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187. Cowrie Beach - Beach Terrace

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 (external link) for details of geological heritage reports, and a bibliography.


Location:

Pyramid Rock – 363357. Immediately below the car park at the south-eastern end of Cowrie Beach.
Image: Sites of Significance Westernport Bay
Higher level gravel beach terrace,
Cowrie Beach, Site 187

Access:

From the car park off Ventnor Road, 1 km north-east of Point Grant.

Ownership:

Crown land.

Geology/Geomorphology:

At the south-western end of Cowrie Beach is a lobate-shaped gravel terrace over 100 m wide and approximately 1m above sea level. The terrace consists of sub-rounded basaltic gravels, shells and sand, and lies in front of a bluff 20 m high.

Significance:

Regional. The terrace is one of several features suggestive of higher sea levels on the shores of Phillip Island.

Management:

Class 1. No disturbance to the terrace, eg – by roadworks or car parks, should be permitted.


187 Cowrie beach - beach terrace
Site 187, Cowrie Beach, gravel beach terrace

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