TWELVE APOSTLES: Matthew Flinders & the Coastal Landforms of SE Australia

go to Main Page This is the Twelve Apostles - Port Campbell Coast activity page of Matthew Flinders Coastal Landform Site		Site: Twelve Apostles - Port Campbell Coast (Vic) SUGGESTED STUDENT ACTIVITIES for further research, oral report or classroom discussion Note: The teacher is to explain each nominated activity to students, matching it to student level and ability back to 12 Apostles - Port Campbell Coast info page
SOUND naval cannon		EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES This page contains learning activities on the topics following. Suggested year levels and subject areas for Queensland are included (although activities may be modified by teacher to suit other year levels). With time these activities will be matched to SOSE Outcomes. Activities A. coastal landform rate of change (Yrs 8-12 Geog, Yrs 8-10 SOSE) B. coastal landforms change sequence (Yrs 8-10 Geog, Yrs 8-10 SOSE) C. - E. rock structure, coastal landforms (Yrs 8-12 Geog, Yrs 8-10 SOSE) F. sea bird ecology (Yrs 7-10 Geog, Yrs 7-10 SOSE) G. - I. coastal and sailing history (Yrs 7-10 History, Yrs 7-10 SOSE)

Activity A - photo interpretation

Study the two photos of the Island Archway (right) - they were taken thirty years apart. Perhaps they give a clue to the rate of coastal landform change in limestone in an area of high wave and wind energy.

A.1 What evidence is there that landform change has taken place? Has the sea arch changed in 30 years? How much? Have minor features, such as soil layers and coloured staining, changed in 30 years? How much?

A.2 What part of the rocky portion of the sea arch is subject to the greatest erosional attack (and hence is likely to experience the most rapid change)? How do you think the arch may change over the next thousand years?

Island Archway

(Photo above taken 2001)
Photo 1A: Island Archway

Photo 1B: Island Archway
(Photo below taken 1971)

Activity B - photo interpretation

Study the four landform photos to the right. They have been taken along the coastline at or near the Twelve Apostles. They represent views of four of the possible stages in the development of a sea stack - but they are not in correct order.

B.1 Can you place the photos in the most likely sequence that gives rise to a sea stack?

Limestone erosion

Photo 2: Landforms of the Port Campbell Coast

C. The main rock type is limestone. How does limestone form? Explain the differences between the type of limestone? What are some other well known limestone locations?

D. There are many other spectacular landform features along this coastline. Find out about some of them, noting their points of interest (for example, London Bridge has an interesting story).

E. Define the terms erosion, notch, sea stack, and sea arch. Include a small, labelled diagram of each type of feature.

F. The Island Archway, and other similar features, are important wildlife refuge areas, especially for birds. Why are offshore islands especially valuable as bird habitats?
[Clue: think about how and why survival chances have altered for many native species since European settlement.]

G. View the photos of this coastline and decide for yourself. Does this area seem a dangerous area for shipping (especially in the sailing era)? Explain your reasons. Do you think it is as dangerous today?

H. Find out about and write or give a talk on the story of the wreck of the 'Loch Ard' (1878) and other ships that came to grief along the 'Shipwreck Coast'. There were only two survivors from the 'Loch Ard' - how were they saved?
How did natural features of the gorge (a) make their situation more difficult and (b) assist their survival?

I. Could most sailors and ships' passengers of the 1700s and 1800s swim? Would swimming have been part of the school curriculum in Britain then? Would clothing have been suitable for survival and movement in the sea?
[Clue: check Flinders' Investigator journal, Page 349]