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84 The Sisters (First Settlement) - Calcarenite Cliffs

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.

Location045529 and 041533. Twin headlands at Sorrento. The site includes only the northern cliffed section of the ‘eastern’ Sister (84A), and the cliffed sector of the ‘western’ Sister (84B)
Image: Sites of Significance Port Phillip Bay
Site 84a, The Sisters ('eastern side')
AccessLeggett Way.
Ownership/Managing AuthorityCrown land (Shire of Flinders) and some private land.

Site Description
The two calcarenite headlands display excellent and easily accessible exposures of dune calcarenite. Of particular interest is the variation in palaeosol development degree of induration of calcarenite. The youngest dune sands at the top of the sequence include a thick shell midden. Shell beds, apparently deposited at a slightly higher sea level, have been reported from the adjacent beach ridges but were not located in this survey. It is probable that they have been concealed by dune stabilization and foreshore works.

Significance
Regional. The sites are very clear exposures of the calcareous dune sequence that comprises the Nepean Peninsula. The palaeosols are particularly well developed and are of interest for the contrasting degrees of colour and texture change in the cliff.

Management Considerations
Class 2. Any reclamation or stabilization of the shore and cliff should be carried out in a careful way to avoid concealing the soil exposures.

References
Hills, E.S. (1940)


Image: Sites of Significance Port Phillip Bay
Site 84b, The Sisters calcarenite ('western side')
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