DINOSAUR TRAIL

We know so much about dinosaurs now, having met several different species up close (but not quite personal).  At Richmond we met replicas of Kronosaurus and Minmi (I forget what type he was); in Hughenden it was Muttabutasaurus, and here in Winton there are three at the Age of Dinosaurs, Banjo, Matilda and Wade.  110 kms south of Winton, the Lark Quarry stampede involved yet three more species, these not positively identified yet.  We were told as children there were no dinosaurs in Australia, but this is proving increasingly incorrect.  Winton's three have all been found in the last 12 years and they are still finding more every day.  (If you're up this way you might find one for yourself).

The Age of Dinosaurs is an excellent exhibit, which starts with a presentation of the three dinosaurs.  Banjo is a carnivore, Matilda was much bigger, as you can see by Chris standing near her front leg, which is estimated to be only one third of her height.  

           Chris beside Matilda's front leg

Her femur was contrasted with that of a two tonne bull, making the bull's bone look tiny in comparison. Wade is a different type of beast, but they're still working on categorising his bones- he won't be "released" to science for a few years yet.

Banjo gives Chris a welcome hug.  Look at those talons!

A pleasant  walk across the cliffs (or you can drive the distance) brings you to the lab, where a hyper young man named George sounded as if he was auditioning for the Wiggles, as he postured and yelled his spiel at us- interesting if he'd just been himself.  I found myself switching off, bored with his antics.  It was interesting to see how the bones are processed, using equipment very like that which  dentists use- they are looking for volunteers, if anyone's interested.

Note: although none of the brochures mention this fact, the Age of Dinosaurs is not actually in Winton, but 24 kms away- 13 towards Longreach then 11 kms in. OK as long as you know about it, timing is everything for hourly tours.

Lark Quarry's also a bit out of town- 110 kms on a road that's about halfway tarred.  It's up on a mesa (locally known as a jumpup) and through some incredibly barren land which still had sheep grazing, though goodness knows what they were eating.  1 beast to the acre, I would think, they were very sparsely scattered.  

           Jumpup behind Lark Quarry
At Lark Quarry itself, the countryside was quite lovely, the red jumpups contrasting with the spinifex grass.  Again it's a guided tour at fixed times, so you need to plan ahead, particularly in terms of food and water as there is no kiosk. (There are toilets).  The dinosaur stampede, preserved forever in the rock, is now contained in a huge shed so it's out of the sun.

We've also visited the Waltzing Matilda centre- I should mention that Banjo Patterson wrote the song here, hence the names of the dinosaurs. This is a pretty good museum but I'll be happy if I don't hear that song again for a hundred years.  Did you know Winston Churchill sang it to Bob Menzies once?  Do you care?

There are other exhibits at the centre including some to do with Qantas, which is the destination of the first Qantas flight, after the first Qantas board meeting was held here.

Winton's a very dry place where tap water gives off a rotten egg gas smell.  If you've never smelt rotten eggs, remember how perms used to stink?  It's artesian water, which is pumped up at 80 degrees and cooled before being circulated.  They say it's fine to drink, and the smell does dissipate once you've had the water on for a minute, but still!  

Tomorrow, on to Longreach for a few days.