What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 4:30pm Tuesday 9am - 4:30pm Thursday 9am - 4:30pm Friday 9am - 4:30pm Saturday 9am - 4:30pm Sunday 9am - 4:30pm

Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum

Name: Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum
Address: 224 Howick Street, Bathurst, NSW, 2795, AU
Telephone: +61263382860
Rating: 4.9

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Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum

Situated in the heart of Bathurst, the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum is the home of the internationally renowned Somerville Collection.
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The Somerville Collection is the lifetime work of Warren Somerville and features some of the finest and rarest examples of minerals and fossils in the world. It is housed in the 1876 Public School building which underwent major refurbishment before being fitted out with stunningly beautiful exhibitions.

29/05/2026

It’s not what it looks like!

It’s a fossil of a giant club moss.

During the Carboniferous (about 358- 298 million years ago) ancient species of club moss dominated the landscape. Modern club moss are relatively small but extinct varieties like Lepidodendron grew up to 35 metres tall.

Lepidodendron sp. Carboniferous

Open 9am-4.30pm 6 days, closed Wednesday
224 Howick Street, Bathurst

27/05/2026

Little gems!

Don’t let their size fool you — at about 2.5 cm, thumbnail mineral specimens are small but absolutely stunning!

Perfectly formed crystals, vibrant colours, and intricate details all captured in a piece that fits in the palm of your hand. These perfect little specimens showcase nature’s artistry on a tiny scale.

Tthumbnail specimens are a wonderful way to explore the diversity of the mineral world without needing a lot of space.

Open 6 Days 9am - 4.30pm, closed Wednesday
224 Howick Street, Bathurst.

22/05/2026

Dating to the Mesozoic Era, these ancient plants thrived in warm, humid environments. Otozamites are part of an extinct group of seed plants that resemble modern cycads, with feather-like fronds that once formed lush prehistoric landscapes.

The Bowen and Surat Basins preserved incredible fossils that help scientists reconstruct Queensland’s ancient environments

Otozamites, Cycadophyte fronds from the Bowen Basin and Surat region of Queensland.

19/05/2026

World Bee Day

Imagine a world without bees.

Did you know bees go way back to the Cretaceous? 🦖🌿

During the Cretaceous period (about 145–66 million years ago), flowering plants (angiosperms) were evolving, and alongside them, some of the earliest bees were emerging.

These ancient bees were key players in shaping the ecosystems of the time. By pollinating early flowering plants, they helped boost plant diversity, which in turn supported entire food webs… right down to the dinosaurs! 🌱

Bees have been supporting plant life for tens of millions of years
They helped drive the spread of flowering plants, which now make up most of the vegetation we depend on.

Our modern ecosystems—and food systems—are built on pollination relationships that began in the Cretaceous

18/05/2026

A tiny bacteria that changed the planet!

International Museums Day - 18 May 2026
Theme: Museums Uniting a Divided World

To celebrate International Museums Day, we’re travelling back an incredible 3 billion years to meet one of Earth’s most important changemakers — a microscopic organism with a massive impact.

Discover the story in our new Fossil Gallery showcase:
✨ “The Rise of Oxygen”
These tiny organisms, called cyanobacteria, transformed our planet. Through photosynthesis, they released oxygen into the atmosphere for the very first time — forever changing Earth’s environment.

Billions of years ago, these microscopic organisms released oxygen through photosynthesis, transforming our atmosphere. That oxygen reacted with iron in ancient oceans, creating the layered rocks we call banded iron formations.

Stromatolites are the fossilised remains of these ancient colonies—evidence of life reshaping our planet.

Come and explore how life reshaped our planet — one microbe at a time

14/05/2026

It’s Dance like a Chicken Day ! 🐓

Chickens ARE dinosaurs

So DANCE like a DINOSAUR!

You know you want to

12/05/2026

Feast your eyes on this stunning fluorite specimen

Fluorite is famous for its incredible range of colours—purple, green, blue, yellow, beautifully geometric crystal shapes and for giving its name to fluorescence—the glowing effect seen when certain minerals are exposed to ultraviolet light.

Fluorite is a major source of fluorine, used in the manufacture of steel, aluminium, glass, ceramics, and refrigerants. High-quality fluorite is used in camera lenses, microscopes, and telescopes because it reduces image distortion and improves clarity.Fluorine is also broken down to fluoride, which goes into toothpaste to protect our teeth.

Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, 224 Howick St, Bathurst

09/05/2026

Something special

To thank all the people in your life you think of as Mum!

Drop into the museum shop if you are looking for something as unique as they are.

Open 9am to 4.30pm every day except for Wednesday.

224 Howick Street Bathurst

08/05/2026

Happy 100th Birthday to Sir David Attenborough 🌍

For over seven decades he has dedicated his life to Earth science, storytelling, and the natural world.

This image from David Attenborough: Galápagos (Episode 3, Evolution, 2013) says it all. It shows Sir David sitting on the same rock in 2013 as his younger self did in 1978 — revealing nearly 1 metre of volcanic island movement over 35 years.

A powerful moment that perfectly captures his gift for storytelling.

Thank you Sir David.

💚 What is your favourite David Attenborough moment?

07/05/2026

Say hi to a dinosaur today!

It’s National Dinosaur Day! 🦖

Whether you’re a budding palaeontologist or just love a good fossil, it’s the perfect day to:
Grab a selfie with our life-sized T. rex.
Explore the Somerville Collection’s world-class fossils.
Discover stunning minerals from across the globe.

Come say hi and celebrate the giants of the past with us! We’re open until 4:30 pm today

224 Howick St, Bathurst

Address

224 Howick Street
Bathurst, NSW
2795

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 4:30pm
Thursday	9am - 4:30pm
Friday	9am - 4:30pm
Saturday	9am - 4:30pm
Sunday	9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+61263382860

Website

https://museumsbathurst.com.au/afmm/

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