Wednesday 25th July - Winton

On the Dinosaur trail

View from Mesa at Age of Dinosaurs, Winton QLD

We visited the Age of Dinosaurs facility which has been built on top of a mesa about 20kms out of town.  There are spectacular views.

Every year there is a 3 week dig somewhere within a 100km radius of the facility.  Fossils finds are guaranteed due to the way the rock has been laid down on the ancient sea bed.  The dig, done by volunteers, is underway right now and 3 weeks yields more than enough material to work on over the next year.  In fact there is about a 25 to 30 year backlog of fossil bearing rocks in the facility waiting to release their treasure.

Life size model of 'Banjo', Age of Dinosaurs QLD

Two new animals have been described in the last few years.  One is a raptor nicknamed Banjo and the other a huge sauropod nicknamed Matilda.  She was about 21 metres in length.  A new dinosaur, another plant eater nicknamed Wade has yet to be scientifically described so it is exciting times for the staff.  We watched volunteers at work painstakingly releasing the fossils from the rock with dental drills.


Volunteers at work at Age of Dinosaurs QLD



Banjo claw being released from the stone AOD QLD

Today was beautiful and warm and we returned to Winton for a look around the big museum called ''The Matilda Centre' [what else] which filled us in on more history of the town and surrounding areas.


Tattersalls Hotel, Winton QLD
Has just been used in a film to be released this year.