59 
T HE SIGNIFICANCE OF SOME PHYSIOGRAPHICAL 
CHARACTERISTICS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA. 
A. Montgomery, M.A., F.G.S. 
(Read 9th May, and 13th June, 1916). 
With a Map, Plate VI. 
In trav^elling through the Central and Eastern Goldfields 
regions of this State, a geological observer cannot fail to become 
impressed with the constant recurrence throughout them of a quite 
limited number of physiographical types of land-sculpture, which 
are repeated over huge areas in endless variations of size and shape, 
but with constant and remarkable identity of the essential similari- 
ties which constitute a tyj)e. It is obvious from this identity that 
like causes have been operating in like manner over very wide- 
spread regions to produce like effects, and it follows from this that 
a proper interi)rctation of the physiographical evidence is likely to 
give important results in explaining the more recent geological 
history of the State. Cntil lately, the subject of the physi{>graphy 
of Western Australia had been dealt with only very briefly by 
writers on its geology, and usually only casually in connection with 
descriptions f)f ])articular localities, without any attempt, as a rule, 
to put forward any general account of the geomorphology of the 
State as a whole. In 1914, however, this absence of systematic 
description w’as greatly remedied by the publication of Geological 
Survey Bulletin No. 61. which the author, Mr. J. T. Jutson, very 
modestly calls “An Outline of the Physiographical Geology ( Physio- 
graphy) of Western Australia.” but which well merits a more am- 
bitious title which would be suggestive of the wealth of information 
therein contained. In his Part V. Chapter 1, he gives a synojisis of 
the opinions of previous writers on the origin and age of what he 
terms the Great IMateau of Western Australia, and in Part I. (p. 
20), he records his own view of the matter as follows; — 
“As regards the origin of the Great Plateau, the areas of 
exterior drainage are regarded by the writer as uplifted peneplains, 
but concerning that portion of the Great Plateau situated in the 
interior, he is somewhat uncertain whether to classify it as an up- 
lifted peneplain, or an uplifted plain of arid erosion, hut. as shown 
later, inclines to the idea of a vast peneplain, since iqilifted to 
its present height.” Among the opinions of jirevious writers cited 
