Art & Science.
On Show In Nature

Art & Science
On Show In Nature

Awe-inspiring for the curious, a visual display for the creative

Since 2018, the Sea Urchin Science Centre and Gallery in the lower Blue Mountains village of Kurrajong has been welcoming visitors, with intimate guided tours allowing people to gain a full appreciation for these remarkable marine creatures.

The gallery’s owner and curator, Ashley Miskelly, has had a lifelong fascination for sea urchins ever since he received his first specimen as a young teenager in 1982. Over the years he has grown his incredible collection and carefully studied their life history.

A gallery unlike any other in Australia, the Sea Urchin Science Centre and Gallery is built with the care, dedication and passion for the rich biodiversity of sea urchins.

Our Story

When childhood curiosity becomes a lifelong passion

For nearly 34 years Ashley Miskelly has been exploring, documenting and collecting sea urchin species from across the world. His field trips have taken him to Antarctica, Christmas Island, Philippines and most of Australia’s coastline. His work has appeared in many publications and exhibitions, culminating in the naming of Ovassiminea miskellyi in his honour and the opening of the gallery in 2018.

The discovery of sea urchins

1972

I first discovered these amazing marine invertebrates called sea urchins. Trips to the beach as a young boy (occasionally allowed on schooldays!) meant that I could collect and study marine life such as shells and sea urchins washed up on the beach. It didn’t take long before I was hooked!

The discovery of sea urchins

From interest to passion!

1982

On returning from an overseas vacation, I received a beached specimen of Breynia australasiae from my mother who recently holidayed on Lord Howe Island, off the coast of NSW. Intrigued with the strangeness of its natural beauty and design, my interest is sparked and it would grow to become a lifetime passion.

From interest to passion!

Started my logbook

1989

I find sea urchins washed ashore on Shoal Bay, NSW, including my first sand dollar specimen, Clypeaster australasiae. I then started a logbook, recording my findings and observations which will eventually expand to become a book, published in 2002 “Sea Urchins of Australia and the Indo-Pacific.”

Started my logbook

Adventure on Christmas Island

1995

Exploring Christmas Island in the beautiful Indian Ocean. I was SCUBA diving and snorkelling for Podophora atratus and three other important species from the island to include in "First SCUBA diving experience in Sydney Harbour."

Adventure on Christmas Island

Ongoing Species Documentation

1995 - Present

First experience SCUBA diving experience in Sydney Harbour. I soon realise there are more sea urchin species present in the harbour than ever imagined. Some are rare and undescribed. Benchmark recording and observation for species diversity in Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay, NSW. By 2020 I will have recorded
53 species.

Ongoing Species Documentation

SCUBA diving in the Solomon Islands

1997

Solomon Islands SCUBA diving trip for study and collection of tropical sea urchin species common to Australian marine waters to further the species count for “Sea Urchins of Australia and the Indo-Pacific.”

SCUBA diving in the Solomon Islands

Compilation of Species

1996 - 2002

Regular SCUBA diving to depths of up to 25m within Port Jackson, Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay to compile the final number of species for inclusion in "Sea Urchins of Australia and the Indo-Pacific."

Compilation of Species

Book published!

2002

“Sea Urchins of Australia and the Indo-Pacific” is published and the reception from those who purchased a copy opens a whole new world of interest collectors, scientists and paleontologists.

Book published!

Book Ideas Instigated

2004

Expedition to the Eastern Tasmanian coast collecting sea urchins with Royston Koh, fellow sea urchin enthusiast from Singapore. In my spare time, I scribble down ideas for the design and layout for what will become the first coffee table style book on Sea Urchins ever written, “Sea Urchins of the World - Diversity, Symmetry and Design.”

Book Ideas Instigated

Census of Coral Reefs Programme

June 2008

Participated in the Census of Coral Reefs Programme on Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia (CREEFS). Using SCUBA and snorkeling, live echinoderm species are identified and recorded as a benchmark to compare for future changes in climate. Up to two SCUBA dives per day were performed as well as snorkelling.

Census of Coral Reefs Programme

October 2008

Second stage with the Census of Coral Reefs, this time participating on Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef. As on Ningaloo Reef, together with other enthusiastic taxonomists, I was responsible for identification of the Echinoderm species present.

Earlier in the same year, I was contracted by the CSIRO and Australian Museum for the identification of echinoid species for the “Voyage of Discovery” project which were acquired from deep water. Additional areas sampled for sea urchins included the Tasmanian Seamounts and the North West Shelf, Western Australia.

Census of Coral Reefs Programme

Feb - Mar 2009

Three week long Census of Coral Reefs Lizard Island Expedition for the identification of Echinoderm species. Involves day and night SCUBA dives in various locations on the outer reef with some snorkeling to Palfrey Island and along Casuarina Beach.

