LOCATION: YARRA 5000/04.09 E20700 N21700

Right bank of Merri Creek 50 m south of the first footbridge south of Carr Street.

ACCESS: Carr Street

OWNERSHIP & MUNICIPALITY: Public Land, City of Coburg. Lake Reserve.

SITE DESCRIPTION: The cliffs above the of the lake displays a number of primary features of basalt lava flows. These include ropy lava, massive basalt, strings of vesicles and differing orientations of joints. Detailed analysis of lava features indicates there are at least two flow units in this area. Weathering features and basalt pavements are exposed in the channel of Merri Creek at the head of the lake.

SIGNIFICANCE RATING: LOCAL

The site is a clear and safely accessible example of the primary structures of lava flows.

SITE SENSITIVITY, THREATS, POTENTIAL UTILISATION

CLASS 3. The site is robust, visible and the features are not readily damaged or vandalised. It is a good teaching site to show methods of analysis of flow directions and relative age of lavas.

REFERENCES:

Schleiger, N. W. 1988, Coburg, in Clark, I., Cook B. & Cochrane, G.C. (eds.) Victorian Geology Excursion Guide, Aust. Acad. Sci., Canberra.

Photograph 29. Lava flows in bed and banks of Merri Creek at site 19 (Photo by Neville Rosengren approx 1993)