Changes afoot at Canowindra

In 1955, roadwork uncovered one of Australia's most remarkable fossil deposits near the western NSW town of Canowindra. A slab of stone was found in which had been preserved the remains of more than 100 fish. However, it was not until 1992 that fossil fish expert, Dr Alex Ritchie, visited Canowindra and excited interest amongst the local community in looking more closely at the site. What they discovered was the bottom of an ancient lake in which were embedded more than 3,000 fishes that had lain there for around 360 million years.

by Mark Kellett