The Western Volcanic Plain DPCD South West Victoria Landscape Assessment Study | the Western Volcanic Plain

Character Type 1 The Western Volcanic Plain DPCD South West Victoria Landscape Assessment Study | THE WEstERN VOlcaNIC PLAIN THE WESTERN VOLCANIC PLAIN Volcanic activity has shaped much of south west Victoria’s Within Character Type 1, 11 distinctive Character Areas landscape. This extensive Character Type is formed by a have been determined and will be discussed in more flat to undulating basaltic plain scattered with volcanic detail within the Character Area Papers. features including stony rises, old lava flows, numerous 1.1 Paddocks and Cones volcanic cones and old eruption points which together create a unique visual landscape. 1.2 Large Shallow & Deep Crater Lakes This is a place of big skies, long views with volcanic rises 1.3 Volcanic Agricultural that punctuate the horizon. When the first European 1.4 Stony Rises & Lava Flows settlers arrived they found the land primed for agriculture as it contained very few trees. Shelterbelts of cypress 1.5 Lakeside Stony Rises and pine were planted to protect crops and livestock from 1.6 Volcanic Lakes & Swamps the winds that sweep the plain and are now a defining characteristic of the Type. 1.7 Cones & Mines The area is dotted with many beautiful lakes and 1.8 Volcanic Ranges wetlands that are generally broad and shallow and may 1.9 Vegetated Volcanic Plains contain either saline, brackish or fresh water. Some of the wetlands are RAMSAR listed and of international 1.10 Partially Wooded Agricultural importance. 1.11 Winchelsea & Geelong Western Plains Many paddocks and roadsides are edged with beautifully formed dry stone walls that were created when early pastorlists cleared the land of rocks for agricultural purposes, to contain stock and to control vermin. Long views punctuated by volcanic features Harmans Valley lava flow with the distant peak of Mount Napier visible on the horizon Rich, red volcanic soils © 2013 9 Logo is at twice the size for the footer DPCD South West Victoria Landscape Assessment Study | THE WEstERN VOlcaNIC PLAIN Figure 1 The Western Volcanic Plain Location HEPBURN SHIRE 1.8 1.7 BALLARAT CITY Weste rn Hwy 1.3 1.3 1.9 1.4 1.6 PYRENEES wy Glenelg H SHIRE MOORABOOL SHIRE ARARAT RURAL CITY 1.4 y w H g el MOYNE SHIRE en 1.10 Gl 1.4 Ha GOLDEN m CORANGAMITE GREATER ilto PLAINS 1.3 GLENELG n Hw SHIRE 1.4 y SHIRE GEELONG CITY SHIRE 1.4 1.4 CRESSY 1.11 COLAC 1.3 OTWAY SHIRE 1.10 1.1 1.2 1.5 1.4 1.5 STUDY AREA BOUNDARY CHARACTER AREA STATE PARKS ARTERIAL ROAD TOWNSHIP BOUNDARY AREAS CHARACTER TYPE LOCAL GOVERNMENT NATIONAL PARKS HIGHWAY BOUNDARY AREAS N 10 © 2013 Logo is at twice the size for the footer DPCD South West Victoria Landscape Assessment Study | THE WEstERN VOlcaNIC PLAIN Key Features Waterform Land Use & Built Form ▪ Windswept, flat to undulating agricultural plains The fertile soil is generally used for agricultural purposes, Numerous lakes and swamplands are dotted across the ▪ Volcanic features punctuating the landscape including sheep grazing with some areas of cropping. The Western Volcanic Plain and range dramatically in scale. ▪ Dry stone walls sparse landscape has been systematically divided into Some of these are formed by low lying depressions in the Heavily modified landscape a patchwork of individual properties, lined with wind ▪ relatively flat landscape, other larger ones are the result breaks and separated with post and wire fencing and ▪ Sparse settlements of ancient volcanic flows blocking creeks and river valleys, dry stone walls. Paddocks often feature piles of rocks ▪ Numerous lakes effectively halting the drainage of water. The largest and boulders that have been cleared out of the soil to ▪ Exotic and native shelterbelts along property inland lake in Victoria, Lake Corangamite, was formed by increase productivity. boundaries and paddock lines this process. Water within the lakes varies from fresh to ▪ Rich, red volcanic soils brackish and saline, and volcanic maars often have high Modest farmhouses and associated buildings are set back mineral concentrations that give them outstanding blue from the roadsides and often screened by exotic tree or greenish colouring. planting. Buildings range in age, with older dwellings from Landscape Characteristics around the first half of the 20th century or earlier located Major rivers in this Character Area include the Hopkins, closer to the roadside, and more recent development set Glenelg and Barwon. There are marshy areas at low Landform back with long driveways and exotic or native avenues. It points and creeks with local erosion. Many of these are The landform of the Western Volcanic Plain is flat to is not uncommon to see older buildings and sheds left to seasonal. gently undulating rising only up to 20 metres. This flat