The Jump-Up

The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History is situated atop The Jump-Up Dark-Sky Sanctuary, a towering mesa located approximately 24km southeast of Winton in Central West Queensland. As a science-based, not-for-profit organization the Museum is deeply committed to accessibility, education and the preservation of Australia’s fossil heritage.

Founded in 2002 the Museum conducts annual dinosaur digs in the Winton Formation of western Queensland and operates Australia’s most productive dinosaur Fossil Preparation Laboratory year-round. Since 2005 the Museum has amassed the world’s largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils, including the holotype specimens of “Diamantinasaurus”, “Savannasaurus” and “Australovenator” – Australia’s most complete theropod skeleton. The collection also includes the holotype specimens of “Ferrodraco”, a flying reptile and “Confractosuchus”, a prehistoric crocodile.

Visitors can experience the Museum through guided tours of its Fossil Preparation Laboratory, Reception Center and Dinosaur Canyon, home to life-sized bronze dinosaur dioramas. The “March of the Titanosaurs” exhibition showcases the 54-metre-long Snake Creek track site, Australia’s best-preserved sauropod track way, while the Gondwana Stars Observatory links Earth’s prehistoric past to the vast cosmos above.

As a leader in conservation and education, the Museum preserves its 14km2 site through the Dinosaurs to Dunnarts citizen science program, which has been running since 2009. The Museum team also monitors and protects the night sky, tracking sky brightness both onsite and in Winton, ensuring the region’s dark-sky status remains protected. Through its commitment to dark-sky preservation, the Museum regularly hosts guided tours of the Gondwana Stars Observatory, giving visitors the chance to explore the wonders of the night sky in one of Australia’s premier dark-sky environments.