194^ Charles Fenner : 



On account of their numerous and steep valleys, both these areas 

 present great difficulty for the building of roads or railways. In 

 A the only occupations possible are those of gold miner and saw 

 miller. In C this is also the case, except in the W. and S.W., 

 where lava-flows and other features have so altered matters as. to 

 allow of grazing and agriculture with comparatively easy com- 

 munication along N.S. lines. 



(b). Block D, in the N.E., is also a relatively high mass, but 

 lacks the unity of structure shown by both A and C. It is an 

 elevated ordovician area, augmented in height by numerous vol- 

 canic hills and flows of lava. To the north of this is the Gisborne 

 Creek valley, trending eastward, while the southern slopes contri- 

 bute several streams (Pyrete, Djerriwarrh, Toolam Toolern Creeks, 

 ■etc.) to the Werribee. 



(c). The Central block, B, is the most interesting and complex of 

 the five. It is an area of varied geological structure, as may be 

 seen by reference to tlie geological map of Victoria. Not only so, 

 but the rocks are such as to provide good soils, and the topography 

 on the whole, allows for easy communications. While the surface 

 of block A is wholly Ordovician, blocks C and D mainly Ordovi- 

 cian and Newer Volcanic, and block E almost wholly Newer Vol- 

 canic, this interesting area (block B), contains a very limited out- 

 crop of lower Ordovician, abundant glacial sandstones. Older Vol- 

 canics, widespread fossiliferous Tertiaries, and broad sheets of 

 Newer Volcanic. It is well settled, and mainly pastoral. 



(d). The last block, E, constitutes the great level plains of the 

 loAver Werribee, almost wholljj volcanic and lying at a considerably 

 lower elevation than any of the other blocks. These plains are 

 generally treeless, or sparsely timbered, and the land is every- 

 where occupied, mainly by graziers. In the south-west, at the 

 mouth of the Werribee. is an important and closely settled irriga- 

 tion area, while in the N.W., where the Werribee enters these 

 plains, andi where the important tributaries of the Korkuperrimul, 

 Lerderderg, Parwan and Pyrete Creeks all meet together, is the 

 somewhat remarkable and wonderfully fertile basin of Bacchus 

 Marsh. 



We should also note the great influence of the Newer Volcanic 

 {late Tertiary) flows on Blocks B, D, and E. The old physiographic 

 features of these areas were almost wholly blotted out by the lava 

 -flows, and a new set of streams has subsequently developed. 



No single mountains stand out. The main divide is scavcely 

 above the general level of the uplifted peneplain block on which 



