6 
Geology and Physical Geography: 
The question as to which of these two spurs represents the 
extension of the Cordillera will be discussed after the rock, 
formations have been described, and data thereby given for the 
opinion advanced. 
The portion of the Cordillera from Forest Hill to St. Clair, and 
the great range extending westward from St. Clair to the 
Grampians, together constitute geographically, and will be here 
referred to as, the “ Main Divide ” of Victoria, forming the water- 
shed line between the Murray River system on the north, and the 
numerous streams debouching on the southern coast between the 
Snowy River and the Glonclg. 
The loftiest summit of the Australian Cordillera is Mount 
Kosciusko, 7,300 feet above sea-level, situated in New South 
Wales, about 24 miles northward from Forest Hill. In Victoria, 
the highest points of the Main Divide are between Forest Mill and 
St. Clair, the names and heights of the principal ones being as 
follows: — Forest Hill, (about) 5,000 feet.; Mount Cobberas, 6,025 
feet; Mount Tambo, 4,700 feet; Mount Ilotham, 6,100 feet ; The 
Twins, 5,575 feet; Mount Howitt, 5,715 feet; Connor’s Plain, 
5,500 feet ; Fullarton’s Spring-hill, 5,400 feet ; and Mount Mat- 
lock, 4,561 feet. 
Mount Bogong, 6,508 feet, and Mount Feathertop, 6,303 feet, 
the highost mountains in Victoria, are peaks on northern spurs 
from the Main Divide, the former between the Kiewa and the 
Mitta Mitfa, the latter between the Kiewa and the Ovens Rivers. 
Westward from St. Clair to Mount Strickland, the Divide 
maintains an average elevation of not less than 4,000 feet ; but 
from Mount Strickland to the Grampians none of the highest 
peaks attain that altitude. 
Mount Disappointment, 2,631 feet ; Mount Macedon, 3,324 feet; 
Mount Buangor, 3,247 feet ; Lar-ne-Gerin, 3,123 feet ; Mount 
Ararat, 2,020 feet; and Mount William, in the Grampians, 3,827 
feet, above sea-level, are the highest elevations westward from the 
meridian of Melbourne. The average height of the Main Divide 
may be approximately stated at about 3,000 feet, some of the 
lowest saddles being as low as 1,000 feet above sea-level. The 
Main Divide has a general bearing of a few degrees south of west, 
taking a direct line from Forest Hill on the north-eastern boun- 
darj^ line to Mount William, the highest peak of the Grampians, 
in the western portion of the colony. The average distance of 
the Main Di\ide from the ocean coast is approximately 70 miles, 
or about the distance which the two mountains above referred to 
(Forest Hill and Mount William) arc from the mouths of the 
Snowy and Hopkins Rivers respectively, so that a line between 
the two latter points is nearly parallel with one between the two 
mountains. 
