Bone-a Fide Fossils
South-East Queensland's ancient history is right beneath our feet, waiting to be dug up! South-East Queensland is a relatively young region - only 330 million years old, compared to the Earth's 4.6 billion years - but it contains a treasure trove of ancient fossil, from marine creatures to dinosaurs.
The term fossil refers to the remains or the imprint of a prehistoric plant or animal embedded in petrified rock. The wide variety of different landscapes in South-East Queensland present many opportunities for wannabe fossil finders.
Getting started
Anyone fossicking in Queensland requires a
fossicking license. This license will also allow you to
fossick for rocks and gemstones using non-mechanical equipment. The license also bans fossickers from collecting vertebrate animals.
You don't need any specialised equipment - a geological hammer is the only must-have and can be found at Bunnings starting at about $20.
Where to Go
Ipswich
The Triassic basins of this region are home to a range of marine fossils, including corals, brachiopods, and crinoids, and reptile footprints.
The aptly-named
Triassic Circuit at Denmark Hill Conservation Reserve is a popular destination and a good place for beginners to start their journey. The main attraction is the Stegosaurus-themed picnic shelter that houses a collection of dinosaur footprints.
You might also like to visit the
Ipswich Art Gallery to see a range of local fossils on display.
Kilcoy
The Somerset region is known for its abundant fossil deposits, especially marine animals like ammonites and cephalopods.
The Murgon Fossil Site, approximately 150 kilometres north-west of Kilcoy, contains a diverse fossil record dating from the early Tertiary Period (55 million years ago), around ten million years after the extinction of the dinosaurs. Some of the world's oldest fossil songbirds, bats, and marsupial were found at the Murgon Fossil Site.
Visit the nearby
Kilcoy Information Centre to learn more about local geology and palaeontology.
Toowoomba
Fossil sites around Toowoomba, such as at the Jondaryan Woolshed and near Ravensbourne National Park, have yielded a variety of marine fossils from ancient seabeds. Fossilised shells, corals, and marine invertebrates are commonly found in rocks in the Toowoomba region.
While marine fossils dominate the fossil record in Toowoomba, occasional plant fossils have been discovered as well. These plant fossils provide evidence of the ancient flora that existed during the Paleozoic era.
If you've had success finding fossils in South East Queensland, share your tips in the comments below.
