Sb3 Fitzgerald Hill

This information has been developed from the publications:

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 Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Shire of Otway (1984) by Neville Rosengren.

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	Sunbury - 947417. Shire of Bulla. East of Murray Road 8 km northwest of Sunbury.	Sb3 - Eroded edge of lava flow from Fitzgerald Hill.
Access	Murray Road off Sunbury to Gisborne Road.
Ownership	Private land.
Site Description	Fitzgerald Hill is a very rocky eruption point with three levels of parallel rocky ridges on the eastern side of the hill. The highest outcrops are up to 5 m high. These ridges and terraces of lava illustrate the stages of growth of the volcano. On the western side there is a long gentle slope flanked by low rocky cliffs descending to the level of the plain. This slope is the last lava flow which filled the vent. Erosion of scoria from the summit and slopes has further obscured the original vent.
Significance	Regional. The hill is a very clear example of the processes of volcanism and subsequent erosion in the Sunbury - Gisborne area. As with other eruption points in this area eg - Mt Holden, Mt Aitken, Deverall Hill, Red Rock, this hill imparts a very distinctive character to the landscape between Sunbury and Gisborne and is a very strong expression of the original of the geology and geomorphology of the area. If unrestricted building activity is permitted to interrupt the contour and the very distinctive profile of these hills, the significance of volcanicity as the major landform process here will be seriously diminished.
Management	Class 1. The site should be kept in rural land use or reserved for use in a public open space system. Buildings should not be permitted above the 330 m contour as this would detract from the significant form of the volcano. Along with other volcanic hills, walking and horse riding activities would be appropriate to maintaining the significance of the site.

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