Did you know that the blocks of sandstone used in many of Brisbane's iconic structures might actually hold dinosaur footprints? It may sound unbelievable, but the history of Albion, a vibrant suburb of Brisbane known for its charming historical buildings and shops, reveals a fascinating past that dates back to when it was home to a vast sandstone quarry.
Back in his teenage years, Bruce Runnegar would often explore Petrie’s Quarry with friends from Brisbane Grammar School. Little did he know, a significant discovery awaited him during his senior year in July 1958, a find that would literally place dinosaurs on the map of Australia.
While investigating the site, Runnegar stumbled upon what he believed to be a fossilized dinosaur footprint. He carefully wrapped it up and took it home, never anticipating the national importance it would later hold. Over the years, as the quarry was filled in and transformed into residential neighborhoods, Runnegar pursued a remarkable career as a distinguished palaeontologist.
For more than six decades, Runnegar kept the fossil safe in his personal collection, showcasing it during his lectures around the globe, including at the prestigious University of California in Los Angeles. Remarkably, this fossil remained there for four decades before it was finally returned to Brisbane last year.
Now, after thorough examination, scientists have confirmed that this 18.5-centimeter footprint is indeed Australia’s oldest dinosaur fossil, dating back approximately 230 million years. It holds the distinction of being the first dinosaur fossil ever uncovered in an Australian capital city.
In 2021, Runnegar decided it was time to have the fossil documented properly. He contacted palaeontologist Anthony Romilio at the University of Queensland’s Dinosaur Lab. At that time, Runnegar was still teaching in Los Angeles and had shipped the fossil along with his other belongings across the ocean.
Romilio instructed Runnegar on how to take high-quality photographs of the fossil while he was in his garage in Los Angeles. "I ended up taking numerous photos—gigabytes worth," Runnegar recalled. Using these images, Romilio employed special software to create a detailed 3D map of the fossil, ultimately making a cast that depicted what the dinosaur's footprint would have originally looked like.
"Once I created the model, I realized we truly had something extraordinary," Romilio expressed. His research identified the dinosaur that left this footprint as a small, two-legged sauropodomorph, standing approximately 75 to 80 centimeters tall at the hip and weighing around 140 kilograms. This creature roamed the Earth during the Late Triassic period, roughly 230 million years ago, making it a distant ancestor of the brontosaurus and brachiosaurus.
According to Romilio, it is likely that this dinosaur was walking near a waterway when it made the footprint, which was later preserved in sandstone—a material that would eventually be quarried to construct buildings throughout Brisbane. In fact, the heritage-listed General Post Office (GPO) located on Queen Street in the bustling CBD was built using sandstone sourced from the Albion quarry, the very place where this significant fossil was discovered.
"Due to urban development, the original site is now inaccessible, leaving this fossil footprint as the sole remnant of dinosaur existence in the region," Romilio pointed out. "Had there not been foresight to preserve this material, the rich dinosaur history of Brisbane could have remained entirely unknown. This fossil stands as the only example found in an Australian capital city, illustrating how globally significant discoveries can be hidden right under our noses."
In a generous act, Runnegar has donated this remarkable fossil to the Queensland Museum, where it will join the University of Queensland’s collection for future research and educational purposes. The details of this groundbreaking discovery were published in the journal Alcheringa, An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology.
So, as you reflect on this astonishing find, consider: What other historical treasures might be lurking beneath our feet, waiting to be uncovered? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
