Riversleigh Fossil Site Qld: World Heritage D Site, Boodjamulla & Visiting Tips

The Australian Fossil Mammal Sites World Heritage Area is a serial listing of two sites more than 2,000 km apart: Riversleigh in Queensland and Naracoorte in South Australia. The federal environment department (DCCEEW) ranks them among the world's 10 greatest fossil sites. Together, they illustrate key stages in the evolution of the unique fauna of Australia, the world's most isolated continent.

Riversleigh covers 10,000 ha in north-west Queensland, within the watershed of the Gregory River. It is the south-eastern section of Boodjamulla National Park (Aboriginal Land). The Waanyi people, its Traditional Owners, welcome visitors to Boodjamulla Country and ask that you respect their special place.

Why Riversleigh matters

DCCEEW explains that Australia has been almost totally isolated for 35 million years since it separated from Antarctica, which makes its mammals unusually distinctive. Riversleigh holds one of the world's richest Oligo-Miocene mammal records, from about 10 to 30 million years ago. Naracoorte continues the story from 530,000 years ago to the present.

According to DCCEEW, Riversleigh's fossils:

are encased in hard, rough limestone formed in lime-rich freshwater pools
record at least 20 million years of mammal evolution
show the environment changing from humid lowland rainforest to dry eucalypt forest and woodland, and later to semi-arid grassland, and point to rainforest origins for most mammal groups that now live in arid Australia
provide the first fossil records for many living groups, such as marsupial moles and feather-tailed possums, and for extinct animals such as "marsupial lions"
include a 15-million-year-old monotreme and several Tertiary thylacines
include more than 35 bat species, the richest fossil bat record in the world.

Queensland Parks says Riversleigh is the richest known fossil mammal deposit in Australia. It has also revealed Gondwanan life forms from before the ancient supercontinent broke up.

D Site

D Site, a small limestone outcrop above the plains, was one of the first major fossil deposits found at Riversleigh. Queensland Parks says it is the only publicly accessible part of the World Heritage Area. Its fossils date from the late Oligocene, about 25 million years ago. Turtles, fish, snails, crocodiles, lizards, pythons, birds and many kinds of mammals have been recovered there. Information displays explain how this 25-million-year-old landscape was rediscovered, and there is a lookout, a walking track and toilets.

Rules

Queensland Parks sets these rules:

Fossils and rocks. Interfering with them is an offence and penalties apply. Leave everything as you find it.
Walking. Stay on the marked track to protect fossils and vegetation.
Sacred places. Don't enter areas of spiritual and sacred importance to the Waanyi people.
Fires. Campfires are not allowed, so bring a gas or fuel stove.
Rubbish. There are no bins; take your rubbish with you.
Toilets. Don't empty chemical toilets into the composting toilets. The nearest dump point is at Wugudaji-Adels Grove, about 50 km away.
Hygiene. Arrive with clean shoes, clothes, vehicles and gear, free of seeds, soil and insects.

Getting there and camping

Queensland Parks puts Riversleigh 156 km north of the Barkly Highway and 55 km south-east of Lawn Hill Gorge. Facilities include tent and camper-trailer camping, and Queensland Parks pictures Miyumba camping area near the Gregory River. Book camping through Queensland Parks.

Riversleigh's fossils are also displayed at the Riversleigh Fossil Discovery Centre in Mount Isa, at 19 Marian Street (07 4749 1555), according to Queensland Parks. Queensland Parks also lists Wugudaji-Adels Grove ((07) 4748 5502) as a tourism contact.

Park history

Queensland Parks says Lawn Hill Gorge was gazetted as a national park in December 1984. It had previously been part of Lawn Hill Station. In March 1992, the park was extended to include the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, which had been part of neighbouring Riversleigh Station.

Today the Waanyi people and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service manage the park together. The World Heritage property is managed through a partnership of the Commonwealth and Queensland governments, the Waanyi people and the wider community.

See our Boodjamulla guide for Lawn Hill Gorge, and the dinosaur trail for Queensland's other big fossil stories.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Riversleigh rich in fossils?

DCCEEW says Riversleigh's fossils are encased in hard limestone that formed in lime-rich freshwater pools. The deposits span at least 20 million years of mammal evolution and record a change from rainforest to semi-arid grassland.

Can you visit the Riversleigh fossil site?

Yes, at D Site. Queensland Parks says D Site, one of the first major fossil deposits found at Riversleigh, is the only publicly accessible part of the World Heritage Area. It has information displays and a marked walking track.

Where is Riversleigh?

Queensland Parks says Riversleigh is 156 km north of the Barkly Highway and 55 km south-east of Lawn Hill Gorge, in the south-eastern part of Boodjamulla National Park in north-west Queensland.

What fossils have been found at Riversleigh?

DCCEEW lists marsupial lions, marsupial moles, feather-tailed possums, Tertiary thylacines and a 15-million-year-old monotreme. More than 35 bat species make Riversleigh's fossil bat record the richest in the world. Queensland Parks says turtles, fish, snails, crocodiles, lizards, pythons and birds have also been recovered from D Site.