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12 Edwards Point - Spit Complex

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.

Location985671 to 985675. Narrow, branching peninsula extending 3 km into, and forming the northern enclosure of Swan Bay.
Image: Sites of Significance Port Phillip Bay
Site 12, Recurving spits, lagoons at Edwards Point
AccessLower Bluff Road (off Bluff Road, St Leonards).
Ownership/Managing AuthorityCrown land, Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands, (Edwards Point Flora and Fauna Reserve).
Site DescriptionEdwards Point is a compound, branching barrier/spit system, with the proximal end anchored against the bluff at the north of Swan Bay. There are three major ridge systems, separated by marshy swales and containing numerous smaller lagoons. The distal ends of the ridges recurve into Swan Bay and have broad tidal flat extensions. These extensions may be the submerged remnants of a formerly more extensive system (now eroded) or may indicate that deposition is now actually extending the spit complex, as there is evidence that the southeastern spit has prograded since late last century. The ridges are composed of sand, shell fragments and ironstone gravels, the latter material being derived from erosion of coastal outcrops to the north. An elongated lagoon, enclosed by a narrow, marshy barrier, lies between the westernmost ridge and the bluff to the north of Edwards Point. This lagoon is included as part of the depositional complex.

Significance
State. Along with Swan Island, Edwards Point comprises part of the most complex depositional feature on the coast of Port Phillip Bay. It is of composite origin and contains a wide variety of lithic and biogenic sediments. It is a very large scale and obvious example of depositional processes associated with the sediment-active environment near the entrance to the Bay. It is therefore an important indicator of both long term and short term sedimentation regimes here.

Management Considerations
Class 1. The area should be maintained without major physical interference to the onshore and near shore components. Dredging, dumping of spoil, drainage or reclamation would detract substantially from the dynamic character of the site. The shoreline should not be artificially protected or nourished but should be allowed to remain as a natural indicator of sediment regime and shoreline stability. It should be noted that the site includes intertidal areas to the south and west of the emerged body of Edwards Point.

References
Barson, M.M. (1973)
Bird, E.C.F. (1980)


Image: Sites of Significance Port Phillip Bay
Site 12, Barrier and lagoon west of Edwards Point
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