The centre was designed to display local fossils from the Cretaceous Inland Sea that covered a large section of Queensland 120 million years ago. The inland sea fluctuated in relation to global changes of sea levels and local earth movements for nearly 25 million years and reached its maximum extent 112 million years ago.
Non-marine conditions took over 97.5 million years ago and continue to the present day.
Today Richmond is the geographical centre of where the Cretaceous Inland Sea once was, and the fossils that are found prolifically around Richmond are the remains of animals that lived and died in the sea.
The catalyst for the building of Kronosaurus Korner was the discovery of the Richmond pliosaur on a property, Marathon Station, near Richmond in 1989. The 100 million-year old pliosaur was recognised by palaeontologists as the prime example of its type of vertebrae fossil in the world.
Three months later a rare minmi paravertebrae was found nearby.
Interest in marine fossils, their preservation and exhibition was paramount in Richmond and after a very successful meeting attended by 150 people, it was decided to develop a Marine Fossil Museum in the town.
The Richmond Shire Council granted permission for the old Strand Theatre to be made available to house the many unique fossil exhibits that poured in. The centre commenced operation in 1995 and was operated by dedicated locals and the volunteer organisation called Friends of the Museum.
Richmond Shire Council expanded the Richmond Marine Fossil Museum by the addition of Stage 1 of the complex which was named Kronosaurus Korner Information Centre at a cost of $500,000, with $200,000 contributed by the State Government and the remaining $300,000 by the Richmond Shire Council.
Richmond Shire Council took over control and management of the entire complex on May 1, 1999, and renamed it Kronosaurus Korner. It is now run by an Incorporated Body of which the Mayor and councillors and one town member are the Board of Directors, with the Council's chief executive officer the secretary/treasurer.
Currently at Kronosaurus Korner, renovations are taking place to improve what is already considered to be Australias most exciting Marine Fossil display. The museums Stage one capacity will be increased from 12 displays to 15, allowing for new and exciting finds to be preserved and displayed.
