Australian Landforms
Gondwana was an ancient super-continent that broke up about 180 million years ago; eventually splitting landmasses into what we recognise as the 7 continents today.
​
Australia began its separation from Gondwana some 65 million years ago. Australia evolved with a unique flora and fauna, different to much of the rest of the world. Australia even developed unique dinosaurs! The Australian plate took a long time to separate from the Arctic plate and was the last of the Gondwanan continental plates to split.
Tasmania has more geological similarities with Antarctica than it does Australia!
Australian Landforms Today
Australia is the 6th largest country, the worlds biggest island but smallest continent. it is the lowest & flattest continent. It is the driest of all continents, aside from Antarctica. Australia is incredibly old! While much of the landforms covering Europe and North America are geologically recent, Australia's landscape can be aged by the billions.
The continents of today are only a temporary
arrangement in a long history of continental movement;
in a constant state of slow motion.
Australia is home to a diverse range of landforms, shaped by millions of years of geological processes. Some of the more notable landforms found in Australia include:
​
​
The Great Dividing Range
This is Australia's most significant mountain ranges, running parallel to the East Coast of Australia for over 3,500 kilometres | 2,175 miles. It seperates the coastal regions from the inland areas and includes famous peaks such as Mount Kosciuszko, the highest mountain in Australia.
​
The Great Dividing Range is primarily composed of sedimentary rocks, such as sandstone, shale and limestone which were formed over millions of years. These rocks were up-lifted and folded during techtonic activity, creating the mountainous landscape we see today.
Pictured: Mount Kosciuszko
Uluru & Kata Tjuta
Located in the the heart of Australia's Red Centre, Uluru is an iconic Australian landmark, sacred to the Indigenous Australians known as 'Anangu'. Uluru is a large sandstone rock formation, composed of arkose, rich in feldspar minerals. The rock itself has undergone millions of years of erosion, resulting in its iconic shape.
Read about the geological formation of Uluru and nearby rock formation, Kata Tjuta by clicking here.
​
Pictured: Uluru
The Outback
This vast, arid interior of Australia is known for its deserts, including the Simpson Desert, the Great Victoria Desert and the Tanami Desert. The outback covers most of the continents interior and is sparsely populated. These Outback areas consist of various geological formations, including vast plans, plateus and deserts. The region is characterised by ancient rocks such as granite and sandstone. Overtime, these rocks have weathered into unique landscapes.
​
Pictured: Sand Dunes of the Simpson Desert
The Great Barrier Reef
This is the worlds largest coral reef system, stretching over 2,300 kilometres | 1,400 miles! Whilst the Great Barrier Reef is not a landform (it's a marine formation) but it is a significant natural feature that is visible from outer-space!
The Great Barrier Reef is composed of BILLIONS of tiny organisms caled 'coral polyps'. These polyps secrete calcium carbonate to form hard skeletons, which build up over time to create the reef structures. The reef itself is built on older limestone formations from ancient coral reefs.
Pictured: Great Barrier Reef
The Nullabor Plain
Locates in South Australia and Western Australia, this is one of the largest limestone karst landscapes. It's vast, treeless expanse is home to unique wildlife and underground cave systems. The Nullabor is characterised by flat, treeless plains. The limestone was formed from the accumulation of marine organisms and coral reefs from millions of years ago!
Pictured: Road Signs on the Nullabor Eyre Highway
The Murray-Darling Basin
Australia's largest river system encompasses the Murray and Darling Rivers. It covers around 1/7th of Australia's landmass! The basin is underlain by a variety of tock types, including sedimentary rocks like sandstone and shale as well as volcanic rocks in some areas. The rivers have carved out deep valleys and gorges over millions of years!
​
Pictured: Arial View of Murray / Darling Junction
Kakadu National Park
Located in the Top End of the Northern Territory, Kakadu is home to a rich array of wildlife and ancient Aboriginal rock art. Kakadu contains diverse geological formations, including the sandstone escarpments, floodplains, rivers and wetlands. The sandstone cliffs and plateaus were formed through sedimentation and subsequent uplift and erosion.
​
Pictured: Kakadu National Park
The Daintree Rainforest
The oldest rainforest in the world! Located in Far North Queensland, the Daintree is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to a vast array of plant and animal species, including the Cassowary and Tree Kangaroo.
The Daintree Rainforest sits on a foundation of granite and metamorphic rocks, which were formed deep within the Earth's crust. The lush rainforest vegetation has developed on these nutrient-rich soils over millions of years. ​
Pictured: Mossman Gorge | Daintree Rainforest
The Flinders Ranges
Located in South Australia, this ancient mountain range is known for. its dramatic, rugged landscapes, deep gorges and unique flora and fauna. The ranges are composed of sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and quartzite. These rocks were folded and uplifted during tectonic activity, creating the rugged landscape we see today.
Pictured: Lone Windmill in the Flinders Ranges
The Kimberley
This region in Western Australia is known for its stunning landscapes, including rugged ranges, dramatic gorges and beautiful waterfalls! It is also home to rich Aboriginal Culture and rock art. The landscape was shaped by erosion over millions of years, as rivers carved their way through the ancient sandstone rocks.
Video: Landscapes of the Kimberley