A T L A S OF AUSTRALIA—1SS6.
times of drought tlip waters of mtiuy of tliem disappear altogether,
and tlie ground, tlius deprived of it-s moisture, opens ivnd forms large
cracks and fissures, us in tlve llanos of Soutli Ajncrica. Tlia smaller
accumaliitioiis of water of tbis class are knowu lu swam]». Along
man)' parts nf ilie coast, freuerally close to the ocean, comparatively
deep bodies of water occur, entirely suri-ounded by laud. Tkeso are
in most cases only separated from the ocean by high baidcs of sand,
o f » •e and c . rret] f, during very heavy
stonns, thuse bauks are broken by the violence of tbo waves, aud then
the pout-up waters as cape. This also takes place after very heavy
rains, when the acciiiiiiilated waters force a passage at the weakest
point. Tho water, ^'eiierally speaking, is brackish, being composed
]iartly of sea water and partly of the fresh flow from the inland crocks
and streams which feed it. These land-locked bodies of water receive
rhenauieoflagoous. They abound in fish; and swimming on their
surface in large niimboi's may be seen tho wild duck, black swan and
other aquatio members of the feathered tribe.
Thu follo\ving arc the more important li
connection with Australian geography :—
usually enumerated ir
Lakfls Torrens, Gairdnei-, Eyre, Amadeus, Frome,
gory. Those aro situated in So^th Australia. Ti
brackish and in some eases quite salt- Lake Aniadeu:
most noticeable of the South Australian lakes for tho i
of its chai-acter; it is described as a vast inland marsh
Lakes Onieo and Tyrrell in Victoria.
Lakes Cowal, Ca>vndilla, George, and Bathui-st,
is pei-haps tl
South
Wall
iliu^Killop, Jochmus, Balloo, and Phill
Seabrook, Carey, Barlee, Moore, JI(
The land-locked bodies of
ipi, in Queensland.
the vicini
not been included. They ivill arise for conaide
with tho colonies in which they are situated.
GEOLOGY.—^A study of the ¡jhysical configura
Australia leads us at once to the principal feat
constitution. Tu taking a comprehensive riew, tl
.f the surface of
a its geological
liich fii'st claims
our attention i.s undoubtedly the belt of elevated co;
parallel to the sea-coast at a distance inland from it that varies
considerably in its whole length. This tableland region is not
continuous—that is, as a zone of high land, it is not without breaks.
On the east, uorth, and west coasts, it approaches more nearly to
continuity; but in several ¡larts of the south coast, notably along a
very large portion of the margin of the Great Australian Bight, it
loses its elevated character and sinks to the ocean level. The bass of
his plateau formation is gran
md outcrops in varions parts
n the islands of Bass Strait.
Ranges, f
of the
Meh
an elevation varying 1
prominently as to deprive
level. Rocks of the az
primory strata of the tab
form of old slates ant
considerable metamorphi
Australian Alps in the i
found at intervals througl
district, aud vei-y largel
South Austvalii
richness of thei:
large q
and the same rock appears in peaks
he interior, in the coast ranges, and
lis elevated belt, generally speaking,
recipitous aud bold front to the sea, aud on its inland
5 a slope of a very gradual nature, which reaches its
in the vast interior. T5y far t he greater part of Central
es the character of the tableland, which was impressed
irtion of the coast territory, aud becomes simply a plain.
I Kone is highest on the east coast; and on the west side
uent it is higher than that of the northern seaboard,
of them possessing any continuity, diversify the surface
ind. On the south-east coa.st the .Australian Alps, with
I varying between 6000 aud 7000 feet, show so
tableland of any claim to be considei'ed
period occur in connection with the
nds and Di^-iding Range. These, in the
of valuing
1. They . widel
.ith-ea.st [jart of
lit the elevated ?
juted i
eut, and i
;s of the co;
The.
