way to get labour. Many would be archaeologists love to go on a dig or help clean the fossils and put the massive jigsaw of bones together. So the Museum offered the public the opportunity to do this but they have to pay to be trained and then to work there. This way they get the work done without hiring labour and make money to keep the museum going. This volunteer is cleaning some bones found in a previous dig. When the bones are first found they are wrapped in foil and then plaster of paris to preserve them. Their place of find and date is written on the plaster. Then when volunteers come to the lab they open up the parcels and get to work.
Then we were driven to another part of the museum located on top of a mesa (called a 'jump up' in Queensland). A Dinosaur Canyon and outdoor galleries have been created to replicate the 'Age of the Australian Dinosaurs'.
Many of the dinosaurs that lived in this area were small ones not much bigger than chickens. But bigger ones chased them and ate them.
The replicas were so life like and I felt like I had been transported back 95 million years and was watching this spectacle.
As we walked through the canyon on a walkway we could see replicas of bones and dinosaurs.
The bigger ones on the rampage.
The museum people are planting prehistoric cycad plants in the canyon to make it even more realistic.
Then we went inside a lovely building where the bones of some dinosaurs have been put together. Guides gave us an informative talk after which we went outside on the deck overlooking the amazing outback scenery and sunset while we were served dinner.
that canyon is totally amazing!!! I love it... yet another great visit to a fun place in your adventures before dementia
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to see the dinosaurs replicas and what a great way to get volunteers to help out at the museum.
ReplyDeleteA great visit!
When reading this post, Diane, the Jurassic Park films came to mind even though I haven't seen them. What a fascinating place to see. Hope that you were feeling better by the time the wine was being served.
ReplyDeleteOh what an exciting place I think Leo would have a ball he loves everything dinosaurs
ReplyDeleteQuite impressive. I can't help but notice how kangaroo like the small dinosaurs are. The dinner setting looks very nice.
ReplyDeleteWhat a marvelous museum. May have to come to Australia just for that. Many years ago I went on a dinosaur dig in Montana. What fun! We learned how to recognize a fossil and then helped excavate at a site.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful experience, Diane. I like how the bones are in a realistic setting. The dinner setting looked nice.
ReplyDeleteWe are fortunate to live near dinosaur areas and I blogged once about Dinosaur Rudge which is literally a few miles from our home. There were mainly stegasaurus fossils found there but also a couple of tyrannosaurus too!
Nice they have put those animals in nature. Looks very real.
ReplyDeleteHello, what a cool place to visit. I would like to see the dinosaur replicas. The last scene is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thursday, enjoy your day!
How fascinating. What an interesting life you are leading.
ReplyDeleteThe outdoor exhibits in the canyon look fascinating. What an interesting trip this would be for your grandboys, if they are as taken with dinosaurs as mine are!
ReplyDeleteWe missed that museum and have been planning to return ever since to pick it up, your photos let me know it will be worthwhile when we get there. Dehydration is nasty.
ReplyDeleteYour grandsons would love this area!
ReplyDeleteFascinating! I've always wondered, though, why they think dinosaurs had lizard-like skin....why not fur? Stripes like zebras and spots like leopards? Or feathers..... I guess there's a reason, I just don't know what it is!
ReplyDeleteThat would have been something for Toby ! He loves Dinosaurs and has a whole collection !
ReplyDeleteWell done visitor center indoors and out -- and very interesting that it is not government sponsored. I worked with a teacher who volunteered for digs with the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) during her summers off. She had to pay to get there but training , lodging and meals were provided. I have no idea if they still do that -- that was years ago.
ReplyDeleteWhat a totally fascinating place! I'd love to visit there. Thanks for sharing!
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