We encourage you to visit our national park in South Australia to learn about the Ediacaran fossils. We are home to the Nilpena fossils, which are 550 million years old. These fossils are the world’s most remarkable explanation of the advent and evolution of early animal life on our planet. They are also of immense scientific value and must be protected. We came into existence in 2018 with a charter to protect the Ediacaran fossils.
Many people look to the night skies, wondering if life exists elsewhere. Earth went from a rock hurtling through space to today’s lush green world. Life originated and evolved here. As the leading national park in Australia, we have a record of life’s transition. We deliver insights into the origins of the first animal life on our planet and potentially others.
Since our establishment, our primary goal has been to protect and conserve Ediacaran fossils. In addition, we ensure they are well-managed for current and future generations to experience and learn from. Our team aims to ensure the fossils remain the subject of critical paleontological research. These initiatives enable us to keep South Australia at the forefront of science. Due to this commitment, we have become one of the most preferred national parks in South Australia, not only for scholars but also for tourists.
We have a unique record with many species. The record is the ecology of the marine environment from the distant past and offers unmatched insights into the evolution of animal life in a changing environment on Earth. Our fossils are an artistic legacy, a thing of rare beauty. NASA has supported research in the Flinders Ranges for many years due to the significance of the national park.
Today, world-leading researchers continue exploring the ancient sea floor within the Ediacara Hills. We go above and beyond to ensure these discoveries are accessible to you and future generations. Besides our national park in South Australia, nowhere else would you be privileged to view these delicate imprints up close and learn about the lives of these 550 million-year-old creatures.
We know that, for various reasons, only some people who visit the new Nilpena Ediacara National Park can see these fossils. Paths and terrain may be challenging to negotiate. Weather conditions can also be inconsistent. For this reason, we have restored and re-purposed the historic Blacksmith’s Shop at Nilpena to serve as a brilliantly immersive and interpretive experience. It now houses one of the world’s great fossil beds, Alice’s Restaurant Bed, which showcases the beginnings of animal life on Earth. This serves as an outreach centre to inspire everyone, especially school children, to investigate a unique and mysterious part of our planet’s history and learn more about the natural world.
SUPPORT US
SUPPORT US
Your support and contribution will be critical in protecting this globally significant site in perpetuity – not just for South Australia or Australia but for everyone. By supporting the Flinders Ranges Ediacara Foundation, you’ll be helping to create an everlasting legacy, preserving one of the most significant pieces of the history of life on earth for now and for future generations.
Since its launch in March 2019, the Foundation has raised significant funds to allow for the State Government purchase of the land holding the fossil beds, to assist with the protection of the fossils and to support the transformation of the historic Blacksmith’s Shop into an immersive Ediacaran interpretive centre.
The next critical step is to work closely with the South Australian State Government to ensure the effective preservation and interpretation of the site and the fossils it contains. To support this ongoing vision for the future of the Nilpena site, we are seeking funding through personal donations, bequests and corporate contributions.
