INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 31 



(discovered by Mr. F. T. Gregory in 1861*) and b}^ the marine 

 developments of the Cainozoic epoch in Southern Australia. 



GLACIAL PERIODS IN AUSTRALIA. 



Neiver Tertiary Glaciation. — Prior to 1877 it had been con- 

 jectured by two geologists! that certain surface features might be 

 attributed to ice action; but on May 7th of that year I announced, 

 in a course of public lectures, the existence of a well-preserved 

 glacier path along the edge of the sea cliffs at Hallett's Cove. 

 The nature of the evidence at this locality and elsewhere in South 

 Australia Avas brought to more scientific notice in 1879, J and 

 subsequently supplemented in 1885§ and 1888. || Observations in 

 Victoria by several geologists^ have geographically extended the 

 phenomena of a late Tertiary glaciation in Southern Australia, 

 though Hallett's Cove remains unique in respect of the magnitude 

 and completeness of the glacial features which are there preserved. 

 Geologists have been slow to accept the fact, and there have been 

 those who have opposed and even ridiculed the notion of glaciation 

 in such low latitudes and at such inconsiderable elevations, but 

 to-day we may congratulate ourselves that a Post- Miocene glacial 

 period occupies an unassailable place in the geological historv of 

 Australia. Mr. Jack** has lately added his testimony, as the 

 result of personal inspection, that " Prof. Tate's observations are 

 correct in every particular," and in addition has satisfied himself 

 that the movement of the ice must have been from south to north, 

 a conclusion that I had arrived at from the southerly position of 

 the probable source of the morainic debris. This expression of 

 Opinion by a master in the art of interpreting glacial signs will, I 

 am sure, carry conviction to the minds of those who till now have 

 been sceptical ; but if there be any here who are still adversely 

 inclined, I beg them to withhold their decision until they have 

 studied the features in situ. An opportunity is offered for that 

 purpose by the excursion fixed for Saturday next, September 30th. 

 " The interest appertaining to the discovery of a comparatively 

 recent glacial epoch in Australia is, however, not alone of relative 



* Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc, vol. xvii., p. 475. 



+ Sel-n-yn, Report Geology of S. Australia ; 18')!). Tenison- Woods, Geological 



Observations, p. 20. 1862. 



X Trans. Roy. Sjc., S. Aust , vol. ii., p. Ixiv. 



\ Id., vol. VIII., p. 49, 1866. || Id., Aust. Ass. Adv. Sc, vol. i., p. 231. 



H Howitt, Quart. Journ. Geol. Sne., vol. xxxv.. p. 35, 1879; Grifflths, Roy. Soc. Vic, 1886- 



Stirling, J., Roy. Soc. Vic, 1855; id., Proc. Lin. Soc, N.S.W., p. 483, 1886; Lencienfeld| 



Dr. R. von, Proc. Lin. Soc, N.S.W., 1885, p. 44 ; Uoivitt, A. W., Victorian Naturalist, vol 



VIII., 1891, p. 33. 



•• Geology Queensland, p. 619, 1892. 



