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5-5 Bats 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:

7121-430565.

Access:

Telegraph Road and Oakleys Road off Bridgewater Road.

Ownership:

Private land and Crown Land (Bats Ridges Faunal Reserve).

Geology/Geomorphology:

Calcareous dune ridges of the Bridgewater Formation contain synergetic karst and caves. Several large horizontal cave systems have developed including BR-1 (Chimney Cave System) and BR-5 (Big Cave System). The caves are predominantly horizontal linear systems with collapse features and a variety of entrance types. They contain interesting speleotherms, moonmilk and sediments.

Significance:

State. This is the largest area of synergetic karst in Victoria and is an area of considerable speleological importance.

Management:

As this area contains particularly important cave systems, land disturbance should be minimised. The area is best left as timbered grazing land, and any form of quarrying or waste disposal should be prohibited.

Reference:

Coulson, A. (1940). 'Caves of the Portland District', Vict. Nat. 57: 37-39.
Pierce, M.C. and White, S. (1977). 'Quaternary karst at Bats Ridges, Victoria', Proc. 11th Biennial Conference Aust. Speleo. Fedn., Canberra, 1976.
Matthews (1979)
Mill, L. White, S. and Mackey, P. (eds.) (1980). Victorian caves and karst. A guidebook to 13th A.S.F. Conference, Melbourne, 1980.
White, S. and White, N.J. (1980). 'Entrance types in Quaternary dune karst, Bats Ridges, Victoria', Proc. 12th Biennial Conference Aust. Speleo. Fedn., Perth, 1979.
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