Made from 330 butterfly and moth specimens , the Fig Bird at the top of this brochure is just one of the spectacular displays at the fabulous North Queensland attraction, the Ayr Nature Display..
One of the displays is a well made from 1220 butterflies, part shown above . Another spectacular display, on the ceiling, covers 120.5 metres and features 1310 butterflies made from Queensland rocks , arranged in various patterns depicting circles, ellipses and larger butterflies.
A large map of Australia is constructed from three kinds of beetles found in the local Burdekin region; Skippy the Kangaroo is made from moths and butterflies ; there is a display of carved baobab nuts and emu eggs; Aboriginal grinding stones ; fossils; opalised wood; snakes, including sea snakes ; goblets and walking sticks made from Queensland timber ; crustaceans .
Then there is the extensive seashell section where they are displayed and used in many artistic ways .
Close up of a shell , below, which looks like a Kookaburra ,large numbers of them used in another impressive display which involved intricate work .
Part of a showcase , below, includes crabs and four deadly Stonefish, from Magnetic Island , suspended on the right .
Newspaper cutting about Jess and Allan Ey who set up the remarkable collection .They came to Queensland from South Australia in 1946 . In l956 Allan , long interested in Australian birdlife , began shell collecting as a hobby. Then insects and numerous other items of interest . The collection was opened to the public in l966.
(Butterflies. Shells. Collectables.)
