4 
NOTES ON THE CLIMATE OF VICTORIA. 
By an examination of a contoured plan of the colony, we find 
\ that the most pi'oininent feature is an extensive inountaiu range 
i ruiming apjjroxiinately east and west, rising somewhat abruptly 
I about hit. 87° 8(y and long. 141° 40', varying in altitude from 
^ 1000 to 5000 feet, and culminating in the N.E. in hit. 80° 30', 
long, 148° 20', at Mount Kosciusko, tlie highest ])ait of tlie Aus- 
■ tiulian Al]>s, where it attains an altitude of over 7000 feet. The 
higher })arts of tins range are covered Avith snOAv for several 
! months in the year. Tlie mountain country is for the most part 
I densely wooded with fine timber, even to the very summits ; at 
I some of the liigher elevations, hovcA^er, especially in the N.E., 
; many of the ]>eaks ai e ipiite Imre, or only paitially covered Avith 
dwarfed trees oi* shrubs. The countiy north aiul south of this 
great dividing range is moderately undulating or flat, consisting 
often of huge plains, in some parts quite destitute of trees, but 
closely wooded in others. Along some jiaits of the coast line, 
however, esjiecially in the Cape Otway, Western Port, and 
Wilson’s Pi'omontoiy districts, the land rises to considerable 
altitudes (from 2000 to 3000 feet) by langes generally Avell (nvered 
by timber to their summits. On the Avhole, the countiy is not 
Avell watered ; the rivers are feAA^ and insignificant, and ai*e often 
nearly dry in summer ; there are several lakes, both salt and 
fi'esli. in diffei’ciit parts, but not of suflicient extent to have any 
marked influence on the climate. The coast lure itself is for- the 
most part comparatively flat, with a moderate elevation; although, 
as just stated, at some places lofty ranges abut on the sea, and 
the (Mjast becomes jrrecipitous and nigged. 
An extensive sea-board, ojjen to polar winds and oceanic 
Icuii'cnts, modified, no doubt, by the piresence of the island of 
/Tasmania; an extensive and wooded mountain range running 
/across the Avholo breadth of the colony, tire liigher portions of 
/wliicli are often clothed in snow; and the genemlly arid sub- 
tropical Australian interior, dominating on its northern and 
westei'u boundary, must each necessarily exeivise considerable 
influence in producing conditions of climate vai-ying with the 
i locality. 
For many years past the Colonial Government Iras maintained 
*'a systiun of Meteorological Stations in Amrious pards of the colony, 
of which 1:he- Alclbourne Observatory forms the centre; and 
regular obseivatiorrs of temperature, pressure of air, humidity, 
radiation, rain, &c., have been obtained for longer or- shorter 
intervals at each. These stations' ai*e/listributed s4> ttt^t nearly 
all districts })ossessufcg any climatic/ peculiar*ity^e representfed, 
^witli excenj^fon, perhaps, me high^iVmtitudes^. lii our 
' 'n^ountain districts, kud the a^*id plmrte in tire noid<h-w^t. They 
hern eiidmerate^ : — j ^ ^ ^ \ 
Ia' 
