Melbourne Museum to open immersive dinosaur attraction

March 7, 2022

Opening on 12^th March, Melbourne Museum's new immersive attraction - Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs - will feature one of the world’s most complete Triceratops fossils, offering the public an opportunity to get face to face with the 67-million-year-old, 1,000kg fossil.

Discovered in 2014 in Montana, USA, Horridus was retrieved from under 3.5 metres of sandstone. Since arriving in Melbourne in 2021, a team of Museums Victoria palaeontologists, conservators and collection managers have been working to prepare the fossil for display.

Measuring six to seven metres from tip to tail and standing more than two metres tall, the fossil – named Horridus after the species of Triceratops to which it belongs – is larger than a full-grown African elephant.

Horridus is one of the most globally significant palaeontological discoveries. With 266 bones, it is the world’s most finely preserved Triceratops skeleton, and the most complete real dinosaur skeleton in any Australian museum.

Museums Victoria Chief Executive and Director Lynley Crosswell advises “It is not unusual for museums to collect dinosaur fossils. It is exceptional, however, for a museum to have a specimen of the quality and signifiance of this fossil, we can’t wait for the public to experience Horridus.”

Melbourne Museum’s immersive exhibition takes visitors on a journey back in time to explore the landscape and complex ecosystems it once called home in the Cretaceous period.

The exhibit showcases the environments where the Triceratops roamed, the creatures Horridus lived alongside, and what became of the survivors of the Cretaceous period. Dino-fans will also learn about the process of fossilisation and how palaeontology helps us understand vast swathes of time.

In addition to the captivating exhibition, the acquisition of Horridus positions Victoria as a leader in paleontological science, delivering economic and educational benefits beyond the exhibition.

Victorian Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson notes “Horridus and its amazing backstory will be a massive drawcard for Melbourne Museum, inspiring wonder, curiosity and delight in dino-fans of all ages for generations to come.

“The museum is constantly evolving and that’s one of the reasons why Victorians love it so much. We’re proud to deliver an awesome attraction that will please crowds and lead to a new understanding of our natural history.”

This exhibition is part of a $36.2 million investment provided by the Victorian Government in the Victorian Budget 2021-22 to support the creation of new immersive family experiences at Melbourne Museum, including Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs.

For tickets and further information on Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs, visit melbournemuseumtriceratops.com.

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