Anne Sinclair, 68, was born in England but spent most of her youth in Darwin, Northern Territory. Now in a position to travel and explore the world, Anne looks forward to sharing her personal experience and encourages others to step out and have fun. 

How do you fathom, when we suggest inviting you back some 95 million years and then inviting you to build up some deep emotional knowledge or images of dinosaurs? Dinosaurs which were actually roaming our great nation of Australia. We can invite you to Queensland, and the opportunity to view this spectacular find of real life, dinosaur’s fossils. Can you really grasp this concept of fossils being 95 million years old – and grasp these outstanding creatures shaping the earthly plains – roaming through the wondrous rain forests and woody lands, which may have then existed?

Well, to take you back to this moment in time and in a much more comfortable setting, we invite you to Winton in Queensland – where these seemingly impossible dreams, have actually come true.

This Australian Age of Dinosaur Museum is now home to the most productive fossil preparation laboratory in the Southern Hemisphere. How totally exciting is it, to be even sharing the same space as these wondrous fossils. And, the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum have topped it off with the discovery of not one, but two new dinosaur species, to date. Bravo Australia!

We can read that dinosaurs digs can find fossils something like 243 million years old – so, I figure this would then classify our Australian find dating back some 95 million years – as being babies, in the scheme of things!

The Dinosaur Stampede, at Lark Quarry Conservation Park, 110 kilometres south of Winton, holds footprints of dinosaurs, which inspired the stampede in Stephen Spielberg’s movie “Jurassic Park”. Not only are we now on the world stage with our outstanding fossil find, but we have influenced the artistic world as well.

The laboratory at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum is absolutely gob-smacking. You can actually stand next to the giant hip, or thigh, so many of their fossil finds – all clearly labelled – of creatures of immeasurable power and their deeply significant roles in the formation and settlement of this globe.

These laboratory staff are most friendly, sharing their experiences. The main office have work rosters and would most certainly welcome any enquiry, if you feel you might like to chip away at history’s creations.

All this, and much more, is situated in Winton where the town is known for big smiles, friendly hospitality, affordable accommodation, caravan parks and some great food outlets. The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum is situated just 24 kilometres south east of Winton – clearly signed too. You may need to check the road conditions, just in case it’s been raining heavily in the locality. Other than this – it’s all good gravel roads.

But wait, there is more… The overwhelmingly spectacular views from the top of this mesa like formation (locally known as jump-up) - is for a serious photo snapping time. This is the moment in time where you can stand quietly, look across the vast terrain and I guarantee (with a little bit of imagination) you can visualise the different varieties of dinosaurs just meandering, pursuing or feeding – it’s just so awe-inspiring and in many ways, quite surreal.

The whole area reeks of historical facts and information being that, part of our outback country lay under ancient inland seas – alive with marine reptiles, while prehistoric creatures roamed and shaped the land.

I feel that the founder, David Elliot has been part of this natural selection with this ‘lucky’ find and most especially for this priceless gift to all Australians; joined no less, by the family who donated this particular parcel of land for continuing research. True Australian pride here in Winton.

So, come to Winton and go bathing in this historical and wondrous dinosaur land where all measure of fossils and their history is shared with you. As you soak up this truly amazing find– you can easily feel ‘something a little bit surreal might just be unfolding before us all’.

Have you ever visited the Australian Age of Dinosaur Museum?

Written by Anne Sinclair. Hero image credit: Australian Age of Dinosaurs

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