ineral V
Carabr
Among the earlier palaior.oic
•rie.% and probably rocks al
ire especially noted for tlie
I, gold is found in them in
;tensive deposits of copper
-matious, are tbosa of the
of La
5 Cumbrian of ^ ctorii
ani-ifei-ous dejjosit« of great value
ropper is found. Silurian
le cast coast, and extend w
; they also occur on the
the piai
Silurian rocks have been recognisec
Yass in Now South Wales, and Ki b
In tho basin of the Lacblan, in f
land and Victoria, are seen formatic
In the same series in
deposits are very widely
•St throughout the tablelan
western side of the con
at Rockbampton in Qneei
IV South Wales n Q.ieens
. Metalli
ferous veins, chietly of gold and copper, occurring in these rocks are
noted for their richness. The Gympio mines are known throughout
Australia. Rocks of the great Carboniferous age, among which is
the coal of commerce, are highly developed in Australia, chiefly on
the east coast, in the district of lllawarra, the Valley of the Ifunter,
tho watoi-sheds of the upper parts of the Castlereagh, Namoi aud
Gwydir, iu New South Wales, and in various parts of Queensland and
Western Ani •alia
1 the outer edge of the tableland throughout 3 find sandi
of an age subsequent to thu coal measures.
a great thickness iu the Blue Mountains, w
t uf Sydney;
ilso occur iu the basin of the Ilawkesbury.
le intei-ior of Australia contains vas
1 iu the form of cretaceous beds; those havi
0 oast to the Darlijig River; their limits on the west have not
lelined, They aro associated with some of the least fertile parts of
s of the Jfesozoic
! been found to
, Murrumbidgee,
north-west from
In the large areas di'ained by the Muv
Spencer's Gulf in South Australia, and extendii
Australia, are found deposits of CainoRoio times,
and lower tertiary beds,
capped Avith deposits of
The granite islands of Bass Straits aro also
There is little or m
Australia was involved
glacial epoch.
Recently, however,
slopes of some of the h
E. T. Ilardman to presf
jected to glaeial action.
No active volcanoes
evidence of a
n tho stupendoi
ialisfactcry character that
s phenomena of tho great
I the Leopold Ranges were found by Mr .
II the appearance of having been subthe
subterran(
fcmnd in the w •n par t uf Victoria
et with, placing i
of Victoria occur chiefiy
Australia. Earthquakes a
Australia, but craters in which
:e become estiuot, have been
Lava streams and ash cones
th in the Kimbi
• felt at distflnt
ne pa la.—Among thi
alia has become as
. a re most prominei
frequent they produce
minerals with which the e of
t both in
of the Austri
n with constn
departments
regard to utility and commercial
ittle is known yet of the extent of the mineral
ian continent. Those which are essential in
ition, and others, the uses of which are found
of 0
abundantly.
• domestic economy, c
It
ir for the
ivith i
a has become settled in Au.str
ilth will be fully disclosed, a
nan race in this and other pan
On future generations, to whc
dy to be unfolded, and n.inistc
ure, will this great task of dev
Coal.—This mineral, which is
th's crust most intimately con:
ilization, is found very wide:
stralia, aud throughout varioi
The colonies in which
B New South Wales and Qi
of
benefit of the
lillei^i
nd worked for
ts of the world.
a- to tho many wants of our common
•elopment devolve,
perhaps one of the products of the
nected ivitli the progress of modern
ly distributed on the oast coast of
lis parts of the great Eastern Corit
is mined for ^vith considerable
md. The coal obtained in
1 demand in concoutrated
Australia is of a high quality generally, and is
[lection with tho various trades where a cc
uecessai-y, aud for gas pui-posu-s. In some respoc
the coal of Wales. There ai-e beds, howovoi-, S(
i-arions mineral iinpuritie.s as to be almost worlhl
;oal formations of Australia knowii aro in the 111
if Cly
South Wales, and
Queensland, Besi.l
have already been
valleys of the Talli
in the basins of the
Wales, and in the
Queensland. It is
Port, Coleraine, ai
little or no doniau
discovery did not ci
1 Brisbat
e fields frc
ind Ma.
n wbic
Riv
Itivers, the Gn
Hichmond Rive
fuel is
5 it is superior to
impregnated with
ss. The principal
n-arra aud Hunter
Vlountains in Now
Valleys in
'dir district, and
170C ; but w
loniKation,
A U S T R A L I A . .
