The Opal Fossils of South Australia - Life from Australia's inland sea during the age of the dinosaurs
The new Origin Energy Fossil Gallery was launched on November 20 2001 and represents the first stage of an evolving display sponsored by the leading Australian company, Origin Energy.
South Australian Museum Director Dr Tim Flannery said "Origin Energy's $350,000 sponsorship of the Origin Energy Fossil Gallery will help ensure South Australia's unique fossil record remains in the state and is displayed in a way that educates and entertains Museum visitors".
"The South Australian Museum recognised the importance of support from companies such as Origin Energy in helping to preserve our State's fossils and ensuring the community has access to its natural heritage," Dr Flannery said.
The Origin Energy Fossil Gallery will feature three major new fossil displays that will be completed over the next 18 months and scheduled to open mid 2003.
Origin Energy's Managing Director Grant King said "Origin's support for the South Australian Museum reflects our desire to raise community awareness about our natural environment and the importance we place on protecting our environment for future generations."
"The South Australian Museum is a leader in the preservation of Australia's natural heritage, and we are delighted to support their work through the new Origin Energy Fossil Gallery."
 |
||
The Origin Energy Fossil Gallery will feature three major new fossil displays that will be completed over the next 18 months and scheduled to open mid 2003. LINK |
||
 |
||
 |
 |
John and Molly Addyman with Ben Kear at the Gallery launch. Photo : T Peters |
Dr. Tim Flannery, Director of the South Australian Museum (centre) holding a cheque for $50 000 presented to him by Mr Andrew Stock, State Director South Australia, Origin Energy, as support for the Addyman Plesiosaur project. At this presentation, Mr Stock also formally announced that Origin Energy would be the principal sponsor for the new Origin Energy Fossil Gallery in which the restored Plesiosaur would feature as a central display"Ben Kear, Museum palaeontologist (right) was very pleased to see the specimen rescued for science. (November 2001) |
 |
The Addyman opalised plesiosaur on display in the Origin Energy Fossil Gallery. |
Fossil treasures
The first stage of the Origin Energy Fossil Gallery features a stunning display of South Australia's opalised fossil treasures from the age of dinosaurs. The centrepiece is the extraordinary opalised Addyman plesiosaur - a 120 million year old marine reptile that swam in the cold inland seas of Australia during the age of the dinosaurs. An impressive life sized model of the Addyman plesiosaur is suspended from the ceiling above the opalised skeleton.
Visitors to the new gallery can also see the remarkable opalised backbone of an ichthyosaur as well as opalised shells, sea lilies and wood. These fossils were recently discovered buried in the dry seabed of the ancient inland Eromanga Sea that covered one third of Australia, 100-120 million years ago.
 |
Beautiful opalised ichthyosaur vertebrae discovered at Coober
Pedy
|
 |
A view of the remarkable opalised fossil display in the new gallery. |
(Ichthyosaur vertebrae on loan from V. Simudvarac; opalised shells on loan from the Provatidis family, M. Snow, D. Price and T. Burk)
The exciting story about the discovery, preparation and reconstruction of these unique animals from the age of the dinosaurs will also be told in this gallery.
