5-19 Dutton Way bluff and beach ridges

This information has been developed from the publications:

An assessment of the Geological/Geomorphological Significance of Private Land in the Shire of Portland (1981) by N. Rosengren, J Mallen, T Shepherd.

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.

Locality:	7221-523580 to 531603. One kilometre east of Portland.
Access:	Dutton Way.
Geology/Geomorphology:	The active marine cliff north of Anderson Point becomes a degraded cliff or bluff 30 to 40 metres high near the Maretimo Homestead and is separated from the coast by a belt of low sandy beach ridges. This belt widens and the ridges increase in number towards the east. In recent years, there has been considerable erosion of the beaches and dune ridges along Dutton Way necessitating extensive construction of boulder breakwaters to avoid further loss of property.
Significance:	State. The transition of the Anderson Point cliff to the Dutton Way bluff and the development of the beach ridges are of considerable interest. The reason for the onset of coastal erosion along Dutton Way is not entirely clear although it seems to be related in part to the construction of the main breakwaters for Portland Harbour.
Management:	The beach ridges have been extensively disturbed by road and housing developments. Continuation of these works would not reduce substantially the value of the site.

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