Meteorites to Museum: The Tenham Meteorite and Queensland Museum’s Collection, Queensland Museum, 22 August 2025

Have you been following the exciting news about the meteor hunt in Victoria? Earlier this month, sky watchers were treated to the spectacular sight of a meteor streaking across the night sky over central Victoria. Researchers are now scouring paddocks near Dunolly, hoping to recover fragments of this cosmic visitor. While their search continues, here at Queensland Museum we know just how special it is to discover and preserve these rare pieces of space.

In fact, one of the more well known meteorites ever recovered in Australia is part of our collection: the Tenham Meteorite.

A Cosmic Crash in Queensland

On a clear night in 1879, a fiery spectacle lit up the skies over western Queensland. The Tenham Meteorite showered down over Tenham Station near Windorah, witnessed by station owner Michael Hammond and his brothers. The booming sound and bright trail led them directly to the fall site, and by the next morning they were collecting fragments of the freshly fallen meteorite.

Unlike many other meteorites that go undiscovered for years, Tenham was found almost immediately after it fell. This meant the minerals inside were still “fresh” and uncontaminated, making it a particularly valuable specimen for scientific study.

Unlocking Secrets of the Solar System

Today, Queensland Museum holds 127 fragments of the Tenham Meteorite, donated in 1939. Samples have also been shared with research institutions around the world.

Why is Tenham so important? It helped scientists identify four brand new minerals never before described: Ringwoodite, Bridgmanite, Akimotoite, and Poirierite. These minerals form deep inside planetary interiors under immense pressure, and their discovery expanded our understanding of how planets – including Earth – are structured.

By studying meteorites like Tenham, scientists gain insights into the early Solar System. Meteorites are time capsules from billions of years ago, formed from the dust and gas of the solar nebula long before Earth itself existed. Each fragment holds clues about planetary formation, the origins of water, and even the building blocks of life.

Connecting the Past with Today’s Meteor Hunt

While researchers in Victoria are still searching for their newly fallen meteorite, the Tenham story shows what can happen when these space rocks are successfully recovered and studied. Even small fragments can reveal profound information about how our Solar System formed and evolved.

Just like the scientists combing fields in Dunolly today, Michael Hammond’s curiosity more than 140 years ago ensured the Tenham Meteorite was not lost to history. Thanks to his discovery, scientists and museum visitors alike can continue to learn from these cosmic messengers.

See Meteorites at Queensland Museum

You don’t need to wait for a meteorite to fall in your backyard to see one up close. At Queensland Museum, visitors can see a piece of history and a fragment of the Tenham Meteorite on display in the Dinosaurs Unearthed gallery.

So next time you look up at the night sky, remember – space is closer than you think, and sometimes, it lands right here in Queensland.