Tower Hill (volcano)

Tower Hill is an dormant volcano on the southwest coast of Victoria, Australia. It formed at least 30,000 years ago when rising basaltic magma struck the subterranean water table. A violent explosion followed and created a funnel-shaped crater, known as a maar. Within the crater the explosion also formed a series of cones surrounded by a crater lake.

The Koroitgundidj people long inhabited this region of Australia and have lived in the area of Tower Hill since before recorded history. The first confirmed sighting of Tower Hill by Europeans was by French explorers sailing with Captain Baudin aboard "Le Géographe" in 1802. Matthew Flinders sailed east along the southern coast of Australia and in April 20, 1802 in the ship's log referred to "Peaked Hill Position uncertain", which may refer to Tower Hill.cite web |title= Site: Tower Hill (Vic) |publisher= Matthew Flinders and the Coastal Landforms of Southeastern Australia (website) |url= http://www.vnc.qld.edu.au/enviro/flinders/f-p-vth.htm |accessdate= 2008-06-24]

Now part of the state park system as the Tower Hill State Game Reserve, it previously saw service as a pasture for stock animals, fields for crop growing, a stone quarrying, an unofficial motorcycle racing venue, a source of free timber, and a convenient community rubbish dump. By the middle of the last century the hills were almost completely denuded and virtually the only wildlife to be found were waterfowl that came to the crater lakes. The area has been reforested with native flora, and repopulated with native fauna over the past 40 years.

More than 300,000 native trees have been planted over the past two generations. This has created an environment capable of sustaining native animals such as Koalas, Emus, kangaroos, Magpie Geese, Echidnas, possums, and waterbirds – all of which can be seen within the crater walls of Tower Hill.

The town of Koroit is on the North rim of Tower Hill which is within easy reach of both Warrnambool and Port Fairy.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=200 Parks Victoria: Tower Hill State Game Reserve]
* [http://www.vnc.qld.edu.au/enviro/flinders/f-p-vth.htm Matthew Flinders 2002 website - History]