Richmond

Richmond is a lovely outback town that is doing a lot to make itself attractive to tourists and locals. It has a man-made lake that they use for rowing and fishing, a water play park, and the absolutely world class Kronosaurus Korner museum.

We arrived early, and as we were checking in to our van park we were told about a 'dig at dusk' on that afternoon, where you could go to the fossil site with a paleontologist. Naturally we signed up.

It turned out to be the three of us, and three experts - the outgoing museum curator, the acting museum curator and Dennis, a really experienced volunteer. They explained the mysteries of the fish-mash layer and helped up find a small collection of interesting bits and pieces.

Life sized model of Kronosaurus found in Richmond

The next day we explorerd Kronosaurus Korner and were blown away by the amazing fossils on display, many of which had been found in the fossil site we had been at the previous afternoon.

Kronosaurus jaw with croc jaw for comparison

Fossilised, mummified, Minmi 

Most complete pleisiosaur skeleton, in position it was found in,  on a nearby farm

Anyone can dig there, but they do ask that if you find anything interesting you alert the museum, and don't take it.  You are not allowed to sell fossils you find there either.

The following day we ventured back to the fossil site, and found a few more little bits and pieces. My favourite bit is a small piece of icthyosaur rib bone.

Fossil site 1

The dig site even has amenities!

It was amazing to think we were unearthing remnants from 110 million years ago.