A 370 million-year-old fish fossil will join the kookaburra, platypus, blue groper and black opal on the list of New South Wales state emblems.

With the scientific name Mandageria fairfaxi, named for a local creek and publisher James Fairfax, the fish fossil is one of the largest in the world, measuring up to 1.7m in length.

The fossil was found during a 1993 excavation near Canowindra in the NSW central west, which the government says has become a tourist hotspot for palaeontology enthusiasts.

“By raising awareness of fossils and the state’s unique geological history, geotourism across regional NSW will be boosted,” said the member for Orange, Andrew Gee, on Thursday.

Western Australia is the only other Australian state or territory to have a state fossil emblem, the Gogo fish.

“This declaration recognises the rich scientific heritage that lies beneath our feet,” resources minister Anthony Roberts said.

A competition to nickname the fossil is open for all NSW primary school children and will close on 18 September.