Leslie Massey
Western Australia is known for its unique mountain ranges, which consist of older, eroded formations compared to other parts of the world. The geography reflects extensive periods of tectonic stability, and the arid climate results in erosion over geological time. The mountains of Western Australia showcase a variety of geological landscapes, massive mineral deposits, and a range of ecosystems. The Stirling Range, located in southwestern WA, is one of the most notable mountain ranges in the region, with its highest peak, Bluff Knoll, reaching 1,099 meters (3,609 ft). The Kimberley region is also noteworthy for its beehive-shaped sandstone formations, which are among the world's best examples of sandstone tower karst. These mountains offer a range of outdoor activities, from hiking and climbing to driving and camping, providing visitors with breathtaking views and a chance to explore Western Australia's diverse natural beauty.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 2.8 million |
| Population density | 1.11 / km2 (2.9 / sq mi) |
| Mountain ranges | Older, eroded formations |
| Geography | Extensive periods of tectonic stability |
| Climate | Arid |
| Highest peak | Bluff Knoll at 1,099 meters (3,609 ft) |
| Mountain type | Beehive-shaped sandstone formations |
| Examples of unique geology | Purnululu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Natural resources | Lithium, copper, cobalt, and rare earth elements |
| Examples of flora | Jarrah, Marri, Karri, eucalypt forests |
| Examples of fauna | Kangaroos, bandicoots, Red-capped Parrot, Splendid Fairy-wren |
| Mountain names | Stirling Range, Wadjemup Hill, Mt Meharry, Mt Nameless, Mt Toolbrunup |
| Activities | Hiking, 4WD driving, rock climbing |
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What You'll Learn
The Stirling Range and Bluff Knoll
The Stirling Range is located in southwestern Western Australia, northeast of the town of Albany. It is home to the only major mountain range in the southern area of Western Australia, with peaks that rise to more than 1000m above sea level. The range is characterised by soaring cliffs and rugged boulder-strewn valleys, with rocky spires and misty moods. The Stirling Range is recognised as the traditional land of the Goreng and Menang people.
The highest peak in the Stirling Range is Bluff Knoll, which stands at 1,099 metres (3,606 ft) above sea level. It is one of the only few places in Western Australia to experience regular snowfalls due to its elevation. The mountain has cultural significance for the Minang, Goreng, and Noongar people, who have different names for the mountain, including "Boola Miyel" or "Pualaar Miial", meaning "great many-faced hill" or "many eyes", referring to the rock formations that resemble eyes looking out across the valley.
The Bluff Knoll trail is a challenging and spectacular hike that offers outstanding 360-degree views from the summit. The trail is a round trip of about 6 kilometres (3.7 miles) and takes approximately three to four hours to complete, with some steep and rough sections. The trail is well-signed and accessible, with wheelchair access to the surrounding lookouts, a nearby undercover picnic area, and toilets.
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Darling Scarp and its forests
The Darling Scarp, also known as the Darling Range or Darling Ranges, is a low escarpment in southeastern Western Australia, running north-south to the east of the Swan Coastal Plain and Perth. The escarpment extends generally from north of Bindoon to the south of Pemberton, with the adjacent Darling Plateau going east to include Mount Bakewell near York and Mount Saddleback near Boddington. The feature was named after the Governor of New South Wales, Lieutenant-General Ralph Darling, and was first recorded as the "General Darling Range" in 1827.
The Darling Scarp is characterised by eucalypt forests, predominantly jarrah–marri forests, with bullich and blackbutt in the valleys. Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) and marri (Corymbia calophylla) are two of the six "forest giants" found in Australia. The Darling Range ghost gum (Eucalyptus laeliae) is endemic to the western slopes of the scarp. The region also features pockets of heathland, low woodlands of Banksia, and a variety of orchids, including the Lemon-scented Sun Orchid (Thelymitra antennifera), the Purple Pansy Orchid (Diuris longifolia), and the Yellow Spider Orchid (Caladenia denticulata). The scarp is also home to a diverse range of fauna, including native mammals such as the quenda (Isoodon fusciventer), chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii), and woylie (Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi).
The Darling Scarp has a Mediterranean climate with an average annual rainfall of 1300 mm, declining to the east and north. The unique ferricrete capping and its associated Jarrah/Marri forest are the result of distinctive weathering of rock, specifically the weathering of granite into kaolin clay, with the leaching away of alkali metals and the upward movement of iron due to successive wet and dry seasons. This process forms an oxidised iron-cemented layer, or ferricrete, at the top of the zone. Below this ferricrete layer is a clay-rich, water-retaining horizon, which helps to support the vegetation in the region during dry summers.
The Darling Scarp has been exploited for stone quarries, forestry, and bauxite mining. The high-quality jarrah forests supported extensive timber railways, timber mills, and communities along the escarpment. Legislative restrictions were initiated in the late twentieth century to prevent further visible scars on the western face of the scarp. Protests also occurred against proposals to mine the forests when bauxite deposits were discovered in the late twentieth century.
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The Kimberley region's unique geology
Western Australia features some of the oldest rock formations on Earth, and the Kimberley region is no exception. The Kimberley is the northernmost of the nine regions of Western Australia, with an area of 423,517 square kilometres (163,521 sq mi), about three times the size of England. The region was named in 1879 by government surveyor Alexander Forrest and was one of the earliest settled parts of Australia, with the first humans landing about 65,000 years ago.