The determination oP the ago of thu A.
istralian coal beds i:
matter that has caused considerable disoussw
though an agreement of opinion has been
some, there aro several fields ove
ivod at in regard to
which doubt
jriod in the world's history to which their formation should be
isigned. The principal evidence on this point is sought for in
)nnoction with the fossils of these beds and tho vegetable growths
lat enter into their comjwsition. Thu most recent coal foi-mations
ive been classed as cotemporary with the middle rocks of the
[esozoic period; from thence down occiu- beds of different ages, till
e arrive at tho lower de])osits of tho great Carboniferous age.
In the year 1883, 2,626,635 tons of coal, representing a value of
£1,255,435, were produced i
of 1883 tho total quantity of coal raisod in
of £14,887,-596.
I t has beeu stated by those who havt
resources of Australia, that its coal bods
almost iue>dxaustible.
Building stones of every description i
parts of the coast district and tablelands.
rery superior
Australia, Up to the end
Australia showed a value
studied the vast mineral
are SO estensive as to be
rs abundant in nearly all
In tho uoighbourhood of
s found. It also ocoui-s in
almost unlimited (¡uantity
portions of Queensland and other
Limestone is widely distributed throngho
land districts. On the F anning River, in Qu
stone—of coral formation—has beeu found, i
7000 feet. In the Napier Range, in Western
i-ock shows a thickness of over 4000 feet,
building trades, is obtained iu the mountaino
of Australia.
Basalt, which, ou account of
comiection with road consti-uction,
mountainous areas. U is very largt
t the coast and tableensland,
a bed of limoith
a thickness of about
Australia, a bed of this
Granite, used in the
i and tableland districts
durability, is in demand i
i obtained pi-incipally i
used for other pui-poses i
In many parts of Australia limestone passes into marble of a
very fine quality. In the valleys of the Shoalhaveu aud Wollondilly
Rivers in New South Wales it is found of every variety of colour; this
atone, which is so much in demand for oraamental aud other puiposes,
ibtaiued at Toongabbie aud Walhalla in Victoria, and at
Marble
Slate, of a
at Gundagai,
colony of VicI
Eitonsive
occur at Joa
Wales. Thes
product of the two mi
Asbestos is known
and at Sewell's Ci'ee
Piaster of Paj^is is
Victoria, aud in th(
district, iu Western 1
Porcelain clay, for
in varioiis parts of th
le in Queensland.
. supei-ior kind, for roofing and other purposes, is found
and near Bathurst, in New South Wales, and iu the
deposits of shales, from which kerosene oil is extracted,
djtt Creek, and in tho Hartley district iu New South
le shales have been treated successfully. In 1884 tho
. Dsist at Gundagai, in the Bathurst district,
in New South Wales. Gypsum, from which
»do, occurs at Kerang and Bridgewatcr in
carbouiterous limestones of the Kirabcrley
ledby the deconiposil
idant throughout An;
if granite, is obtained
ranges of the coast,
a. Mccrschaum au'l
plumbago am kn I part of New South
Wales.
SOIL.—Apart from its chai'acter
|)assiug interest. On its sui-face the various vogotablo products and
other necessities of our being find a place.
I t clothes thu mountain slopes and renders the valleys fit for tho
grassy mantle and branching foliage which spring from it. Soil is
the source of the beauty we see around us in auimate nature; without
it all would be a scene of gloomy desolation.
Like the garment which adds to tho comeUness and grace of the
human figure, the earth-covering hides the asperities ajid ruggodness
of the granito-foi-med hills, and furnishes tho last touch from the hand
of Creative Power.
The soil of Australia is extremely varied in its character. Prom
the bleak sterility of the desert, iu which scarcely oven the simplest
lichen will take root, there is every gradation of quality up to fei-tility
which is only surpassed in some of the delta-formations of the Now
World. The capability of soil depends to a very large extent on the
nature of the underlying strata, the disintegration of which has
allowed its formation, and with it the possibility of vegetable growth.
