Western Victoria, 77 



Nearly opposite to the south end of this cliff, a boulder 

 bed bars the ci'eek mouth, the boulders of which have 

 probably accumulated in comparatively deep water. Now, 

 however, it forms a grass-grown ridge, about 6 feet high, 

 and permanently out of the water, so that houses have been 

 built upon. it. The sea is now removing this spit by cutting 

 it backwards. 



Mr. Pile, a shipping agent long resident at Portland, 

 assures me that a shallowing movement has been continuous, 

 rapid, and marked along the south coast for many years 

 past. 



The local fishermen say that many well-known rocks, to 

 reach which they had to wade through the surf thirty years 

 ago, are now high and dry ; and the masters of the coasting 

 steamers declare that, from the Otway westward, the sound- 

 ings are getting shoaler. And there is other evidence which 

 shows that an upward movement of the land, or the retreat 

 of the ocean, has a considerable antiquity. For instance, in 

 the sloping face of the cliff, underneath the Portland light- 

 house, I found a bed of recent shells 2 feet thick (sandwiched 

 between beds of decomposed basalt, which are evidently 

 only so much talus), and situated about 30 feet above sea 

 level. (See sketch T.) 



Between Blacknose and Danger Points, there is a raised 

 beach, about one chain wide, and this also is about 30 feet 

 above sea level. It is covered with a growth of large ti-tree 

 and shrubs. (See sketch K.) 



In Nelson Bay, the limestone cliffs are from 150 to 200 

 feet high, and nearly perpendicular. At a considerable 

 height above the beach, there is a shelf which runs for 

 miles. It is quite a chain wide in many parts and it is well 

 covered with trees and shrubs. (See Sketch L.) 



At Cape Nelson there are two well defined platforms cut 

 out of the basalt, one at about 10 feet, and the other at about 

 30 feet above sea level. (See Sketch M.) 



As Bridge water is approached by the road, the country is 

 ridged and furrowed with rolling hills, mostly parallel with 

 the beach. Half a mile east of Vance's the road enters a 

 trough formed by two of these land rolls. The seaward 

 ridge seems to be merely a sand dune, but the inland one, 

 presents to the road a vertical wall of limestone, undercu 

 into caves. I estimate that the base of this cliff must be 

 quite 20 feet above sea level, and be seven chains distant 

 from high- water mark. This is an old sea cliff, and its 



