Richmond Tours and Attractions

Kronosaurus Korner and Richmond Visitor Information Centre

Richmond came to the attention of all Australians in 1989 when the skeleton of a 100-million-year-old Pliosaur was discovered near the town. It was the second major discovery of an important fossil in the area. The famous Kronosaurus queenslandicus was discovered at Army Downs north of Richmond in 1929 by a team of palaeontologists from Harvard University. The area is rich in fossils as it was once part of Australia's vast 'inland sea'.

Built around these finds is Kronosarus Korner - the town's marine fossil museum, which displays fossil finds from the cretaceous-era inland sea, which existed from about 97.5 to 120 million years ago

The articulated skeleton of the 5m Richmond Pliosaur found on nearby Marathon Station by brothers Ian and Rob Ievers in 1989 is the remains of an animal believed to have resembled a cross between a sea-lion and a crocodile, and is one of the best vertebrate fossils found anywhere in the world.

It also houses Australia’s best preserved dinosaur skeleton – Minmi, a small armoured plant eater with much of it’s fossilised skin intact. The centre has a café and souvenir shop, is fully air-conditioned and doubles as the towns Visitor Information Centre.