Census of Coral Reefs Programme

Book launch at Dunbar House

November 2009

After 5 years in preparation, “Sea Urchins of the World - Diversity, Symmetry and Design” is printed and I hold a book launch at Dunbar House, a Georgian mansion built in the 1830s on the shores of Watsons Bay, Sydney Harbour.

Book launch at Dunbar House

Davis Station, Antarctica

Oct 2010 - Apr 2011

The Australian Antarctic Division buys a copy of “Sea Urchins of the World.” On its merit, I am asked to join the science team, and as a researcher and sea urchin taxonomist spend 6 months at Davis Station, Antarctica, “The Riviera of the South." Studying the five heart urchin species that occur there, I was able to provide a revised key to species. I also devised a method to determine the sex of the species Sterechinus neumayeri from live animals.

This was imperative for our ocean acidification projects with Sydney University and the Australian Antarctic Division as it delayed the spawning process. Subsequently, I held a workshop for those involved in the projects focusing on Antarctic sea urchin species identification.

Davis Station, Antarctica

Casey Station, East Antarctica

Jan - Feb 2012

I spent 5 weeks at Casey Station, East Antarctica via Christchurch, NZ and McMurdo Station (USA) collecting sea urchins and other marine invertebrates to transport back to Australia for further study in aquaria.

Casey Station, East Antarctica

Inclusion in Silvershotz

2013

Inclusion in Silvershotz – The International Journal of Contemporary Photography. Honoured to receive a prestigious article in this journal which is highly selective. My photography of sea urchins is presented with a 14 page article.

Inclusion in Silvershotz

Sydney to Kalumbaru

2013

Sydney to Kalumbaru, W.A. and top end of Western Australia as part of a research project with the Australian Museum revising the classification of Assiminids (mangrove snails). The species Ovassiminea miskellyi is named in my honour.

Later in the year, my travels take me from Sydney to Cape York, North Queensland as a continuation of the project with the Australian Museum collecting and observing brackish water and terrestrial snails.

Sydney to Kalumbaru

Revising and contributing taxonomic and ecological data

2014 – 2017

Sourcing specimens during these years in Tasmanian waters and the Great Australian Bight as well as in the very deep waters on the east coast from Queensland down to Tasmania. Worked extensively on the taxonomic and ecological data for the book “Australian Echinoderms” (2017) which was co-authored by a number of contributing scientists. The sea urchin chapter comprised over 100 pages.

Revising and contributing taxonomic and ecological data

2014

Travelled to Flinders Island, Tasmania exploring the 72km long island for sea urchins which would include the brooding species Eupatagus valenciennesi. Observations will later be published in “Echinoderms of Australia” in 2017. Some 23 sea urchin species are recorded.

Revising and contributing taxonomic and ecological data

2015

Deep sea survey of Australian sea urchins from The Tasmanian Seamounts and The Great Australian Bight, including detailed taxonomic identifications. New species and new distribution records for areas previously not surveyed.

Revising and contributing taxonomic and ecological data

Co-Authorship of Australian Echinoderms Book

Jun 2015 - Jul 2016

Worked extensively revising and contributing taxonomic and ecological data as well as images of uncommon Australian sea urchins to the book “Australian Echinoderms” (2017), which was co-authored by a number of contributing scientists. The sea urchin chapter comprised over 100 pages.

Co-Authorship of Australian Echinoderms Book

North-West Shelf Project

2016

Collaborative project with the Australian Museum on North West Shelf involved sea urchin identifications.

North-West Shelf Project

Great Australian Bight

2017

The Abyss project in the Great Australian Bight involved sea urchin identifications from the very deep waters on the east coast from Queensland down to Tasmania.

Great Australian Bight

The Sea Urchin Science Centre and Gallery”

2018

The "Sea Urchin Science Centre and Gallery” in Kurrajong is established, offering a unique experience where visitors can book an intimate guided tour to learn and gain an appreciation of the science and natural art form that characterises worldwide sea urchins.

The Sea Urchin Science Centre and Gallery”

Book translated into Japanese

2019

“Sea Urchins of the World” translated and re-designed for the Japanese Market is printed.

Book translated into Japanese

Sea Urchin Science Centre and Gallery Worldwide Mollusc exhibition”

2020

The “Sea Urchin Science Centre and Gallery Worldwide Mollusc Exhibition” is presented, with 30 families of terrestrial, freshwater, marine species and marine curiosities on exhibition.

Sea Urchin Science Centre and Gallery Worldwide Mollusc exhibition”

Art & Science.
On Show In Nature

Art & Science
On Show In Nature

Awe-inspiring for the curious, a visual display for the creative

Our Story