David Elliott (palaeontologist)

David Elliott OAM
Elliott in 2023
Born	(1957-06-06) June 6, 1957 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Known for	Dinosaurs, palaeotourism
Spouse	Judy Elliott
Scientific career
Fields	paleontology, farming
Institutions	Australian Age of Dinosaurs
Website	www.australianageofdinosaurs.com

David Anthon Elliott OAM (born June 6, 1957) is an Australian palaeontologist and sheep and cattle grazier who co-founded the Australian Age of Dinosaurs in Winton, Queensland, with his wife Judy and currently serves as Executive Chairman. David’s significant contributions to the local, national and global communities have been far-reaching, with a profound impact on the field of palaeontology. Through the establishment and development of the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, he has pioneered a new form of tourism known as palaeotourism, attracting new visitors to regional Australia.

Biography

Elliott grew up in Winton, Queensland as the second child of Robert and Noreen Elliott. He was a student at All Souls St Gabriels School in Charters Towers before graduating from Longreach Pastoral College in 1974. Elliott married his wife Judy in 1986, and the two went on to raise their four children on their large property, Belmont Station, making a living as sheep and cattle graziers.

In 1999 at the age of 42 Elliott discovered the fossilized bone of what was, at the time, Australia's largest dinosaur while mustering sheep on his property in Belmont, near Winton. This bone was later identified as part of a giant femur from a Cretaceous sauropod that roamed the Winton area 95 million years ago. Following the discovery of more fossils during digs held in conjunction with the Queensland Museum, Elliott and his wife Judy called a public meeting in Winton on August 17, 2002, in view of establishing a dinosaur museum at Winton.

On October, 2002, 'Australian Age of Dinosaurs Incorporated', commenced operations as a not-for-profit organization aimed at ensuring future dinosaur digs and the preparation and conservation of dinosaur fossils from the Winton Formation could continue. The organization, with support from a strong member's volunteer base, began the initial stages of developing a major tourism attraction in the form of a dinosaur museum so that the discoveries could be preserved for perpetuity and be available to the public. For the first seven years the Museum operated on the Elliott’s property, where they conducted annual dinosaur digs and amassed an incredible collection of Australian dinosaur bones. Their dedication to preserving these valuable fossils prompted them to set up a fossil preparation operation in 2006, which was relocated in 2009 to donated land on The Jump-Up, a vast mesa near Winton. The Museum's growth has been impressive, with various stages of construction leading to the completion of crucial infrastructure.

Contributions to palaeontology

Over the last two decades, Elliott has been involved in the discovery of several new species of Australian prehistoric animals and has collected the largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils in the world housed at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum. Given his role in their discovery and preparation Elliott is listed on the scientific papers of several new species including Australovenator, Diamantinasaurus, Savannasaurus, Wintonotitan, Ferrodraco and Confractosuchus as well as the 54 meter long Snake Creek tracksite. His contributions to palaeontology include developing a thriving palaeotourism industry in regional Australia. Palaeontologists who once left the country, believing that the only way to advance their careers was overseas, came back. Dinosaur excavations were organised, where volunteers excavated dozens of bones at a time. For locals in the region, who had been witnessing the steady decline of their towns over the decades, a sense of wariness was transformed into a newfound feeling of possibility. By creating this international centre for science-based tourism in a regional area.

Australian Age of Dinosaurs

The Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History was opened on The Jump-Up Dark-Sky Sanctuary in 2009. It is located 24-kilometers south east of Winton, and about 660 kilometres (410 mi) southwest of Townsville. The museum is located on Australia’s first International Dark-Sky Sanctuary and has been built in stages and has won several awards. The Museum includes Australia’s most productive Fossil Preparation Laboratory, the Reception Centre and Collection Room, Dinosaur Canyon (featuring life-sized bronze dinosaur dioramas), the March of the Titanosaurs exhibition and the Gondwana Stars Observatory. Core activities at the Museum include dinosaur digs, fossil preparation programs, onsite education programs, virtual excursions for students, scientific research partnerships with universities around the world and Museum guided tours. Beyond its award-winning architectural achievements, the Museum stands as a symbol of scientific discovery and knowledge. It houses Australia's most significant collection of fossils from the country's largest dinosaurs, offering visitors world-class customer service and interactive guided tours. Furthermore, the Museum actively supports research projects on fossils discovered in Queensland's Central-West region through annual dinosaur digs and the publication of the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Journal, making it a hub for advancing palaeontological knowledge in the country.

Awards and recognition

• 2006: Queensland Museum Medal from the Queensland Museum
• 2011: The James Love Churchill Fellowship from the Winston Churchill Trust
• 2014: Winton Citizen of the Year from the Winton Shire Council
• 2015: Order of Australia Medal (OAM) from The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
• 2019: Marie Watson-Blake Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Individual from the Queensland Tourism Awards
• 2023: Queensland’s Local Hero from the Australia Day Council
• 2024: Australia’s Local Hero from the Australia Day Council