If you thought prehistoric animals were extinct, read on! Over the last 45 years, countless dinosaurs and rare megafauna animals have escaped from the Natureworks studio. They have found their way into museums, playgrounds, theme parks, zoos and themed displays across the world.
Yes, Natureworks has been quietly breathing new life into ancient creatures! Not by cloning them Jurassic Park style, but by creating painstakingly researched prehistoric animal replicas. Combining scientific knowledge and technical skills with creative artistry and a passion for nature, the Natureworks team have created realistic, life-sized sculptures of hundreds of prehistoric animals.
Why dinosaurs and prehistoric animals are relevant today
“We must recognize that, in order to survive as a species on earth, an understanding of the natural processes that shaped our land and its fauna is imperative.” (Brian Mackness, Prehistoric Australia; 4000 million years of evolution in Australia, 1987)
Big prehistoric animals are impressive!
For us diminutive humans, the sheer scale of dinosaurs is fascinating. Dinosaurs were the largest animals ever to walk on land until they became extinct around 65 million years ago. The biggest dinosaurs (super-sized sauropods called titanosaurs) were up to 10 times heavier than today’s largest land animal, the African elephant. To put this in perspective, the Titanosaur was around the length of four double-decker buses.
The massive Titanosaur
As you can see from the image of Sir David Attenborough beside a fossilised femur bone, the Titanosaur was enormous. If the thigh bone was that big, imagine the size of the whole dinosaur!
This fossil found in Patagonia was over 100 million years old. Titanosaur bones have also been found in Australia. Called ‘Cooper’, Australia’s largest dinosaur stood two stories high and weighed around 70 tons.
Reproductions by Natureworks
» Titanosaur femur bone replica – dramatic educational display piece or unique bench seat
» ‘Cooper’ the Australotitan cooperensis – a stunning life-size replica of Australia’s largest dinosaur
“'Cooper' represents the largest dinosaur yet known from osteological remains in Australia. It confirms the presence of gigantic titanosaurian sauropods in eastern Gondwana during the mid-Cretaceous."
Why were some dinosaurs so BIG?
Being big had various advantages, such as protection from predators and being able to travel long distances. It also had some disadvantages, such as the need to find a lot of food to sustain their large size. As explained in an article by London’s Natural History Museum, scientists think there were a number of reasons why dinosaurs reached such immense sizes:
- Upright stance supports a large body and uses less energy than the sprawling stance of other reptiles
- Four legs support more weight (so 4-legged sauropods like Australotitan grew bigger than bipedal dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex)
- Huge, padded feet help spread weight, while wide hips increase stability
- Big belly to process food, with efficient metabolism requiring less food relative to their size
- Light, air-filled bones reduce the power needed to move their body
- Long necks to reach tall trees and eat food not accessible to other animals
- Efficient breathing system utilising oxygen in bone air sacs as well as lungs
Meet some of our giant dinosaurs...
“We love seeing children climb through a Triceratops rib cage, or visitors standing in awe beneath a life-sized Quetzalcoatlus. These creatures spark curiosity, and that’s what makes our work special."
Giant-sized dinosaur sculptures
- Australotitan Cooperensis (15m long) – One of the largest dinosaurs to walk Australia
- Brachiosaurus (4.2m high) – impressive giant sauropod twisting its long neck
- Giant cracked dinosaur egg (1.8m long) – gigantic egg ideal for play areas
- Monolophosaurus (9ft tall) – A striking theropod with a distinctive crest
- Pteranodon (8m wingspan) – Flying pterosaur captured mid-flight for breathtaking overhead displays
- Quetzalcoatlus (6m high) – an enormous flying pterosaur from the late Cretaceous
- Rhoetosaurus brownie (13m long) – a long-necked sauropod from the Jurassic period
- Triceratops Rib Cage & Skull Climber (3.8m long) – A fun and educational climbing feature. See also the Giant Triceratops dinosaur (6.2m long)
- Tyrannosaurus Rex (9m long, standing) – also available in other sizes, colours and poses
- See many more dinosaur sculptures here
Don't forget the mighty megafauna!
Dinosaurs may be the acknowledged stars of the prehistoric world, but they weren’t the only large creatures on Earth. Ancient megafauna (which literally means giant animals) lived in the Pleistocene epoch long after the Age of Dinosaurs. Many of them were earlier and bigger versions of various mammals, birds and reptiles alive today.
Australia had its own unique megafauna, now immortalised in the Natureworks Megafauna Collection. Some of these giant animals co-existed with Australia’s First Nations peoples for at least 30,000 years, becoming extinct around 40,000 years ago due to environmental changes and other causes. Whether any future lifeforms will evolve to such great sizes as dinosaurs or megafauna, time will tell, but you and I are unlikely to live to see it!
Larger megafauna sculptures
- Coelacanth (1.2m long) – prehistoric fish thought to be extinct, but then rediscovered
- Diporotodon optatum (3m high) – extinct giant marsupial (see it in a playground)
- Procoptodon Goliah (2.8m high) – a massive extinct flat-faced kangaroo
- Phascolonus – extinct giant wombat from the Pleistocene period
- Megalania (5.4m long) – spectacular giant lizard
- Titanaboa (5m long) – giant snake, also available as a giant green python or carpet snake
- Zaglossus (1m high) – a large monotreme, relative of the modern echidna
- See more megafauna reconstructions here
Sculptures for education, promotion and inspiration
As well as educating us about natural history, reproductions of dinosaurs and megafauna draw attention, provoke curiosity and inspire awe. In these days of social media, large unusual sculptures (Big Things) provide a highly shareable photo opportunity to help promote an event, venue or town.
Dinosaur-themed attractions and exhibits remain perennially popular with adults as well as kids (read why dinosaur attractions are popular). For example, see how our dinosaurs have been featured in a children’s playground, mini-golf course and holiday park.
In a similar vein, megafauna displays are highly relatable because they depict giant animals from our more recent history. These creatures are strange yet familiar. For educational megafauna experiences, see the megafauna display at Mt Isa or the megafauna event at Australian National Botanic Gardens.
Who buys dinosaurs and prehistoric animal sculptures?
Natureworks’ replicas of prehistoric animals find their way to all sorts of people in all sorts of places for all sorts of purposes! Our prehistoric animal sculptures appear in zoos, playgrounds, botanical gardens, shopping centres, theme parks, tourist attractions, mini-golf courses, businesses, and private homes.
From our busy workshop and office near Brisbane Australia, Natureworks ships themed products around Australia and the world. Our prehistoric animal sculptures and props have found homes in North America, UK, Europe and Asia as well as towns and cities around Australia (see our interactive map of sculptures around Australia).
Prehistoric sculpture packages
Do you want to create a prehistoric-themed display or visitor attraction? If so, it can be cost-effective to buy a container-load of prehistoric sculptures. We can deliver a 20 or 40 foot container anywhere in the world!
Natureworks can advise on a set of sculptures and props that suit your budget and purpose. For example, this could be a prehistoric-themed event, mini-golf attraction, playground or educational display. Your container will include an appropriate mix of products, carefully packed to maximise the use of available shipping space.
Read about custom mini-golf packages (which can suit other purposes too) or contact Natureworks for more info.
Ready to bring the past to life?
Browse Natureworks’ collection of iconic dinosaur and megafauna sculptures online:
Or view and download catalogues:
Contact Natureworks today to bring a giant prehistoric creature into your world! We’re happy to discuss custom projects and can advise about costs, availability and features, to ensure you get products suitable for your purpose.
