About usThe dreamFollowing the major excavation by Dr Alex Ritchie in July 1993, the realisation of the scale and importance of the fossil find prompted the construction of a fish fossil museum to house and display the collection, now known as The Age of Fishes Museum. With little funding available to start construction, a committee was formed to obtain the necessary grants and private sponsorship. In the interim period (1995 - 1998) a temporary museum was set up in the vacant Court House at the southernmost end of Gaskill Street to serve the growing public interest in the fossils. The fund raising efforts culminated in the completion of Stage one of the Museum complex in late 1998, which was dedicated in February 1999 by the New South Wales Premier, the Hon. Bob Carr. With the new Museum up and running, additional funding was sought to complete the exhibition area located in the north room of Stage one and for the construction of Stage two - an extension of the existing Stage one building . The exhibition area was completed in December 2000, Stage two in March 2001. The Museum currently employs three staff, a Manager, Public Programs Manager and an Exhibition Officer. In addition to the paid staff, we have over two dozen dedicated volunteers who assist with the day to day running of the Museum, and also act as tour guides. Somewhere to call homeOur Museum is a unique building, designed by John Andrews International. Its external appearance reflects the shape of buildings in the rail yard nearby. The extensive window area gives the interior a light, airy feel. The high domed ceiling adds to the open plan impression. Upon entering the building, you are presented with an extensive sunken pond system surrounding the foyer on three sides. With sub-tropical plants on the pond banks and native fish swimming freely from one pool to the next, the pond system gives the Museum a relaxing atmosphere. The future Despite all our efforts, we still have a long way to go. We have a long term plan for the expansion of the Museum building complex. In the next few years we expect to see the completion of a second building behind the main Museum; in the space between the buildings will be a "Devonian billabong", an outdoor pond landscaped with ferns and cycads reminiscent of those plants that existed during the Devonian Period.
Beside the Devonian billabong will be a reconstruction of a section of Devonian desert. The extensive red sand and rocks scattered along dry creek beds will give the visitor a true feel for the parched landscape that existed alongside our fishes watery home.
Contact usAddress - Corner of Gaskill and Ferguson Street, Canowindra.
Mailing address - PO Box 360, Canowindra, NSW, 2804, AUSTRALIA. Callers within Australia - Phone - 02 6344 1008 - 10am to 4pm 7 days, AEST
- Fax - 02 6344 2450
Callers outside Australia - Phone - 61 2 6344 1008 - 10am to 4pm, AEST (TZ +10)
- Fax - 61 2 6344 2450
- E-mail -
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