Physiography of Werribee Area. 259 



included any portion of those ranges was closely examined for 

 topographical data. This was done as a preliminary to the actual 

 field work, and one of the few features noted on such maps was a 

 Mt. Wilson, near Blakeville. On Ham's Map of 1847 (on a tracing 

 by Mr. Barnard), this hill is shown, spelt Wilsone. The county 

 plan of Bourke, and the large maps of the State also show it as 

 standing to the south-west oi Blakeville (see W .^ Fig. 18). The 

 geodetic sheet that includes this area shows it as being north-west 

 of, and close to, Blakeville (see Wg, Fig. IS). Among the complex 

 maze of blue ranges there, the writer naturally expected to see this 

 feature standing somewhat above the general level. This was not 

 the case, and fre(iuent enquiries from bushmen who knew the 

 country well, pointed to the fact that while there was a well-known 

 hill of that name in the ranges, it was in a very different position 

 from either of those shown on the maps. The real Mt. Wilson lies 

 about half way between Old Bullarto and Blackwood townships 

 (roughly about X, Fig. 18), and is a residual, in the preservation 

 of which lava flows appear to have played a part. It was noted 

 from many points by the writer, but not visited. Mr. A. Blake, 

 of Ballan, who knows all the Blakeville country thoroughly, has 

 written confirming the writer's view that no Mt. Wilson exists 

 where marked in all our current maps. 



Volcanic II ills. 



(a) The highest peak in the area, W^uid Kruirk (Blue Moun- 

 tain), has already been described. Its real height as a volcanic hill 

 -is no more than 500 feet, the remaining 2300 feet being the height 

 of the Ordovician block on which it stands. 



(b) Next in order is Mount Blackwood (2432 feet). This hill 

 stands almost centrally within the Werribee River basin, and is 

 visible from practically every part of that area. Like Wuid 

 Kruirk, the height of the volcanic portion is only about 400 feet, 

 and Blackwood stand on the same uplifted block, close to the 

 southern scarp. This will be clearly seen from Fig. 21, which 

 shows a plan and section of the cinder cone, and the main lava 

 flow therefrom. The dotted line in the section marks the general 

 level of the old peneplain surface. There is very little trace of a 

 crater. The old county map of Bourke shows the hill as " Mount 

 Blackwood, or Myrniong." In a letter wiitten by Mr. W. H. 

 Bacchus in 1876 (ref. 59), he states: " .Mt. Blackwood was then 



.(1836) known as Clarke's Big Hill." In Major Mitchell's Map of 



