Hallett Cove Essay

753 Words2 Pages

Introduction to Hallett Cove: Hallett Cove is one of the best known geological sites both in Australia and other parts of the world. It was made known by Professor Ralph Tate in 1875 when he first discovered the evidence of an ancient glaciation. Professor Ralph Tate’s discovery is now known all throughout the world. The conservation of the site to protect the glacial pavements commenced in 1960 with acquisition of a strip of coastline, named the Sandison Reserve, by the National Trust. Hallett Cove was founded by John Hallett which resulted in the name given to Hallett Cove. The area has been declared a Geological Monument by the Geological Society of Australia and placed on the South Australian Heritage Register for its educational and scientific …show more content…

These sandstones and siltstones were buried, joint then overlapped and uplifted during a period of mountain constructing about 500 million years ago. For the next 200 million years, this ancient mountain range was eroded down to form low hills. Hallett Cove remained at sea level until about three million years ago when down faulting submerged the area. A thin layer of white fossiliferous sandstone was deposited in the warm shallow sea, covering the ancient glacial sediments. Soon after this the uplift of the Mount Lofty Ranges increased, and the Hallett Cove region was uplifted above sea level to be exposed as land. The geological age of the formation and surrounding landscape: Many of the significant events in the geological history of South Australia over the past 600 million years can be observed at Hallett Cove hence this tells us that the geological age of Hallett Cove and many other surrounding landscape is approximately 600 million years of age. Hallett Cove contains rocks and sediments ranging in age from about 600 million years to the present day, that were formed throughout this whole time. Type of rocks found at Hallett …show more content…

After John Hallett had discovered the area, the Hallett family did a mining business and a copper mine was built on the northern side of Hallett's creek.After the Victorian gold rush, the family abandoned the business and hence resulted in the abandoned mine. In 1957 Professor A.R. Alderman from the University of Adelaide wrote to the National Trust of South Australia recommending that the glacial pavements along the coastal cliff tops of Hallett Cove be preserved. In 1960, local farmer George Sandison died and the beneficiaries of his estate donated 3.25 acres of land, a narrow strip along the cliff tops, to the National Trust of South Australia which was followed not long after by another 8.75 acres for an access road. In 1965 the donated land was proclaimed The Sandison

Open Document