113. Stockyard Point - Cuspate Foreland

This information has been developed from one or more of these publications:

Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Westernport Bay Catchment (1984) by Neville Rosengren.
Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Western Region of Melbourne (1986) by Neville Rosengren
Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance on the Coast of Port Phillip Bay (1988) by Neville Rosengren.
Sites of Environmental Significance in the Flood Plain of the Upper Yarra Valley Region (1983) by Neville Rosengren, Douglas Frood and Kim Lowe (as part of a study of Sites of Environmental Significance by the University of Melbourne for the then Upper Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges Authority).

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 (external link) for details of geological heritage reports, and a bibliography.

Location:	Lang Lang - 703557. Three kilometres south of Lang Lang Beach.	The multiple recurving spits that comprise Stockyard point. Also shown are Lang Lang delta (A), tidal watershed (B), Red bluff (C), part of Pioneer Bay (D).
Access:	Jetty Lane.
Ownership:	Mainly private land with some Crown Land.
Geomorphology:	Stockyard Point is a sandy foreland built by accretion of a succession or recurving spits and beach ridges. The foreland has grown to the south with its base or proximal end against the former marine cliff south of Red Bluff. At least 10 major sets of sandy ridges are evident in the growth of the foreland, each major and minor ridge being separated by a swampy depression or swale. The distal or active end of the foreland is a recurving sand spit that advances eastward into Pioneer Bay and encloses a sheltered zone allowing the growth of mangroves and salt marsh. The sediment for spit growth is supplied by ebb tidal flows and wave induced currents that create a net drift to the south. The spit material includes sands eroded from Red Bluff and fragments from the shell beds on the bay floor intersected by tidal channels. The sand forms a series of en echelon submarine bars that extend south from Red Bluff. They are readily visible on aerial photographs and are in part emerged at lowest tides.
Significance:	State. This is one of the most distinctive medium size cuspate forelands in Victoria. Several stages in its evolution are apparent from field inspection and aerial photo analysis. The dynamics of spit recurvature are clearly displayed at the distal end provide an ideal site to study the processes of sand accretion in a variable wave environment. The earlier formed ridges provide opportunity for the study of soil and vegetation succession on older sand deposits.
Management:	Class 1. No further drainage, clearing, or excavation should be permitted on the area of the site. Subdivision of the area and further building construction should be prohibited apart from small areas adjacent to existing private or commercial enterprises. Grazing animals should be excluded from all the tidal salt marsh.
References:	Jenkin, J.J. , 1962. The geology and hydrology of the Western Port area. Dept. of Mines, Vict Underground Water Investigation Rept. No. 5. Nicholson, H., 1974. Terrain features and evolution of Stockyard Point. B.Sc. Hons thesis (unpub.) Dept. of Geog. Univ. of Melb.

Sites 112, 113 and 114, Red Bluff and Stockyard Point area.

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