Take a prehistoric journey in May Drive Parkland.

Know

May Drive Parkland is one of the most popular precincts in Kings Park and Botanic Garden.

With lush green lawns, playgrounds and gardens surrounded by bushland it's perfect for family gatherings and picnics. Did you know that a story about evolution through time lies ‘hidden’ within this beautiful parkland?

Isn’t it time you took a prehistoric journey of discovery?

Explore

Can you find these ten hidden treasures in the Prehistoric Parkland?

Print out a paper copy of our Hunt for History @ the Prehistoric Parkland1.2 MB or download it to your device.

1. Find the Bronze Plates showing what the world looked like 50 million years ago. Does it look like the world does now? How many other World Bronze Plates can you find?
2. Oh wow! There is a baby Muttaburrasaurus hatched from its egg! Its mother is keeping watch. How many more Muttaburrasaurus babies are going to hatch? These dinosaurs used to roam all over Australia eating pine trees, cycads, ginkgos and tree ferns.
3. Can you find a wood carving of worm-like crawling creatures? They were among the earliest life forms on Earth.
4. Hidden among the prehistoric trees on Lycopod Island is the Meganeura or giant dragonfly, the largest insect to have ever lived.
5. Where is the Windy Walk? Find it to explore the evolution of birds from flightless giants to flying aces. Can you spot the bird stencil?
6. A Wollemi pine grows somewhere in this parkland, but where? This prehistoric dinosaur food is very spikey ... hmmmm ... tasty!
7. With huge teeth, sharp claws and a super long tail, beware of the Phytosaur. Imagine finding one of these huge creatures walking along the riverbank! What does this giant creature remind you of?
8. Where is the beautiful Macrozamia fraseri mosaic? This plant is a cycad. Its ancestors lived over 250 million years ago! Did you know that the red fruit is very poisonous to humans, but Aboriginal people knew how to treat them so they could be eaten safely?
9. These mega marsupials (Diprotodons) were the ancestor of the wombat. They coexisted with early Aboriginal people. Fortunately for us they were vegetarians!
10. Search for the stromatolites, living rock-like structures formed by layers of bacteria. These slimy organisms are the earliest fossil evidence of life on Earth!

Hunt at home

In this challenge you will need to use your observation and drawing skills.

How to play:

1. Print out our Hunt at Home Checklist or create your own.
2. You will need one or more players.
3. Find six objects around your home which you think you could draw easily (make sure you don’t show the participants the objects as they will be using your drawings on the checklist to find the objects).
4. Using the template draw your pictures in the boxes.
5. Hide the actual objects you have chosen in an area of your home, inside or outside.
6. Give each player the lost and found hunt sheet with the drawings of the objects you have hidden.
7. Make sure the players know the area where the objects are hidden.
8. Let the game begin. Who can find the most objects first?

Drawing tips:

• Choose small objects that are easy to draw, like a piece of fruit, or a honky nut.
• Use simple lines.
• Observe the shape and texture.
• Break the object into shapes to help you draw the outline of your object (see the bird example above).
• Use colour.

Want to know more about prehistoric animals and plants? Check out these links:

• Wollemi Pine Lawn in May Drive Parkland
• Wollemi Pine Conservation Program
• Zamia (Macrozamia fraseri) plant profile
• Stromatolites of Hamelin Pool
• Stromatolites at the Western Australian Museum

Share with us

We would love to see your photos of your visit to May Drive Parkland and your home-made lost and found checklist.

Share your photos to the Kings Park Home Delivery Facebook group or use the hashtag #KingsParkHomeDelivery on Instagram.