Imagine coming face to face with one of the most feared predators of the prehistoric world. You can do just that at Melbourne Museum, which proudly presents the long-awaited arrival of Victoria the T. rex, a colossal 66-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex fossil.
Scheduled to open its doors on 28 June, this world-class international exhibition will be making the Melbourne Museum its home for four months, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the ancient world of dinosaurs.
Opening image: Victoria the T. rex exhibition is coming to Melbourne Museum. Image: Neon Global.
Meet Victoria the T. rex
At the heart of the exhibition is Victoria, an epic specimen that stands as one of the largest and most complete T. rex fossils ever unearthed. It was discovered by fossil prospectors in South Dakota in 2013 and taken to Dino Lab in Victoria, British Columbia to be studied and restored, which is where the fossil earned its name.
Comprising 199 meticulously preserved bones, Victoria spans over 12 metres in length and towers at an awe-inspiring height of 3.6 metres. What sets Victoria apart is not just its sheer size but also the remarkably well-preserved condition of its fossilised remains, which allows us to understand how it lived amid the challenges of the Cretaceous era.
Victoria’s real, immense skull – clocking in at a massive 139kg – is too heavy to be mounted on the body of the skeleton, and will be displayed separately so that visitors can come face-to-face with the prehistoric giant.
A journey through the Cretaceous
As visitors step into the exhibition, they’re transported to the landscapes of the Cretaceous period. This was the last era of the dinosaurs, which ended when a meteorite struck the planet 66 million years ago and caused a mass extinction event, wiping out three-quarters of life on Earth.
Through state-of-the-art technologies and the latest palaeontological findings, the exhibition offers an interactive exploration of this world inhabited by fearsome predators like Victoria.
From multisensory installations that explore how a T. rex would have experienced smell and sight, to immersive dioramas and digital environments, every aspect of the exhibition invites audiences to discover more about the prehistoric past.
Walking with giants
Lynley Crosswell, CEO and Director of Museums Victoria said that the arrival of this internationally significant fossil is a terrifically exciting event for Australia.
“Victoria the T. rex will see visitors from near and far enthralled by this real-life wonder alongside another marvel from the Cretaceous: the world’s most complete Triceratops fossil, Horridus, whose permanent home is right here at Melbourne Museum. Melbourne Museum will be the only place on Earth where, for a limited time, visitors can come face-to-face with two of the biggest and best real dinosaurs who once walked the planet.’
In the Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs exhibit, you can see the remarkably complete fossil of Horridus, and learn about its life and death 67 million years ago through interactive displays, digital projections, animations, and captivating soundscapes.
With the largest museum-based palaeontology department in the country and a diverse array of attractions, including the Dinosaur Walk, Gandel Gondwana Garden, and the acclaimed Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs exhibition, Melbourne Museum really is the home of dinosaurs.
Make sure to check out the T. rex programs and events for the whole family on the opening weekend’s Dino Party on 29 and 30 June.
Victoria the T. Rex will be on show at the Melbourne Museum from 28 June-20 October 2024. Book your tickets here!
For even more to explore in Melbourne, check out our top tips for places to eat, sip, play and stay.
Travel to Melbourne
Rex flies to Melbourne. Book your tickets here and check out the route map below.
