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GL 34 (8321) Barrier Dunes - Ninety Mile Beach

This information has been developed from the publications:

    • Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in Central Gippsland (1981) by Neville Rosengren, M.S McRae-Williams and S.M Kraemers.
    • Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Gippsland Lakes Catchment (1984) by Neville Rosengren.
    • Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in East Gippsland, Victoria (1981) by Neville Rosengren, M.S McRae-Williams
Geological heritage sites, including sites of geomorphological interest and volcanic heritage sites, are under regular revision by the Geological Society of Australia, especially in the assessment of significance and values. Reference should be made to the most recent reports. See the Earth Science Heritage section of the Geological Society of Australia website for details of geological heritage reports, and a bibliography.



Location:280643 (8321). 9 kilometres south-west of Golden Beach.
Image: East Gippsland Sites of Significance
East of Seaspray.
Older dune ridge (A).
Parallel ridges of outer barrier (B).

Abstract:
Parallel ridges of outer barrier, irregular dunes of earlier barrier formation.

Access:
Seaspray - Golden Beach Road.

Ownership:
Private land

Geomorphology:
The number of parallel ridges that comprise the outer barrier diminishes progressively from a maximum of 13 near Golden Beach to a single high foredune at Seaspray. This changing configuration of the barrier can be readily appreciated by making transects across the ridges at intervals along the 25 kilometres of roadway between Seaspray and Golden Beach. Behind the distinct outer barrier ridges is a zone of sandy terrain of variable width that extends to the salt marsh on the shore of Lake Reeve. In places this is a featureless sand plain which may represent sites of former tidal inlets to Lake Reeve before emplacement of the outer barrier but there are also areas of irregular dune relief consisting of low hummocks and hollows with no discernible orientation. These dunes have deeply leached soil profiles and the vegetation, which includes Banksia serrata, a species that is typical of acidic inner barrier sandy soils, indicates their possible Pleistocene rather than Holocene origin. Although of different configuration, they may be of similar age and origin to the ridges on Rotomah Island referred to as Site GL-30.

Significance:
State. The exact nature and age relationships of the hummocky older dunes has not been determined - hence this is an important site in displaying the evolution of the Gippsland Lakes barriers.

Management:
Most of the area occupied by the older dunes has been subdivided but is not built on. An area approximating to that shown by A-A, would be necessary to display the geomorphology of these dunes. Resumption of land in this area would be necessary if examples of the dune systems and their ecology are to be preserved.

References:
Jenkin, J.J. (1968). "The geomorphology and upper Cainozoic gelogy of Southeast Gippsland, Victoria", Geol. Surv. Vict. Memoir 27.
Huzzey, L.M. (1975). The Morphology and Evolution of the Outer Barrier on the Gippsland Coast. Honours Thesis (unpub.), Department of Geography, University of Melbourne.
Bird, E.C.F. (1978). The Geomorphology of the Gippsland Lakes Region. Publication No. 186, Environmental Studies Series, Ministry for Conservation, Victoria.

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