Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum

Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum

Features some of the finest and rarest specimens of mineral crystals and fossils from around the world

The Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum permanently houses the Somerville Collection of fossils and minerals – the lifetime work of Warren Somerville AM – and features some of the finest and rarest specimens of mineral crystals and fossils from around the world.

The collection contains over 5,000 objects and is presented together to give a stronger understanding of the development of life on Earth.

The internationally renowned collection is displayed in two main exhibitions – the Fossil Gallery and the Mineral Gallery.

The Fossil Gallery includes specimens from every major stage of life on Earth. The centrepiece of the exhibition is a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, a large collection of fossils in amber and unique Australian opalised fossils.

The Somerville Collection in the Mineral Gallery and the Chapman Collection in the temporary exhibition gallery, currently on loan from the Australian Museum, come from mine sites around the world making them historically significant and irreplaceable heritage items. They show a large diversity of minerals from world-wide deposits and are of exceptional crystal perfection.

This unique resource has quite literally been billions of years in the making. Explore the natural history of our planet, travel through time in our unique fossil and mineral galleries and experience the wonder of ancient specimens that have been uncovered from deep within the Earth.

The Somerville Collection is in the custodianship of the Australian Museum with the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum managed by Bathurst Regional Council supported by the Somerville Collection Company

About the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum

The Australian Museum (AM) was founded in 1827 and is the nation’s first museum. It is internationally recognised as a natural science and culture institution focused on Australia and the Pacific. As custodian of more than 21.9 million objects and specimens, the AM is uniquely positioned to provide a greater understanding of the region through its scientific research, exhibitions and public and education programs. Through the Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI), the AM also has a leading role in conserving Australia’s biodiversity through understanding the environmental impacts of climate change, potential biosecurity threats and invasive species.