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After browsing around
the Information Centre for a short time,
Bill said "Come on, I've found somewhere to take you".
This is what he'd found...
This sign says:
Some 5 million years ago, the old Coliban River flowed through
a picturesque gully lined with blackwood forest.
One day this environment was shattered and burnt as a wall
of molten lava advanced northwards from a small volcano
to the south, completely filling the gully.
Remains of the timber and even a platypus skull have been found
in the silty ash beneath the rock face.
The lava cooled very slowly and, as it solidified, contraction
caused vertical cracking, creating columns.
The present Coliban River has eroded by back-cutting. Once
the falls were further downstream but undercutting and
collapses have shifted them to their present position.
Basalt columns and whole sections of rock face collapse
as spray undercuts soft river sediments.
In the near future, the area to your left is expected to fall.
Tell-tale signs of this can be seen in water seepages and
widening cracks.
Already some large blocks have fallen reminding us that this
erosion is an ongoing and natural process.
It also tells us
that the odd looking item that appears to dangle from the falls
is the site of an old water wheel. Such a shame there's so little water
falling.
| Trentham is also home to
Victoria’s highest single drop waterfall. Formed from molten
lava rapidly cooling as it flowed five million years ago along the
Coliban River, the Trentham Falls plunge 32 metres over basalt
columns. Best viewed after heavy rain, many gather at the picnic
reserve to see this spectacular sight.
Borrowed from Hepburn
Shire Council - Trentham |
The
link above has a small photo of the falls after rain.
Zooming
in on the "cave" on the lower left hand side.
Can
anyone else see faces in these rocks ?
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