# Cretaceous Park in Australia **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 16, 2002, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cretaceous-park-in-australia/109442 "2002-05-16T20:42:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cretaceous-park-in-australia/109442/1 "2002-05-16T20:42:09Z")
In the last couple of years I remember seeing a report on the boob tube talking about the remnants of a Cretaceous period(?) forest located in an undisclosed area of Australia. They showed a video of the place and it did have that “Jurassic Flinstone Modern” look (funky looking trees, etc.). I figured that National Geographic or some other magazine would do a spread on it within 4 to 6 months. Since that report, I’ve heard nothing. Does anyone know what the story is? Was it a hoax? P.S. Is it possible that Rupert Murdoch trying to do in real life what John Hammond did in fiction? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2002, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cretaceous-park-in-australia/109442/2 "2002-05-16T22:07:54Z")
Googling on the phrase [“trees found in australia”](http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&num=10&hl=en&safe=off&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=trees+found+in+australia&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=&safe=off) returns a link to a story on the [ancient trees of the genus Eidothea](http://www.usatoday.com/weather/science/biology/trees/fossil121500.htm) that were discovered growing in Australia’s Nightcap range. A search on [Eidothea and australia](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&as_qdr=all&q=Eidothea+australia&btnG=Google+Search) turns up a ton more information on the discovery. Rupert Murdoch has engaged in a lot of dodgy schemes, but this likely isn’t one of them. Welcome to SDMB 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![woolly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ebca7d/32.png) [@woolly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woolly)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cretaceous-park-in-australia/109442/3 "2002-05-17T04:18:31Z")
Another possibility is the [Wollomi Pine](http://home.bluepin.net.au/yallaroo/conservationandcult.htm)_Wollemia nobilis_. This was found about 4 years ago. The location is still considered to be a National Parks’ secret, and an extensive propogation program is in place to get the tree available commercially without threatening the surviving population of trees. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cretaceous-park-in-australia/109442/4 "2002-05-17T10:49:00Z")
That 1994 discovery could be the subject of the film [Wild Australia – THE EDGE](http://www.helio.com.au/edge/) > [@](#): > > In October 1994 an explorer found himself standing in a grove of “dinosaur trees” that, until that moment, were believed to have been extinct for more than sixty million years. They are huge - 120ft tall - and they look like no other living thing. Their location is absolutely secret. The film crew agreed to be blindfolded for the journey there, so that the audience of “The Edge” could have the extraordinary privilege of being taken to see this awe-inspiring site. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2002, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cretaceous-park-in-australia/109442/5 "2002-05-17T13:42:35Z")
Thanks y’all. I appreciate you efforts.