Richmond

Richmond lies on the Flinders River and the Flinders Highway, about halfway between Townsville and Mount Isa. Around 100 million years ago the area was covered by the Eromanga Sea, and its sediments preserve remarkable marine fossils.

Things to do

Kronosaurus Korner. One of the best fossil museums in outback Queensland, with marine reptile skeletons and fossils found by locals and visitors.

Fossicking. Designated fossicking sites outside town let you search for fossils yourself.

Lake Fred Tritton. A man-made lake with walking paths, a beach and picnic areas — a pleasant place to break the drive.

History and Country

Richmond lies on Wanamara Country beside the Flinders River. Pastoral runs were taken up in the 1860s, and the township developed as a service centre for the sheep and cattle stations of the Mitchell grass downs. The Great Northern Railway from Townsville reached Richmond in the early twentieth century on its way west to Cloncurry and Mount Isa, and the town remains a stop on that line.

Richmond is the administrative centre of Richmond Shire. Its economy is built on grazing, with tourism — much of it fossil-related — playing a growing part.

Why Richmond is a fossil hotspot

Roughly 100 million years ago, during the Early Cretaceous, much of inland Queensland lay under the shallow Eromanga Sea. Sediments that settled on its floor became the limestone and mudstone of the Toolebuc Formation and related rocks, which preserve the remains of creatures that lived in and above that sea.

Fossils found around Richmond include:

• Marine reptiles — long-necked plesiosaurs, short-necked pliosaurs such as Kronosaurus, and dolphin-like ichthyosaurs.
• Fish and sharks.
• Invertebrates — ammonites, belemnites and shells, often abundant at fossicking sites.
• Dinosaurs — occasional finds of land animals washed out to sea, such as the armoured dinosaur Kunbarrasaurus (formerly referred to as Minmi), one of Australia's most complete dinosaur skeletons, found near Richmond.

Many of the best specimens were found by local graziers on their own properties and donated to Kronosaurus Korner.

Kronosaurus Korner in detail

The museum is also the town's visitor information centre. Its displays are organised around the marine reptiles of the inland sea and include well-preserved skeletons, a large model of Kronosaurus queenslandicus, and specimens from the district. Staff can give directions to the public fossicking sites, explain what you are allowed to collect, and identify finds you bring back. Allow one to two hours.

Fossicking tips

• Ask at Kronosaurus Korner for current fossicking site locations and rules. The sites are a short drive from town.
• Bring a hat, water, sturdy shoes, a small hammer or digging tool, and a container for finds.
• Go early in the day in warm weather — there is little shade.
• Collect only from designated public sites; fossils on private land and in national parks are protected.

A one- or two-day itinerary

Day 1: Kronosaurus Korner in the morning, an hour or two at a fossicking site, and a late afternoon walk around Lake Fred Tritton.

Day 2 (optional): a day trip on the dinosaur trail to Hughenden (about 115 km east) or continue west towards Julia Creek and Cloncurry.

Seasons

Like the rest of the north-west, Richmond is hot in summer with a wet season from about December to March. April to September is the most comfortable time to visit and fossick.

Getting there

Richmond is on the sealed Flinders Highway, about 500 km west of Townsville and about 400 km east of Mount Isa. The Inlander train stops here on the Townsville–Mount Isa line; check timetables.

Where to stay and eat

There are motels, a hotel and a caravan park beside Lake Fred Tritton, plus a supermarket, café and pubs. Fuel is available in town.

Lake Fred Tritton

Lake Fred Tritton is a man-made lake on the edge of town, created to give Richmond a reliable swimming and recreation spot in dry country. A walking path circles the lake, with picnic areas, barbecues, a children's playground and a water play area. Interpretive signs and plantings showcase native plants of the region, and the lake attracts waterbirds. It is a pleasant place to cool off after a morning of fossicking, and the adjacent caravan park makes it an easy base.

Events

Richmond's best-known event is the Fossil Festival, held in some years with markets, entertainment and the "World Fossil Throwing Championships" — a light-hearted competition in which competitors throw a lump of limestone as far as they can. Local race meetings, rodeos and campdrafts are held in the cooler months. Event dates change from year to year, so check with the visitor centre or the Richmond Shire Council website before planning a trip around them.

Along the Flinders Highway

The Flinders Highway follows the old Great Northern Railway across the downs. East of Richmond the road passes Maxwelton and on to Hughenden; westward it runs through Nelia and Julia Creek, a small town known for its Dirt n Dust Festival and as home of the endangered Julia Creek dunnart, before reaching Cloncurry. Road trains are common on this route; overtake only with plenty of clear road ahead.

Travelling with kids

Richmond is one of the most child-friendly stops in outback Queensland. Children can hunt for real fossils at the public sites, see huge marine reptile skeletons at Kronosaurus Korner, and swim or play at Lake Fred Tritton. Bring sun protection and plenty of water, and plan outdoor activities for early morning and late afternoon.

Respecting the land

Most of the land around Richmond is working pastoral country. Leave gates as you find them, stay on public roads, and never fossick on private property without permission. Report significant fossil finds to Kronosaurus Korner — some of the region's most important specimens were found by locals who did just that.

The fossil hunting sites and Lake Fred Tritton

Fossil hunting sites. Kronosaurus Korner manages two public fossil hunting sites 12 km north of Richmond. Follow Goldring Street north out of town, where it becomes the Richmond–Woolgar Road. The sites are signposted, and the museum says all vehicles can reach them on sealed roads.

• Site 1, on the right, is a large area with vehicle access, a toilet, a shelter and a picnic table. Quarrying there regularly uncovers new fossils.
• Site 2, on the left, has more shade. Fossils can still be found between the layers of shale.

A fossil hunting permit is required. You can buy it online, and it comes with a map and guide. Camping is not allowed at the sites.

Bring water, food, closed shoes and sun protection. A hammer, chisel, eye protection and wrapping for your finds also help. If you find something significant, contact Kronosaurus Korner on (07) 4719 3390.

Lake Fred Tritton. On the edge of town, the lake has swimming, skiing, canoeing, playgrounds, a water park, a walking path and free barbecues. Kronosaurus Korner says it is stocked with 18 species of fish, and has a jetty and a boat ramp. Camping is not allowed at the lake.

Practical information

Richmond has fuel, a store, a hospital and accommodation. It forms part of the dinosaur trail with Hughenden and Winton.

Explore nearby

• Julia Creek