We went walking out at Werribee Gorge this morning. This was my first visit to the gorge in many years and I was reminded of what an incredibly beautiful place it is. Recognized in the 1880’s  for its geological importance, the area was reserved as a public park and for the preservation of geological features in 1907 (quite early in Australia’s land conservation movement)- not only for it’s beauty but because five hundred million years of geological history (from ancient folded sea-bed sediments to glacial material to relatively recent lava flows) were slowly revealed by the cutting action of the Werribee River… and are still on show for all to see.

Gorge face

Cave

Tiny wee beach

In the 1930’s, the Water Commission installed a concrete channel on the northern side of the river, to capture stormwater runoff to supply water to the neighbouring township of Bacchus Marsh. No longer in use but still capturing rain, it looks just like a rill from a 1930’s garden, a slightly surreal but lovely sight in a natural landscape like this!

Rill ang gorge

Although it is said that there is no dramatic and visible change in our vegetation from season to season, what I saw today- the overall feel of the landscape- completely changed my opinion on that.

The dominant colours were rust and grey.

Lichen on Dodonea

Seedheads, Dodonea viscosa

Shedding Red Ironbark

Grasses were also on show. Anyone who loves Piet Oudolf‘s work would recognize the potential of these beauties for use in landscape design.

Sun-bleached Themeda triandra

Seedheads twisting, Stipa sp.

And we met a lovely little moth.

My, what handsome antennae you have!

Beautiful place. You should visit it.