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26 Beacon Point Road - Geological Site

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 for details of geological heritage reports, and a bibliography.

Location875754. Cliff at the northern end of Beacon Point Road.
Image: Sites of Significance Port Phillip Bay
Site 26, Moorabool Viaduct Sand
(upper part of cliff) and Fyansford
Formation (lower) at Beacon Point
Road geological site

Access
Beacon Point Road.

Ownership/Managing Authority
Crown land (Port of Geelong Authority) below high water mark; private land above high water mark.

Site Description
The 10 m high active cliff exposes a detailed geological section of the Fyansford Formation, Moorabool Viaduct Sand and the overlying silty clay formation. There are marked changes in colour, texture, composition and degree of weathering of the materials. The cliff is notched at the base and the profile above this reflects the differences in weathering resistance of the sedimentary materials.

Significance
Regional. The site is a clear display of the Tertiary sedimentary formations that comprise the Bellarine Peninsula. The varied laterization and calcareous induration of the Moorabool Viaduct Sand is particularly well represented here. The site is an excellent example of an active coastal cliff showing differential materials to weathering and erosion. It is easily and safely accessible.

Management Considerations
Class 1. No protective structures or boulder walls should be built at the cliff base, as this would cause a build-up of slumping and downwash materials that would obscure the details of the section. The cliff should be retained as an active and dynamic feature. It follows that the siting of cliff-top structures should take account of the likely rate and direction of cliff recession. Some basic research would evaluate this figure.

References
Ladd, P.G. (1971)



Beacon Point
Site 26, Beacon Point Road geological site
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