Soil which is the result of the decomposition of the primary rocks
alone, is generally unpi-oductive—lacking tho alkaline and organic
elements which form the basis of true fertility. This is notiooable in
tho rooky barren ridges which are prominent in connection with the
main ranges of Australia. Many soils which are classed as good
thioughout tho Australian colonies, are found associated with trap
and limestone. An example of the first occurs in tho large district of
niawarra iu Now South Wales. Trap soils are also found, at interval«,
both uorth aud south from the locality named. On tbo margin« of
the rivers there are tho alluvium deposits of floods, and thoniiimalond
vegetable accumulations of past ages. Soils of this description form
the earth-covering in tho basins of the rivers, and are retnai-kablo for
their extremo fertility. This is shown ia the native condition of these
river lands; an immense, thick, impenetrable scrab-growth covers
them, and its periodical decay adds each year to their richness. Some
of the alluvial lands of the Shoalhaven district have been known to
produce the samo crops for ovei
artificial means, without exhibit!
speaking, on the tablelands the
much less productive; aud iu i:
but little fertility. On tho plai
15 years iu succession, unassisted by
i g any signs of exhaustion, Genei'ally
soil is lighter, and consequently very
nauy parts it is stony, aud possesses
us of tho interior there is ii very groat
o£ Victoria, New South Wales, and
description, but suitable, for the most
hich it is almost entirely devoted. In
similar shrubs of a saline character,
>f the vast interior, hardly even ^vill
ions there is scarcely any life of even
Queensland, tho soil is of a fair
part, for grazing purposes, to w
other parts, only saltbush, and
will grow; and in large tracts i
the simplest description; aud on every hand is only too evident all
the characteristics of the dry barren desert. In the level area-s just
treated upon, the extreme aridity of the atmosphere is, of course, a
conspicuoas factor in the causes which give this vast territory the
aspect of utter sterility. No doubt the climate and soil act and roacL
upon each other with the result which is found to obtain.
METAW,—GoM,—Tho tdiscovery of gold in Australia must ever
be considered a fact of the highest importance iu connection with its
colonization. Certainly, the existence of the precious metal was
among the earlier circumstances which dii-ected attention to the
capabilities (hitherto almost unkuown) of the new laud, and was the
principal cause in the first days of the colonies of additions t^o the
population from the older countries of tho northern hemisphere; for
then, as even now, the great want was a people to utilise and
develop the resources of a land rich in almost every department of
human enterprise. Early in 1851 gold was discovered in New South
Wales, by Edward Hargreaves, in the Lewis Ponds Creek, near
Guyong, in the County of Bathurst; in the same year also its
existence in various parts of Victoria was demonstrated—in the
quartz rocks of the Yarra Ranges, in the Pyrenees, at Buninyong,
and at Ballarat. Gold, it has since been alleged, was first found
by the convicts in 1814, when making a i-oad over the Blue
Mountains. If such was actually the case, it was kept, no doubt
intentionally, a profound
secret. In
explorer, detected its preser
a the
also found in the Bine Moi
shepherd, who afterwi
Ibourno, None of the
.839 Strnelecki, the Polish
Alps of Victoria. Gold was
, 1841 by the late Rev. W. B.
s sold small quantities of the
of auy practical results to the inhabitants gene
that year, howeve
authorities to discourage the general s
powered by the popular feeling which wi
the and the
s that led I
for gold, w
tod to its 1
1 richness
tmost b y
auriferous deposits, aud accordingly licenses were issued to Iboso who
wished to go in search of gold. When this right had been
established beyond question, almost the whole male population
turned their attention to the new discoveries. Trades, professions,
bnsinesses, aud homes were deserted in the sudden rush to attain
immediate wealth. The excitement which followed in the train of
the practical discovery of gold in Australia continued long afterwards,
increasing at various times when new and gi^eater discoveries
of untold wealth became known. Many there were who accumulated
vast fortunes—seme through previons experience and knowledge,
but not a few through the chances that placed them on ground of
exceptional value.
The esistonce of gold in Australia is, to a large ostout, confined to
the tableland regions of the east coast and the lateral ranges which
branch off from the main Cordillera. It is also found in some parts of the
coast ranges, running parallel to the main chain. Auriferous deposits
occur chiefly in the veins or fissures of the primary rocks; the rents
in the strata of the Cambrian series are particularly rich aud numerous,
especially in the colony of Victoria. Veins in which gold is associated
with felspar are also found in connection with gi^anite, and the schists
cxirtflooo i
íogial at
S E I ;
:d by S