G3 - Watsons Creek - Abandoned High Level Meander

This information has been developed from the publications:

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 Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Shire of Otway (1984) 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:	AMG Ref: 468253.	Abandoned meander of the Yarra River (broken line) at Watson's Creek.
Access:	Henley Road and Oxley Road (Private Land).
Geology:	Alluvium (Quaternary) and Anderson Creek Formation siltstone (Silurian).
Geomorphology:	The lower section of Watsons Creek occupies a broad U-shaped meander before joining the Yarra River. The dimensions of the meander are more accordant with the geometry of the Yarra River rather than Watsons Creek and it is likely that the bend represents an abandoned reach of the Yarra.
	The narrow divide forming the neck of the former meander is a strike ridge of resistant siltstone that has been breached by downcutting of the river. The river crosses a series of rapids and low cascades at the site of this breached divide.
	The river sediments in the old meander have been incised by Watsons Creek on the western side of the loop and by a small bully on the east.
Significance:	State. This is a very clear example of a forum unique in the study area. The geometry of the abandoned feature is almost identical tot he conspicuous active meander bend of the Yarra immediately to the east of the site. No reference has been made to this site in earlier papers on the Warrandyte gorge area (Jutson, 1911; Hills; 1934) although its existence is of importance in determining the nature of incision by the Yarra into this uplifted fault block.
Management:	Class 2. The present intensity of land use is adequate to allow the site features to be readily examined. Higher housing and road intensity would mask the major geomorphic characteristics, especially on the gentle slopes on the east and north.

Image: Upper Yarra Sites of Significance

Eastern arm of the abandoned meander at Watson's Creek.

Watsons Creek

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