Latest Discoveries
New Discoveries July 2009: Banjo, Matilda and Clancy
- Australovenator (Banjo), Diamantinasaurus (Matilda) and Wintonotitan (Clancy) are the first dinosaurs to be named in Queensland in 28 years (Minmi and Muttaburrasaurus were named in 1980).
- All 3 new dinosaurs were found in the Winton Formation, central western Queensland.
- The Winton Formation is a geological deposit spread across much of inland Australia dating from 98-95 million years ago. This geological resource has produced more dinosaur fossils than the rest of Australia combined.
- See fossils from Banjo, Matilda and other Winton dinosaurs at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs* Museum of Natural History.
- More dinosaur-themed exhibits are currently on show in ENERGEX Playasaurus Place and Museum Zoo at Queensland Museum South Bank in Brisbane.
Read the media release about the discovery of the 3 new species of dinosaurs announced in July 2009 [new window 49 KB PDF].
Read the full scientific paper, New Mid-Cretaceous (Latest Albian) Dinosaurs from Winton, Queensland, Australia*, published on-line in PLoS ONE, the Public Library of Science's new interactive open-access journal for scientific and medical research.
Image courtesy of Australian Age of Dinosaurs.
Legendary nicknames
The famous Australian poet Banjo Patterson and his characters were the inspiration for the nicknames given to the new dinosaurs. Banjo Patterson wrote Waltzing Matilda in Winton in 1885 and also authored Clancy of the Overflow.
In a quirky twist of fate, Banjo (Australovenator) and Matilda (Diamantinasaurus) were both found buried together in what turns out to be a 98 million-year old billabong. Banjo Patterson's story of Waltzing Matilda describes the unfortunate end to a swagman who steals a jumbuck (sheep) but is chased by police and ends up leaping into and drowning in a billabong alongside his stolen sheep.
Unique Museum - Community Partnership
Banjo, Matilda and Clancy were discovered and the fossils prepared and preserved through a unique partnership between the State government-funded Queensland Museum, and emerging not-for-profit organisation, the Winton-based Australian Age of Dinosaurs* Ltd. Queensland Museum provided their expertise and mentoring skills, led by Queensland Museum Senior Curator of Geosciences, Scott Hocknull, former Young Australian of the Year.
The announcement of the discovery of the three new species of dinosaurs, coincides with the opening of Stage 1 of the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History in Winton, a Queensland Government Q150 project, a three-stage project due for completion in 2015.
Read about discoveries made at Winton in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
* The content found by using this link is not created, controlled or approved by this department. No responsibility is taken for the consequences of viewing content on this site. This link will load into a new window.
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