Wildlife at the Watering Hole - June 2025 - Dr Matthew McCurry

McGrath's Flat: fossils from the Miocene of New South Wales

Dr Matthew McCurry

The recent discovery of McGraths Flat, an exceptionally well-preserved fossil deposit from New South Wales, has provided new insight into the palaeoecology of Miocene mesic ecosystems. This talk will provide an overview and update of the discoveries being made at McGraths Flat. This Konservat-Lagerstätte hosts a rich diversity of microfossils, plants, fungi, insects, spiders, and vertebrate remains. The age of the deposit (16–11 Ma) has been determined using SEM imaging of microfossils on the surface of the goethite-rich sediments. We also used a combination of automated electron microscopy imaging and citizen science for the analysis of microfossils. The replacement with goethite has resulted in exceptional preservation of internal soft tissues and structures. Examples of fossils from the deposit (including a mygalomorph spider, a retropinnid fish and a bee) will be used to showcase the value of exceptionally preserved fossils for our understanding of the recent past.

Meet Dr McCurry: 

Dr Matthew McCurry is a palaeontologist and functional morphologist whose research explores the behaviour, ecology, and evolution of extinct species through the fossil record. By combining fieldwork, descriptive palaeontology, comparative anatomy, and cutting-edge techniques such as 3D scanning and biomechanical modelling, Dr McCurry uncovers how ancient organisms lived and interacted with their environments.

He currently works at the Australian Museum Research Institute and UNSW, and has previously held research fellowships at Monash University and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. Dr McCurry is a strong advocate for the role of museum collections in advancing science and public understanding of deep time.