Dinosaurs descend on Brisbane

Dinosaurs as old as 145 million years have been brought to life in a jurassic exhibition at the Queensland Museum.

Animatronic specialists from China have worked alongside paleontologists to recreate the anatomy and movement of 20 dinosaurs.

Two fearsome T-Rexs and Australian dinosaurs, including Queensland's own Muttaburrasaurus, make up the Dinosaur Discovery exhibition which opens in Brisbane on Friday.

Squeezing some of the world's largest dinosaurs into the museum was not easy, says museum chief executive Professor Suzanne Miller.

"They had to be brought in sections; a lot of time has been spent in putting them together," Prof Miller said.

"They are very heavy because of the animatronics. Some of the larger ones weigh several hundred kilos."

The longest dinosaur on show, the 26-metre Brachiosaurus, is on the front lawn.

"Each dinosaur was made piece by piece. So every single scale was made separately, every single eye, every single piece," she said.

"There will probably be a bit of tears and screaming but children generally run outside and then run straight back in.

"I think there's a little bit of an adrenalin rush that happens with little kids."

Museum paleontologist Dr Scott Hocknull said the exhibition fulfilled a boyhood fantasy.

"These are fantastic dinosaurs. They move, they interact. They have sensors so when people pass them they interact," he said.

"Being able to create a world that includes Australian dinosaurs ... back when I was a kid there were no Australian dinosaurs!"