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140. Cobb Bluff - Coastal Cliffs

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:
Corinella – 627435. 1 km south of Coronet Bay.
Access:Cutty Sark Road.
Ownership:Private land.
Geology/Geomorphology:An outcrop of deeply weathered basalt and tuff forms a spectacular active cliff sector that extends for 1 km south of Coronet Bay. The cliff profiles vary from a simple ‘J’ curve to complex ‘slope over wall’ forms. Most have a well-defined erosion notch at the base and are fronted by a shore platform up to 70 m wide developed in strongly jointed basalt. The basalt of the platform disintegrates to small corestones and some of these lodge at the cliff foot to form narrow beaches. There is relatively little gullying on the cliff face and no major slips or slumps are active at present. The volcanic materials weather by desiccation and move by slope wash to the cliff foot where they are readily dispersed. In a narrow stripped zone at the cliff top are large deep cracks parallel to the cliff line suggesting that large scale slumping or block detachment may occur.
Significance:State. The cliffs provide a clear cross-section of weathered Older Volcanics. The depth of weathering in the Older Volcanics is as great as at Corinella but the cliff profile at Cobb Bluff is less affected by large scale slumping. The sector constitutes an assemblage of cliff forms uncommon to the Victorian coast and provides opportunity for close study of weathering in the Older Volcanics and the rate of change of cliff profiles in these materials when exposed to direct wave action.
Management:Class 1. Coastal protection or cliff stabilization works should not be carried out and construction of boating facilities should be prohibited in the area of the site. Any roadways must be located at least 50 m landward of the cliff top and no surface or underground drainage lines should be directed across the site. No buildings should be permitted within 100 m of the cliff top.

Image: Sites of Significance Westernport Bay
Wide shore platform and coastal cliffs at
Cobb Bluff (photo taken at low tide).
Arrow shows direction of Cobb Bluff
profiles, which was taken at high tide,
Site 140
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