Home of the Age of Fishes Museum Association Inc.
TIMELINE
360 MILLION YEARS AGO
The Devonian Inland rivers and lakes teemed with fish. The invasion of dry land had begun but the majority of life was still under water. Life looked very different and this is the time when our fossils were alive.
A BIT LESS THAN 360 MILLION YEARS AGO
A pond on the super-continent of Gondwana finally dries up and thousands of fish die in a single place only to be covered with silt and buried for millions of years.
150 MILLION YEARS AGO
Dinosaurs roam the earth and our treasures remain buried deep within the ground they walk upon already 200 million years old and waiting.
WHAT HAPPENED IN 1955 AND 1956
In 1955, on a country road a bulldozer operator turns over a rock that has been buried for 360 million years. Shortly afterwards, Bill Simpson, a Local Canowindra resident recognizes its significance and informs the Australian Museum.
In 1956, the first slab is moved to the Australian Museum where it remains under glass for many years.
WHAT HAPPENED IN 1973
The Canowindra Grossi is described and reconstructed by Dr Keith Thompson of Yale University.
WHAT HAPPENED IN 1993
Dr Alex Ritchie and the Canowindra residents organise a rediscovery of the site and excavate a further 4,000 fish specimens across eight fish species.
A truly world class find.
WHAT HAPPENED IN 1999
Building of the current Age of Fishes Museum commenced.
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2006
The famous 1956 slab returns to its home to be permanently displayed at the Age of Fishes Museum in Canowindra.
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2009
The addition of the timeline to the Museum experience is completed.
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2019
All the slabs previously stored under the grandstand at the Canowindra Showgrounds were transported to our newly constructed Storage Facility next to the Museum.
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2013
David Attenborough visited the Museum and described the Fossils as "World Class".
Present Day...
The excavation site has been designated as a National Trust site, with the fossils under the ownership of the Australian Museum in Sydney. Kalang, which belongs to David and Aleysha McGrath, is located next to the dig site. In this podcast, Dr. McGrath discusses his plans for the site with Alex Ritchie.
OPENING HOURS
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Open 10am - 3.45 pm Thursday to Monday.
Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Open 7 days in NSW school holidays.
Closed Christmas Day and Anzac Morning.
Cost:
Adults $10.00
Seniors $8.00
Family $25.00
No booking required.
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