Snapping Dinosaurs

Whilst Clive Palmer might be raising hell with the carbon tax, there’s a roaring of a different kind at his Palmer Coolum Resort, Queensland. Canberra may indeed seem like a land before time, but if you want to see some “real” dinosaurs, head to Palmersaurus, the Dinosaur theme park at Clive Palmer's Coolum Resort.

Documentary photographer Hamish Cairns was on hand at the ribbon cutting ceremony to capture the opening of this park. It was officially opened by Palmer along with the Irwin family on 14 December 2013 and has become a unique contemporary cultural icon on the ever surprising Queensland landscape.

If you visit Palmersaurus you will find 160 semi-moving, life-size dinosaurs, with button activated roars (someone tell me what they sounded like!). The dinosaurs range from 2.5 to 22 metres in length and from one to 10 metres in height. They include species such as the Velociraptor, Tyrannosaurus Rex (T-Rex!!!!!!!!) and Triceratops.

But if you can’t make your way there, check out the wonderful photographs captured by Hamish on our online catalogue: 29351 Opening of Palmersaurus Dinosaur Park Photographs!

Link to digital item

Link to this record

Zenovia Pappas – Contemporary Collecting Coordinator, State Library of Queensland