06 THE SAND STRAND IXOBA 



On the southern coast of Western Australia there are quite extensive 

 sand formations, but they were not visited by the writer. 



Dunes in South Australia. 



The greater part of the coast of this state is more or less sandy. At 

 Vincent's Gulf the dunes are especially well developed. The sand grains 

 are of medium size, yellowish in color, and rounded through constant 

 trituration. Sandy beaches and dunes are common also on the Victorian 

 coast. At Port Phillips Head there are some formations which were 

 visited. 



Sandy beaches near Sydney. 



At Botany Bay, near Kensington, on Cronulla and Bondi Beach 

 sand formations occur. Those at the last mentioned place are the most 

 extensive and have caused some trouble through drifting. The quartz 

 sand is very pure, and of a light color, where dust from the surrounding 

 country has not been blown over the sand. The reclamation which was 

 commenced several years ago, has now considerably changed the original 

 topography of the sand, and in many places the loose material has com- 

 pletely blown away, while in others it is fixed by vegetation. 



The drifting at Botany Bay was caused by the rejuvenation of a 

 sand dune, which previously had been covered with vegetation. The 

 sand advanced inland and destroyed a part of the park at this place. 



The salinity of the sea water outside this coast was found to be 

 2.9 per cent. Several visits on various occasions during 1901 — 02 were 

 made to these sandy beaches. 



Drift sands in Queensland. 



The beach from Tweed Biver northwards to Southport consists en- 

 tirely of sand. The sand forms an elevated bank or floor, on top of 

 which regular dunes are formed. (See Pig. 6.) They advance steadily 

 inland, covering everything and have already done considerable damage 

 to property in the town of Southport. 



Further north at Cleveland and Manly there is a long stretch of 

 sandy shore with a few dunes, but there is almost no vegetation on 

 the ground, because everything is destroyed by the thousands of holiday 

 excursionists from Brisbane. Stradbroke Island in Moreton Bay is 

 entirely built up of sand, and is considered by some writers as a single 



