Richmond - Outback Queensland

Richmond is situated on the Overlanders Way halfway between Mount Isa and Townsville. It lays on the banks of the Flinders River which is the longest river in Queensland. The only thing with that is that the river only runs in the wet season between December and March. The rest of the year there are only some permanent waterholes. As with a lot of Australia's small settlements Richmond was born out of a Gold Rush. But today it is not known for it's gold but instead it is known for its fossils. Richmond is part of the Dinosaur Trail triangle of Richmond, Hughenden and Winton. 110 million years ago the Richmond landscape was covered by an inland sea with a depth of 40 metres. Over the earth's evolution and receding of the waters the area has become a huge marine fossil find. Kronosaurus Korner is Australia's premier marine fossil museum and is certainly an unforgettable prehistoric adventure.

Kronosaurus Korner - Richmond 

Fossils of Ammonites

A Cooyoo fossil

An artist impression of the Cooyoo
The streamline body and powerful fins of the Cooyoo
suggest it was a fast moving active predator.

The amazing fossil of the Richmond Pliosaur

An artist impression of the Pliosaur. 

I could never do the discovery of this amazing fossil justice so I have included the photos of the discovery of the Richmond Pliosaur.

Although the museum is mostly comprised of marine creatures, there was one dinosaurs discovered.

Minmi lived approx. 100 million years ago

The majority of the finds have been found by locals on their properties, but 12kms out of town there are two fossil hunting sites and a number of fossils have been found by visitors to the area.
We headed out to have a look and I couldn't help myself and had a scratch around. I didn't make any major finds but I did find a rock with some clear Quartz in it and also a small piece with according to the expert at Kronosaurus Korner is a Belemnite Fossil. Belemnites were a group of small squid like cephalopods which are extinct today.  

There was quite a large area the public could search for fossils

There were also quite a few people with heads down and bums up

One of my little finds, a Belemnite fossil

 Anyone who needs convincing of what our Earth looked like 100 million years ago or if you have a child or grandchild that is into Dinosaurs this area is certainly a must visit.