Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh / Naracoorte)

Welcome to the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites, a serial UNESCO World Heritage property that encompasses two of the world's most significant fossil locations: Riversleigh in the remote outback of Queensland and Naracoorte in South…

The Victoria Fossil Cave is arguably the most famous and scientifically significant cave within the Naracoorte system. It serves as a personal favorite for site interpreters like Frank Bromley because it houses an incredibly…

Among the most remarkable fossils found in the Naracoorte Caves is the Thylacoleo carnufex, popularly known as the Marsupial Lion. Despite its name, it was not a lion in the feline sense but a singularly distinctive marsupial…

No discussion of the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites would be complete without mentioning the Diprotodon. This was the largest marsupial that ever lived, often described as a 'giant wombat' the size of a rhinoceros. …

While we are physically at Naracoorte, we must acknowledge its sister site, Riversleigh. Located in the impossibly remote outback of Queensland, Riversleigh provides the 'beginning' of the story we see here. …

Naracoorte is not just a place for scientists; it offers a range of experiences for every visitor. For those who want to see the cave life in action, the Bat Cave tour is a must. …

The 'pitfall' nature of the Naracoorte caves is the secret to their success as a fossil repository. Unlike many other sites where bones were moved by water or scattered by predators, the animals that fell into these caves…

Our journey through the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites has taken us from the deep, ancient history of Riversleigh to the detailed, subterranean archives of Naracoorte. We have seen how isolation shaped a 'singularly distinctive'…