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197. Sunderland Bay - Cliff Stack

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:

Woolamai – 488364. Sunderland Bay.
Sites 195 to 197
Site 195 to 197, Smith Beach area

Access:

Off Phillip Island Road.

Ownership:

Crown land.

Geology/Geomorphology:

In Sunderland Bay is a large cliff stack of red tuff resting on harder basaltic base. The cliffs at the head of the bay are extensively slumped and there are several active and large slump amphitheatres at and to the west of Sunderland Bluff.

Significance:

Regional. The site illustrates the major cliff, bluff, platform and beach features of the ocean coast of Phillip island.

Management:

Class 2. Permits for residential construction should take into account the active slump nature of the coastal cliffs and bluffs. A coastal footpath on the cliff top should be constructed between Sunderland Bay and Smith Beach.
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