Thousands of fish fossils across 80 tonnes of slabs were excavated from the site outside Canowindra in July 1993. Paleontologist Dr Alex Ritchie had just 10 days for the exploratory dig and barely scratched the surface.

"What we should have done is given it to the nation, roofed it, put a gate in it and then charge entry for people to come see this thing undercover, protected forever," Dr Ritchie said.

The original dig produced well preserved specimens that contributed greatly to science. The Devonian Period (300-400 million years ago) fossils contained examples of fish with five digit limbs and fish with lungs. These were fish preparing to walk on land and Dr Ritchie and other scientists believes the first tetrapod, or walking fish, in the Southern Hemisphere could be found in Canowindra.

The most important fossils are currently on display at the Age of Fishes Museum in Canowindra. Sir David Attenborough visited the museum in 2013 and called the fossils "world class".

But despite international recognition the site has remained buried.

"Regional areas you've got a smaller population and money has to be spread further," said Anne Clark, manager of the Age of Fishes Museum.

Last week a Canberran spine physician bought the 100 hectare lot on Fish Fossil Drive adjacent to the dig site. Dr David McGrath is a fossil enthusiast who had visited the dig in 1993.

"My plan is to move this site forward, for educational purposes. This is a major fossil location in Australia. It's right up there with major fossil finds in the world actually. Yet its educational value has not been properly explored," Dr McGrath said.

Dr McGrath is in talks with the Australian Museum and the Canowindra community about reopening the dig site as an onsite tourist attraction and research facility similar to Lark Quarry in Queensland.

"I think we need to go back to the original site and open it up now for the full scientific value. The late Devonian era was a fabulous period in the evolution of life," said Dr McGrath.

Dr Ritchie, now 85-years-old and living with dementia, said he hopes to live to see the site reopened.

"He's made an old man's end of days really happy," said Shona, Dr Ritchie's daughter.

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