Gulgong’s Natural History Museum plans no longer after fossil collector Michael Durrant pulls support

Australia’s largest private fossil collector has pulled plans to donate his collection for a natural history museum after being bullied, following revelations the bulk of his fossils are replicas.

Australia’s largest private fossil collector has pulled plans to donate his collection for a multimillion-dollar natural history museum after being bullied following revelations the bulk of his fossils are replicas.

Mid-Western Regional Council had been awarded $3m from the state government to build the museum to house ‘Michael Durrant’s Wonderful World of Fossils Collection’ at Gulgong.

The collection, which features an extensive fossil display, full-size dinosaur display, and 200-million-year-old dinosaur prints and rare bat fossils, will not be placed on public display after Mr Durrant “had enough” of the bullying and withdrew his support.

The funding for the project has been retracted from council as it was dependent on Mr Durrant’s fossil collection.

Councillor Paul Cavalier expressed his disappointment, saying a lot of people in the community were looking forward to the museum.

Mid-Western Regional councillor Paul Cavalier. Photo: Mid-Western Regional Council.

“A small group were unhappy with the decision that council made to proceed with the project and instead of accepting it – they started to make attacks against the project,” he said.

Mr Cavalier claimed Mr Durrant received negative-fuelled comments from a small portion of the community.

Artist impressions of the Natural History Museum at Gulgong. Photo: Mid-Western Regional Council.

Gulgong entrance sign. Photo: Tijana Birdjan

“It’s a real shame and I think it’s a really big loss for Gulgong, because it’s not like the town gets millions of dollars very often – and now it’s gone,” he said.

“It’s absolutely fine people to oppose it, I haven’t got an issue with that it’s just that it got very personable and very nasty. It was quite embarrassing really.

“He [Mr Durrant] was trying to do a nice thing for the community and he’s just been attacked for it – I can’t blame him for pulling the pin – it’s just a big loss for us.

“The young kids would have benefited a lot, and not just in Gulgong, but the entire region so it’s a shame.”

Mr Cavalier said the museum would have attracted younger generations to the community as not everyone is interested in the town’s heritage.

He said as the town was facing an “uncertain economic climate in the future” it was “terrible” to see the demise of the museum.