“The Dig” is the City of Greater Bendigo’s third Annual Children’s Art Adventure project and was launched on Friday.

The conservatory space has been transformed into an archaeological dig site where children can search for papier-mâché dinosaur bones.

Artist Emma Pryse came up with the idea after being inspired by the building itself.

“It’s a 19th century building, and in that time they had cabinets of curiosity and digging for fossils was very popular,” she said.

“Also children are enthralled by dinosaurs and my four-year-old is obsessed with them.”

Camp Hill Primary School children were among the first to start digging and were impressed by the display.

Grade 6 student Patty Keogh gave it the tick of approval.

“I like digging and finding the bones, playing with the sand and building sandcastles,” he said. 

The Dig will be open Monday to Friday from 10am to noon and weekends from 11am to 3pm, until Sunday, September 2.

The Professor (aka Pryse) will be at the site on Fridays and on weekends from 11am to 1pm.  Entry is free.