on
Mornington
FRAGMENTS FROM
the Past
Story & photos by Keith Platt
T
aking a close look at the remains of a cement works at Mornington can easily turn into probing ancient geological formations and life forms. Fossil Beach, which lies at the end of a short path off the Esplanade just north of Bentons Road, has long interested historians and geologists, but an insight into its history is now revealed to the public with new interpretive signs.
The four signs tell the story of Aboriginal use of the area, the value of clay deposits discovered in the mid-1800s for making cement, and the fossils embedded in the clay dating back five to fifteen million years. Visiting Fossil Beach with Ian Stevenson, convenor of the Fossil Beach Interest Group, and Mornington Peninsula Shire’s natural systems project officer, Gerard Cook provides a running commentary and descriptions of ancient and relatively modern history of Fossil Beach and how it may have appeared millions of years ago.
They are quick to add that much of the ancient history of the rocky beach and scrub-covered foreshore is pure conjecture, although there’s no doubting the fossil evidence – mainly shells, corals, tiny bones and teeth – which can be dated. One of the most striking things about the shells pointed out by Stevenson and Cook is their familiarity. While some are extinct, others resemble shells found on the seashore today, although their colours are faded. Some of the ancient shells are now only found in warmer waters. When asked why the fossils are on the surface, Stevenson points seawards and simply replies: “Selwyn Fault.” It seems the clay in which the 5-15 million-year-old fossils are found was brought to the surface along this small section of beach by the Selwyn Fault and the adjoining Fossil Beach fault. This area is seismically active and estimated to be capable of producing 7.5 magnitude earthquakes. continued next page...
August 2019
E ssence | 83
PENINSULA