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Bu7 - Lerderderg River - Permian Glacials and Recent Gravels

This information has been developed from this publication:

  • Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Western Region of Melbourne (1986) by Neville Rosengren
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 (external link) section of the Geological Society of Australia website for details of geological heritage reports, and a bibliography.

Location:Lerderderg - 726337 to 728328. Shire of Bacchus Marsh. Eastern bank of Lerderderg River at the mouth of the gorge, extending for 800 m south along the western bank from the Lerderderg ford.
Image: Sites of Significance Werribee Bu7
Lerderderg River - Permian Glacials and Recent Gravels

Access:

Lerderderg Gorge Road.

Ownership:

Crown land.

Site Description:

The rocky cliffs on either side of the river immediately below the gorge are tillites and varves. Four tillites are exposed in the 15m section east of the river, and on the west of the river, a 7 m section shows the uncommon feature of a pavement cut into earlier till by a glacial re-advance.

Further downstream on the western side of the river. Permian outcrops in 10 m high cliffs at the back of a low terrace are unconformably overlain by large, well-rounded river gravels.

Significance:

International. The glacial beds of Bacchus Marsh are part of a glacial episode that affected all of the Gondwanaland continents. The site displays a wide variety of glacial depositional and erosional features. The marked unconformity in the cliffs south of the ford, provide an opportunity to compare the composition and structures of the glacial conglomerates with overlying river deposited gravels.

Management:

Class 1. The sites should be retained as natural outcrops. No construction activities that would modify or obscure the outcrops should be permitted. The sections on the west bank below the ford are becoming overgrown and could benefit from establishment of a cleared and maintained walking trails.

References:

Bowen RL and Thomas GL (in Douglas JG and Ferguson JE) (1976)

Crowell JC and Frakes LA (1971)
Roberts P (1984, 1985)

Image: Sites of Significance Werribee Bu7
Lerderderg River - Permian Glacials and Recent Gravels

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