NOTES 
ON 
THE CLIMATE OF VICTORIA. 
A GENERAL idea of the climate of any country may sometimes be 
derived simply from its geographical jiosition, especially when its 
isothermal, isotheral, and isocheimonal lines have been established. 
There are nevertheless conditions peculiar to every locality or 
every position of a country, dependent on the conformation of the 
coast lines, the relation of oceanic cuTrents therewith, the trend 
and altitude of mountain ranges, which give rise to variations, 
within Avhose limits may be com]>ri.sed climates of very different 
latitudes ; so that some acquaintance with the physical aspect of 
a countiy becomes almost essential to a clear comprehension of 
the character of its climate. It will be well, therefore, to preface 
the followdng brief notes on tlie climate of Victoria with a rough 
sketch of the more prominent physical features which characteiise 
that portion of Australia. 
The colony of Victoria, which has an area of about fifty-six 
millions of acres, occupies the south-east portion of Australia, and 
I may be said to be included between the parallels and 89° 
south latitude, and the 141st and 148th meridians. The whole 
southern houndaiy is formed by the waters of Bass s Straits, 
which separate Tasmania from Australia; the northern boundary 
consists of the River Murray ; on the west it is limited by a 
marked line approximately coinciding with the 141st meridian ; 
■ while on the east.it is separated from the adjacent colony of New 
.South Wales by a line running N. G4° W. from Cape Howe to the 
nearest waters of the Murray. Its sea-board, lying generally east 
Bmd Avest, extends over about 500 miles. 
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