Prehistoric Bayside

Museum

Operated, run and curated by the Bayside Earth Sciences Society (a not-for-profit science group based in Bayside, Victoria, Australia).

First Open Day: Sunday 16th November 2025.

The Prehistoric Bayside Museum showcases one of the most important fossil areas in all of Australia, the Beaumaris and Black Rock fossil deposits, dating back roughly 5 - 6 million years. This is a permanent museum display that will be open to the public on select days, showcasing the latest discoveries in the area.

From giant Killer Sperm Whales that ate other whales, to monstrous sharks half as long as a basketball court, the Prehistoric Bayside Museum showcases the tumultuous lives of these bizarre beasts, displaying this groundbreaking fossil material to the public.

The creation of the Prehistoric Bayside Museum is only possible thanks to generous funding from the Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron, Bayside City Council, the Future Fish Foundation, Deb Lusty and the countless citizen scientists who are changing the palaeontological landscape of Victoria with their discoveries.

Location: at the Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron (1 Pelican Quays, Beaumaris, VIC, 3193)

Next Open Day: Sunday, November 16th, 2025.

For all enquiries (school incursions and talks), please contact Ben Francischelli at his email: benfrancischelli91@gmail.com

For all updates, follow our social media channels

Frequently Asked Questions

  • This museum displays the fossil heritage that can be found in Bayside, Victoria , Australia. It showcases gigantic Megalodon teeth, the largest fossil tooth ever found in Australia, other prehistoric megafauna and hundreds of other fossils from a time period between 5-6 million years ago.

  • The museum will be open at the Beaumaris Motor Yacht Squadron on select open days to the public. The first open date is scheduled for Sunday, November 16th 2025.

  • The Museum will be free on all open days.

  • Yes! Scroll down to the end of this page to send us your image, and we can tell you if it’s a rock or something more important.

  • Come along to our open days and find out! In the meantime, follow our social media for more updates.

  • Other than staring at every pebble until it looks impressive, we can help you find your first fossil in Bayside.

    Citizen scientists will be present at every open day, and can tell you their story of how they became involved in searching for Bayside’s hidden heritage.

Ethics of Collection in Bayside

There are several rules that everyone must abide by when looking for fossils:

1) You can not dig…

It is illegal to disturb or dig rock, sand or soil that causes damage to the natural environment. It is illegal to remove fossils from the rock without appropriate permits from the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) or explicit permission from Museums Victoria. Excavating for fossils in any way – on land or in the water – is prohibited. 

No collection is permitted within the area of Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary - it is fully protected within the National Parks Act (1975). Make sure you know where you are when you go looking for fossils.

2) When in doubt, message the Prehistoric Bayside Museum or Museums Victoria.

The fossils erode out naturally - no tools are required to find them. 99% of all scientifically important fossils found by citizen scientists are found loose, on the bottom of the seafloor or on the sand at low tide. If you come across something you suspect is scientifically important, please message the state museum or send a picture in the form below, and we can identify it for you. If you find something of scientific interest, it is entirely up to you to donate any specimens to the state museum. The most important discoveries of the last decade have come from donations by citizen scientists.

3) You can not remove a fossil in the rock yourself…

If you have found a fossil embedded in the rock, you are not allowed to remove it. Notify the Prehistoric Bayside Museum, or Museums Victoria, and if the specimen is of scientific interest, they will extract the specimen for donation to the state collection with you.

4) These areas are dangerous.

There are numerous dangers present at the fossil sites of Beaumaris and Black Rock. Large cliff falls have occurred in the last few years in Beaumaris. Large and potentially dangerous fauna, such as Smooth rays, Bronze whaler sharks and Blue-ringed Octopuses, have been regularly sighted in these areas. Jet ski users regularly ignore rules and come close to shore; they pose the most dangerous threat to swimmers in Bayside.

5) Pick the right weather conditions to visit.

If you decide to visit these fossil sites, do not collect during potentially hazardous weather. The best time to visit Beaumaris is during a low tide and a low or northerly wind.

6) Do not come alone.

It is strongly recommended that you do not visit these fossil sites alone. Come with a friend and watch out for each other.

7) Any questions? Message us!

The Prehistoric Bayside Museum will act as a repository of knowledge for the public. If you have any questions, please send us a message and we will respond within 3 working days.

Questions?

Questions?

Contact us!

Would you like a private viewing for your school/community group in the area?

Have you found a rock/fossil that needs identification?

Send us a message and we’ll let you know more.