WHERE did the Muttaburrasaurus langdoni live? Well, in Muttaburra of course.
This land living, plant eating dinosaur roamed what is now the geographical centre of Queensland, around 100 million years ago.
Its skeleton was discovered by a local grazier named Doug Langdon in 1963 and it was a find with long term repercussions.
The grazier even had a claim to fame with his surname teased in its double barrel moniker.
Considering its discovery was the first of its kind in Australia, it’s no wonder a life size sculpture was built in its honour.
Artist Milynda Rodgers from Boonoondoo was the creative behind the female Muttaburrasaurus named Barb-Burra.
Barb-Burra is constructed of a combination of materials such as scrap metal, telegraph wire, three kilometres of barbed wire, corrugated iron and quartz.
Her heart is made from corrugated iron and wire to represent the big heart of the people of Muttaburra. She has three eggs representing the fertile and abundant Downs country that surrounds Muttaburra, and yellow citrine quartz eyes that are an omen of protection.
The word muttaburra means ‘meeting of the waters’ and is derived from the local Aboriginal People. The town is close to a number of water courses.
A replica of the Muttaburrasaurus langdoni can be found at the Muttaburrasaurus Interpretation Centre. There you will also find replicas of the original bones, history of the dinosaurs and how it was discovered