The current regional geology of the Kimberley can be divided into three major units: the Kimberley Craton, the Hooper Complex, and the Lamboo Complex. The Kimberley Craton, underlying the Speewah and Kimberley Basins, is a rock record of the early Proterozoic eon, including tectonic plate collision, mountain-building, and the joining of the Kimberley and Northern Australia cratons, followed by sedimentary basin formation. The area formed in a slow tectonic plate collision during the Paleoproterozoic era, 2.5–1.6 billion years ago. The Kimberley Craton, moving southeastwards, collided with the North Australia Craton, resulting in a series of deformations that created the Hooper and Lamboo Complexes.
The Hooper Complex, also referred to as the Hooper Province, is similar to the Lamboo Complex but lies to its west, on the southwestern margin of the Kimberley Craton. The Lamboo Complex, also known as the Lamboo Province, is a series of exposed and interconnected mountain belts that run along the southeastern margin of the Kimberley Craton. These complexes are considered displaced parts of a single feature. The sediments in the region form two major sedimentary basins: the Speewah Basin and the Kimberley Basin.
The Kimberley region in Western Australia is characterised by steep mountain belts in the north, cut through with sandstone and limestone gorges. The northwestern side borders the Indian Ocean, and the Kimberley to the south is largely flat arid grassland. The Kimberley range is WA's most unique, with its beehive-shaped sandstone formations. These striking, banded orange-and-black domes are among the world's best examples of sandstone tower karst. The Argyle diamond mine operated in the eastern part of the Kimberley from 1983 to 2020.
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Mt. Meharry and its views
Mount Meharry is the highest mountain in Western Australia, located in the southeastern part of Karijini National Park in the Pilbara region. It was discovered by Europeans in 1967 and is named after William Thomas Meharry, the Chief Surveyor for WA from 1959 until his death in 1967. The mountain is approximately 86 kilometres (53 miles) south-southeast of Wittenoom and 87 kilometres (54 miles) east-southeast of Tom Price. The traditional owners of the area are the Pandjima peoples.
The Mount Meharry Summit Walk is a 16-kilometre hike that takes around 6 hours to complete. The climb to the top is challenging, but those who make the journey are rewarded with breathtaking views. As you ascend, a vast tapestry of ochre desert stretches out before you, reaching towards the distant coast. The landscape is characterised by red cliffs and gorges, bearing the marks of miners who once worked the land. Geologically, Mount Meharry is predominantly an outcrop of ancient Proterozoic banded ironstone, part of the Hamersley Basin's significant iron formations.
The summit itself stands at 1253 metres above sea level, offering spectacular views of the surrounding landscape. The Hamersley Range, one of the oldest geologic surfaces on Earth, unfolds before you, with its red whale-back mountains, razor-back ridges, and steep-sided gorges. This range is known as Karijini in the Aboriginal language. The view from the summit also showcases the raw beauty of the Outback, with its rugged terrain and ancient history.
While the return walk is estimated at 16 kilometres, there are alternative options for reaching the summit. A 4WD track winds up the mountainside, providing an enjoyable drive with stunning views. This track starts from Packsadle Road, near Karijini National Park, and is suitable for high-clearance vehicles. However, hiking the final stretch on foot is recommended to embrace the true explorer's spirit. Permission should be sought from the relevant land managers, including Juna Downs Station and the Department of Parks and Wildlife, which manages Karijini National Park.
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Rottnest Island's Wadjemup Hill
Rottnest Island, also known as Wadjemup, is a unique holiday destination off the coast of Perth, Western Australia. It is a sandy, low-lying island formed on a base of aeolianite limestone, just 18 kilometres (11 mi) west of Fremantle. The island is rich in history and boasts incredible coastal scenes and thriving ecosystems.
Wadjemup Hill is the highest point on the island and features a lighthouse at its peak. It is accessible via a 5-kilometre hike from the Settlement, or by driving up the mountain via two roads, with the eastern side being the easier route. The Wadjemup Bidi (track) is a series of interconnected trails that meander all over the island, most of which take three to four hours to complete.
Rottnest Island has a dark history, as it was once used as a place of incarceration for Aboriginal people, who were subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment. The area where these men and boys were buried is now known as the Wadjemup Aboriginal Burial Ground. The island was also an important defence location during World War II, with the installation of several guns for the defence of the Fremantle port.
Today, Rottnest Island is a popular tourist destination, offering a range of activities such as hiking, swimming, snorkelling, and indulging in the local cuisine. Visitors are encouraged to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land, the Whadjuk Noongar people, and to pay their respects to their ancestors and elders.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Western Australia features some of the oldest rock formations on Earth, including unique mountain ranges.
The Stirling Range, located in southwestern WA, is one of the most notable ranges, with its highest peak, Bluff Knoll, reaching 1,099 meters (3,609 ft). The Kimberley region is also home to a unique range with beehive-shaped sandstone formations. Other notable mountains include Mt. Meharry, Mt. Nameless, and Mt. Magog.
The mountains of Western Australia offer diverse ecosystems and are home to many endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. The Darling Scarp range, for example, is characterized by eucalypt forests, kangaroos, bandicoots, and bird species like the Red-capped Parrot. The Stirling Range National Park also boasts unique wildflowers.
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