S1 Altona - Shore Platform

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	Sunshine - 099062. Former City of Altona. Intertidal area in front of sea wall near intersection of The Esplanade and Miller Road.	S1 - Shore Platform, Altona
Access	The Esplanade.
Ownership	Crown land.
Site Description	The site includes the intertidal shore platform developed on Newer Volcanics basalt. The platform surface has become uneven as the joints in the basalt have been enlarged by weathering and erosion.
	The platform is now a series of regular 4 to 5 sided basalt blocks 1.0 to 1.5 m diameter, separated by gutters developed along the weathered joint planes. Freshly broken basalt surfaces display elongated vesicles.
Significance	Local. The shore platforms along the Altona - Seaholme coast are the only natural hard rock outcrops in the City of Altona. At this site they illustrate the characteristics of the rock material that underlies the City. The site also is an interesting example of the dissection of a coastal outcrop along the natural structural planes.
Management	Class 2. The rock platform should be left as a natural coastal feature and not be subject to reclamation or removal of the basalt blocks.

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