188. Point Grant and the Nobbies to Phelan Bluff

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:	Point Grant – 352347 to Pyramid Rock – 385353. Coastal cliffs and platforms east and west of Point Grant.	The coastal plateau at Summerland terminates as high, benched active cliffs at Point Grant. Arrow indicates 'blowhole', Site 188.
Access:	Ventnor Road.
Ownership:	Crown land.
Geology/Geomorphology:	The south-west of Phillip Island consists of two former islands – termed Summerland’s Island and Phelan’s Island by Edwards (1945) – now tied to the main body of Phillip Island by sandy barriers. (Phelan’s Island is now known as Kennon Head). They are built of several lava flows and the sequence can be traced through The Nobbies to Seal Rocks. The characteristics of the flows are well exposed on the slopes of The Nobbies and the cliffs east of Point Grant.
	The surfaces of the flows are inclined slightly to the north-west. The form of the southern coast of Point Grant is determined by fracture systems in the basalt flows that have been etched out by strong wave action. Deep and narrow gutters, stepped platforms, an incipient blowhole (a partly submerged cave) and benched cliff profiles are the principal features of the Bass Strait coastline between Point Grant and Phelan Bluff. On the shore platform below the car park at Point Grant is a lighter coloured basic dyke 30 to 50 cm wide that vertically intrudes the lava flows. On the cliff tops are broad and shallow depressions in the form of erosion amphitheatres which are not related to drainage lines. They probably develop as soil deflation hollows and sheetwash slopes are common along the cliff margins of the south coast of Phillip Island.
Significance:	State. Point Grant and The Nobbies is possibly the most viewed coastal landscape in Victoria (Seddon 1975). The area provides outstanding examples of several of the processes that have shaped the ocean coast of Phillip Island and the Mornington Peninsula and the sections displayed in the cliffs reveal the geological basis of Phillip Island.
Management:	Class 2. The geological features here are robust and the main management consideration is the design of safe access ways and view points to accommodate the large numbers of visitors.
References:	Edwards, A. B. (1945). The geology of Phillip Island. Ibid. 57 (1+2) 1-21. Seddon, G. (1975). Phillip Island: Capability, Conflict and Compromise. Centre for Environmental Studies, Univ. of Melb.

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