Open-air dinosaur museum launches in western Queensland

A permanent open-air dinosaur exhibit has been built over boulders and a gorge in outback Queensland.

Dinosaur Canyon is the latest addition to the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum in Winton, central-west Queensland.

It includes a 300-metre floating concrete walkway that took three years to build and cost $1.3 million backed by donations, along with Federal and Queensland Government grants.

The walkway guides people past five galleries displaying bronze true-to-scale replicas of dinosaurs found in the region dating back to the Cretaceous period, 100 million years ago.

Dinosaur Canyon is the brainchild of founder and Chairman David Elliott who said it was unlike any dinosaur display it in the world.

Elliot told the ABC "I've seen lots of plastic dinosaurs out in paddocks and you know they're in golf courses, but we're not doing that - we are not building a theme park."

The local grazier first discovered a dinosaur bone on his sheep station in 1999 while mustering, and for the last decade has dedicated himself to developing the Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum.

He explained "I think it's important - particularly for our young people to understand Australian natural history and dinosaurs are a part of that

"It's a great way of basically introducing natural history and a love for your land."

For Elliott, the most exciting part of the opening is that it marks the first step toward creating an international-standard natural history museum.

He added "we have to be different and what no-one else can do as well, is build in a spectacular area,

"It was so important for us to build it in Winton, in the middle of nowhere (and) not in the city."

To turn Elliot's vision of creating a natural history museum into a reality, the not-for-profit attraction needs to secure $40 million dollars - something he said he is determined to achieve.

He concluded "I just get so much enjoyment out of working for the Australian Age of Dinosaurs seeing something come out of it.

"I love knowing that what we are doing is working for not just Winton but broader regional Queensland."

The new exhibition opens today - Saturday 15th April.

For more information go to www.australiasdinosaurtrail.com/winton-local-attractions

10th May 2016 - OUTBACK QUEENSLAND TOWN OF EROMANGA GIFTED G20’S GIANT DINOSAURS

22nd July 2015 - AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST DISCOVERED DINOSAUR TO GO ON DISPLAY AT NEW EROMANGA NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

15th June 2015 - NEW CAMPAIGN TO BOOST TOURISM IN OUTBACK QUEENSLAND TOURISM

4th November 2014 - DINOSAURS TRAIL COMES ALIVE AT TARONGA ZOO SYDNEY

22nd December 2013 - CLIVE PALMER OPENS DINOSAUR ATTRACTION ON THE SUNSHINE COAST 

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.