deteriorate. plain is dramatically relived by volcanic features the Small settlements are dotted across the landscape, highest of which is Mount Elephant at nearly 200 metres. Vegetation development within these is generally concentrated The Western Volcanic Plains is largely an open, Approximately 100 extinct volcanoes can be found in this within town boundaries, though some of the larger towns agricultural landscape mostly devoid of trees. Original Character Type, and other associated geological features such as Camperdown or Colac have a greater dispersal of grassland communities have been replaced by exotic are abundant. Volcanic cones rise from the flat pastoral rural residential development on their outskirts. pasture species and monocultural crops, leaving only land and take on a variety of shapes, from low rounded remnants within roadsides. Weed species such as thistles Remnants of historic mining operations are occasionally rises to steep sloped hills with dramatic peaks and and Pattersons Curse are prolific in fallow paddocks. visible on the landscape in the form of mine heads, angles. Undulating, rocky landscapes of stoney rises have Windbreaks commonly line property boundaries, mullock heaps and pump house remains, particularly in originated from ancient lava flows, and marr volcanos paddock edges and dwellings. Many of these are old Pine the area north of Ballarat. take on the form of circular crater lakes. and Cypress species that are starting to deteriorate with In recent years the volcanic plains have seen the age, however younger shelterbelts of native species are installation of a number of wind farms. The visual effect also common. of these varies from long range views with clusters of The volcanic cones are often bare of substantial turbines punctuating the horizon, to monolithic towers vegetation but can feature a blanket of patchwork rising above the roadside. Energy transfer stations and cropping, grazing and some shrub like vegetation. Bracken access roads associated with these are also prominent and grass species grow between the rocky outcrops of the features. stony rises where agricultural development is unsuitable, © 2013 and lakes and wetlands support a diversity of aquatic 11 species. Logo is at twice the size for the footer DPCD South West Victoria Landscape Assessment Study | THE WEstERN VOlcaNIC PLAIN Figure 2 The Western Volcanic Plain Contours & Waterform STUDY AREA BOUNDARY 0 - 200M 400 - 500M CHARACTER TYPE BOUNDARY 200 - 300M 500 - 1200M CHARACTER AREA BOUNDARY 300 - 400M N 12 © 2013 Logo is at twice the size for the footer DPCD South West Victoria Landscape Assessment Study | THE WEstERN VOlcaNIC PLAIN PATTERN OF VIEWING The majority of views are over flat to undulating plains with volcanic features occasionally visible on the horizon. Shelterbelts and roadside vegetation constantly filter views. There are a number of high points available from volcanic features which allow panoramic views across this landscape. These often contain volcanic rises and wide lakes that break the surface of the flat agricultural land. The adjacent Uplands Area towards the north is sometime visible rising majestically from the volcanic plain. Close up views of the volcanic features are available from small rural roads. There are a number of key viewing corridors which traverse this landscape Character Type: Looking east on the Darlington-Nerrin Road dry stone walls and rock strewn lava paddocks stretch out into the distance. B140 Geelong to Hamilton B160 Ballarat to Hamilton A1 (Princes) Highway along the southern edge of the Character Type Aerial view of Mount Noorat shows the distinct formation with an almost perfect crater rising from the flat plain. There is an access track to the crater rim where views can be accessed across the plain © 2013 13 Logo is at twice the size for the footer DPCD South West Victoria Landscape Assessment Study | THE WEstERN VOlcaNIC PLAIN LANDSCAPE VALUES Landscape values include aesthetic (visual and non- journeyed through the western district crossing this ▪ Geological tourism due to stony rises, volcanic cones visual), historic, environmental, scientific, social and Character Type and lakes other values. It is acknowledged that many of the values ▪ Bluestone sourced from basalt rock quarries, an ▪ Major Mitchell Touring Route through the Type, overlap (i.e. a place or item may have historic and social iconic building material that is attached to the follows the footsteps of the expedition that opened value), but they are generally only listed once. A range of identity of Melbourne which lines the city streets & up Victoria to pastoral settlement sources have been used to identify the landscape values clads many historic buildings ▪ Goldfields Touring Route between Ballarat, Creswick of the Western Volcanic Plain,

Load more