10 February 2026, 15:00 CET
The West Coast Fossil Park (WCFP) is an important centre for palaeontological research, education, and tourism. Located in a rehabilitated former phosphate mine, the Park supports ongoing fossil research and opened to the public in September 1998. It initially operated as a partnership between Iziko Museum and BHP Billiton, after which a trust was established and governance transferred to trustees appointed by Iziko Museum.
For its first 20 years, the Park operated from a small visitor centre in the Chemfos Mine building, approximately 1 km from the main dig site at E Quarry.
In 2018, a new visitor centre funded by the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) opened within E Quarry, about 250 m from the main excavation site led by Professor Roger Smith. The centre was designed to accommodate up to 500 visitors per day.
This online presentation outlines the history of the Park and highlights the operational challenges that must be addressed to ensure long-term sustainability. If you wish to take part in the webinar, please register here at least one hour before the webinar begins. ***Please register using the same email address associated with your IE membership.***
Pippa Haarhoff was born and educated in Zimbabwe and graduated in archaeology from the University of Cape Town. She joined the South African Museum (now Iziko Museum) in 1977, working in the Cenozoic Palaeontology department on the Langebaanweg fossil collection under Dr Brett Hendey. She played a key role in initiating the Fossil Park project in 1992 and has managed the Park since its opening in 1998.
With a lifelong interest in birds developed during childhood on a farm, Pippa later specialised in palaeo-ornithology, inspired by the richness of fossil birds at Langebaanweg. Her research has contributed to discoveries that continue to refine existing theories, and she emphasizes that fossils are essential to understanding how life on Earth has changed over time.
