PHYSIOGRAPHY OF XOUTH QUEENSLAND. 317 



w;itei-sIieJ, is an eastern extension of the above-nientiunecl liigli land, 

 ihe peaks of Bellenden-Ker are tlie highest in Queenshmd — viz., 5,0U0 

 til 5,400 ft. This short range rises steeply from almost sea-level at a 

 distance of abont i miles from the sea, the crest of the range running 

 roughly parallel to the coast, from which it is about 7 miles distant. 

 The Mulgrave Eiver coming from the noilli and the Eussell lliver 

 comino- from the south, unite opposite the centre of Bellenden-Ker, and 

 enter the sea tlu-ough a gap in a strongly marked coastal range. This 

 coastal range, which extends southwards from False Cape, near Cairns, 

 and is known as Murray-Pricu- Range, Grey Peaks, Bell Peaks, Malbon 

 Thompson Bange, Graham Bange, &c., rises abruptly from the sea, 

 and is parallel to but separated from the main mountain range by a 

 valley 2 to 3 miles wide, and but little above sea level. 



There are in close juxtaposition, on the one hand, the range of 

 high mountains and tablelands, with their marked features of deep 

 valleys and gorges, waterfalls (Barron Biver Falls 1,000 ft., TuUy 

 Biver Falls 2,000 ft.), presenting strong evidence of considerable up- 

 heaval and widespread volcanic action within recent geological time; 

 on the other hand, there is the coastal stnp and slielf extending to the 

 Gieat Barrier Beef, showing strong evidence of undoubted subsidence, 

 likewise in recent geological time. The elevation of the one portion 

 being apjnirently contemporaneous or almost k > with the suljsidence of 

 tlie other portion. The valley of the Lowe.- Mulgrave and Lower 

 Bussell presents an interesting field for determining, if possible, if the 

 elevation of the mountainous country and the ^■ubsidence of the coastal 

 strip and shelf have been effected by folding, extensive faulting, or a 

 combination of both means, i'roceeding southward to Mackay, &.c., 

 similar evidence is found of subsidence- — viz., in the hilly and moun- 

 tainous islands of Hinchinbrooii Island, Palm Island, Magnetic Island, 

 Whitsunday Island, &c., hilly and mountainous masses connected to 

 the main land by low sand flats, the Hinchinbrook and Whitsunday 

 Passages, &c., and of elevation of the continental mass in the re- 

 juvenescence of tlie lower Burdekin Biver. This river, one of the 

 largest, both in volume of water and size of catchment, on the eastern 

 seaboard of Australia, flows in the neighbourhood,pf Charters Towers 

 across an e.xtensive })eneplain, studded with isolated mesas and occa- 

 sional ranges of hills. The tributaries coming from the Main Dividing 

 Bange also flow across similar country. The Main Dividing Bange is 

 liere a weakly-defined feature. This peneplain has an elevation of 800 

 til 1,200 ft. Towards the lower end of its course and comparatively 

 iiear the sea, the Burdekin flows as a series of rapids and falls tlnough 

 an almost impassable gorge. This locality is known as the Falls of the 

 Burdekin. In the course of ."> miles the river is said to fall about 

 600 ft. 



In the portion of North Queensland referred to in this paper it 

 is interesting to note that the highest peaks, often rugged and 

 almost isolated, are situated very close to the coast, in fact, some of 

 them, as on Hinchinbrook Island, are distinctly within the area of 

 subsidence. The line of contraflecture between elevation and de- 

 pi-ession follows very closely an ancieait mountain range. 



In considering elevation and depression in this paper the main 

 movements are noticed without attempting to differentiate into 

 periods, or to take notice of small oscillations. 



