28 ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 



On another occasion I purpose referring to the history of 

 geological exploration in Australia, — a history recording the 

 work of such illustrious men as Strzelecki, Grange, Stutchbury, 

 Dana, Jukes, Darwin, Gould, Hardman, Murray, Brown, 

 Selwyn, Tate, Tennison-Woods, Daintree, and especially the Rev. 

 W. B. Clarke, whose memory is cherished, not only in this 

 Society, for his beloved character and devotion to Science, but 

 also in the hearts of the toiling miners, and of his many friends 

 throughout this country. 



But in addressing you "this evening, I wish to draw attention 

 not so much to past labours in the field of Geology, as to some of 

 the work that has yet to be accomplished ; and let me say what 

 a splendid work it is — so attractive in scientific interest, and so 

 conducive to results of practical importance in the development 

 of the natural products of the colony. The palaeozoic formations 

 offer the most extensive range for investigation, almost throughout 

 the whole series evidence of ancient organism is abundant. But 

 though numerous collections have been made and described, so 

 little is known that not even the limits of the several formations 

 have yet been assigned ; nor are we in a position at present to 

 indicate with certainty which are the oldest rocks in Australia. 

 In South Australia, Professor Ralph Tate has found limestone 

 below beds containing the Cambrian Fossils discovered by Mr. 

 O. Tepper; and some metamorphic rocks in Western Victoria 

 are believed by Selwyn to be pre-Cambrian or Laurentian ; but 

 the gneissoid mica and hornblende schists, and limestone of the 

 Barrier Ranges, which have a very ancient appearance, have yet 

 to be determined. Nor can this be arrived at until more 

 extensive palreontological examination, and sections of the strata 

 from actual survey have been made. The same observations will 

 apply in regard to the enormous development, especially in 

 Eastern Australia, of fossils of Lower and Upper Silurian, 

 Devonian, Carboniferous, and Permian Ages have been obtained. 

 The only two horizons actually determined as yet are on the 

 authority of Professor McCoy — the Llandeillo in Victoria, 



