Local fossils finds on display

THE announcement in Nature magazine of a scientific breakthrough pertaining to the origin of reptiles on Earth and placing their evolution up to 40 million years earlier than previously thought is thanks to fossils discovered locally. Evidence of these findings are now on display in Mansfield and will be permanently housed in the new Mansfield Historical Museum - with fit-out underway, the final stages of a build driven by the collaboration of many Mansfield community stakeholders. The Community Bank Mansfield and District investment in the new museum began back in 2009 through the seed funding of $5,000 for the museum’s initial feasibility study and concept designs. However, it wasn’t until 11 years later that the project really begun to take shape, when the Mansfield Shire Council approached the Community Bank to contribute the project shortfall of $34,164, helping to realise Mansfield Historical Society’s longtime dream - to build a state-of-the-art museum to showcase Mansfield’s rich history. As part of the Community Bank’s contribution, then Community Bank Board Director Janene Ridley presented the Fossil Fish museum proposal, detailing how the Mansfield region is home to numerous sites of global scientific significance, with many certain to still be discovered. The request, as a first step, was for Mansfield Shire Council to provide a location for public display of some of the beautiful fish fossils from the area, which were at that time held at Flinders University. Through collaboration between Janene’s husband and local researcher John Eason, Professor John Long of Flinders University, the Mansfield Shire Council, Mansfield Historical Society, MCHAC, Ghadaba Local Aboriginal Network, Taungurung Land and Waters Council and the Community Bank, the initial concept was born for one museum to house Mansfield’s fossils, indigenous and first settlers’ stories for future generations to enjoy. The Mansfield Historical Society had raised approximately $90,000 through community donations for the project, which in turn attracted $1.2million in funding from the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program through the Mansfield Shire Council. The Heritage Museum is part of the Mansfield Station Precinct Master and Implementation Plan proposed as a staged development, for which council continued to actively apply for further funding and was subsequently successful by attracting a further $14million in federal funds through the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program. Community Bank Mansfield and District’s Vice Chair David Mayne said the bank fully supports the development of this important community asset, providing valuable educational opportunities. "The Mansfield Heritage Museum will be home to world significant artifacts, attracting visitation not only from our local community, but those of wider Australia and our international visitors too,” he said. "The Mansfield Heritage Museum will preserve and celebrate the history of Mansfield and surrounding districts. "This most recent fossil discovery in the Mansfield region is set to rewrite the history books, and what better way to show it off, than in our forthcoming new museum." With building still underway, the full display of Mansfield and district’s fish fossils won’t be on show until late 2026, but in the meantime, you can see a replica of these impressive new findings at MACE (145/147 High St, Mansfield, VIC), open Mondays 10am-4pm and Tuesdays to Fridays 9am-4pm.

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