Newcastle Museum’s largest ever exhibition showcases the ocean’s prehistoric predators

Newcastle Museum’s largest ever exhibition will showcase the ocean's predators that existed during the time of the dinosaurs. Designed for visitors of all ages, ‘Sea Monsters: Prehistoric Ocean Predators’ is an immersive exhibition that features hands-on installations alongside real fossils from millions of years ago.

'Sea Monsters: Prehistoric Ocean Predators' is an Australian National Maritime Museum touring exhibition in partnership with Queensland Museum Network.

Newcastle Museum Director Julie Baird said it was a real coup for City of Newcastle to host this significant exhibition, which has taken a team of 10 staff from the Newcastle Museum and Australian National Maritime Museum two weeks to install.

Baird notes "Newcastle Museum is committed to bringing engaging, high quality touring exhibitions to the Hunter Region that enrich Newcastle's cultural offering and give local communities access to national and international exhibitions.

"This is the largest exhibition ever hosted by Newcastle Museum, as well as being the first time Sea Monsters has been displayed in Australia outside a capital city.

Gigantic life-sized replicas, including a 13-metre long Elasmosaurus and nine-metre Prognathdon, will demonstrate the sheer scale of these ancient marine reptiles alongside other incredible specimens including a huge 1.4 metre Kronosaurus jaw and a five-metre long fish that died after swallowing another fish whole.

Newcastle Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said ‘Sea Monsters’ provides a unique opportunity to learn more about these fascinating prehistoric creatures and advises "now open in time for the upcoming school holidays, Sea Monsters gives visitors the chance to learn more about the giant prehistoric sharks and reptiles that hunted the depths of the oceans at a time when the land was ruled by the might of the dinosaurs.

"This fun and educational exhibition is perfect for the whole family to enjoy as they walk through the giant ribcage of a sea monster, reach out and touch a replica of a fossilised Megalodon tooth and feel the thrill of the hunt with a 180-degree immersive video that puts you right inside the action."

Sea Monsters: Prehistoric Ocean Predators is on display now at Newcastle Museum and will run through to 26th February 2023. Ticket prices start from $7.50 for children, $15 for adults and $40 for a family of four, and are on sale now at Newcastle Museum or online via www.newcastlemuseum.com.au 

Image courtesy City of Newcastle