Professor Wells and the Chamber of Secrets

Palaeo Jam

On the 3rd August, 1969, some 53 years ago, a young biologist, Rod Wells, along with his friend, caver Grant Gartrell crawled through a narrow opening at Naracoorte's Victoria cave, and made a remarkable discovery. It was to be one of the most remarkable finds of megafauna fossils found anywhere in the world, and played a significant part in the Australian megafauna site being elevated to the World Heritage list in 1994

In this special one on one edition of Palaeo Jam, host Michael Mills chats with Prof Rod Wells in an episode recorded with both Rod and Michael sitting in the very spot Rod had sat 53 years ago, on that amazing Spring day.

Rod’s discoveries played a significant role in the development of Vertebrate Palaeontology at Flinders University, and there are a generation of students now following in his footsteps as a result of his passion and his work. His research and insights into Australia's fossil heritage across many years has helped Australians better know the stories of their past, and in so doing, has helped Australians to better know who they are.

And while, of course, this podcast is an audio thing, so you don’t get to see Rod and Michael chatting, the very fact that it was recorded in that place where Rod sat all those years ago, made for a very special conversation.