Bf2 Geelong North Shore - Fyansford Clay

Geelong - Maude Area, Tertiary Stratigraphic Sites

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 Access Ownership	Batesford - 695795. Former Shire of Corio. Coastal cliffs in Moorpanyal Park south of The Esplanade. The Esplanade. Crown land.	Bf2 - Moorabool Viaduct Formation, Geelong.
Site Description	The coastal cliffs 6 to 10 m high expose an excellent section in the Fyansford Formation overlain by the Moorabool Viaduct Sand. The beds are a facies variant of the Fyansford Formation, being mainly sandy or silty marl interbedded with calcareous clays and have a carbonate fraction considerably higher than that normally associated with the Fyansford Formation.	Bf2 - Moorabool Viaduct Formation, Geelong.
Significance	State. The outcrop is a major exposure of the Fyansford Clay and provides a clear example of a facies variant of the formation. They are unusual examples of vertical cliffs in a low energy wave environment with a boulder beach and covered shore platform.	BF2 Mapsheet
Management	Class 1. The cliffs should be left as active marine features to allow use as teaching and reference sites. Building of protective or stabilizing structures is not necessary. These cliffs are one of the few remaining natural features on a coastline that has been substantially modified by industrial and transport activities. Although the cliffs are relatively stable, coastal land use planners need to recognise the dynamic nature of the site and refrain from placing coastal installations in positions of hazard.
References	Bowler, J.M. (1963). Tertiary Stratigraphy and Sedimentation in the Geelong/Maude Area, Victoria. Proc. R. Soc. Vict. 76:69-137.

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