Book
Bourman, R. P., Murray-Wallace, C. V., & Harvey, N. (2016). Coastal landscapes of South Australia. University of Adelaide Press. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/9781925261219/type/BOOK
Description
Geologically, the South Australian coast is very young, having evolved over only 1% of geological time, during the past 43 million years since the separation of Australia and Antarctica. It is also very dynamic, with the current shoreline position having been established from only 7000 years ago. The South Australian mainland coast is 3816 km long, with islands providing an additional 1251 km of coast, giving a total coastline of just over 5000 km. South Australian coastal landforms include cliffs, rocky outcrops and shore platforms, mangrove woodlands, mudflats, estuaries, extensive sandy beaches, coastal dunes and coastal barrier systems, as well as numerous near-shore reefs and islands. This book is a landmark study into the variable character of the South Australian coast and its long-term evolution (Adelaide University | Coastal Landscapes of South Australia)
Parts, chapters and sections
Chapter 1 Coastal landscapes of South Australia p. 1
1.1.1 How has the coastline of South Australia evolved over time? p. 2
1.1.2 What is the Geological Timescale and how was it developed? p. 5
1.1.3 How old is the South Australian coast? p. 8
1.1.4 What is happening to sea level around the South Australian coastline? p. 10
1.1.5 How do Quaternary molluscs (seashells) help to explain coastal evolution? p. 12
- 1.2.1 Chapter Two: The coast of metropolitan Adelaide p. 14
- 1.2.2 Chapter Three: The Fleurieu Peninsula coast p. 17
- 1.2.3 Chapter Four: The River Murray Estuary p. 18
- 1.2.4 Chapter Five: The Coorong Coastal Plain and the Limestone Coast p. 18
- 1.2.5 Chapter Six: The northern Gulf St Vincent tidal coastline (the Samphire Coast) p. 21
- 1.2.6 Chapter Seven: The Yorke Peninsula coastline p. 21
- 1.2.7 Chapter Eight: The northern Spencer Gulf coast p. 22
- 1.2.8 Chapter Nine: The Gulf Coast of Eyre Peninsula p. 23
- 1.2.10 Chapter Eleven: Kangaroo Island p. 25
- 1.3.1 Landforms and processes of eroding coasts p. 27
- 1.3.1.1 Wave action p. 28
- 1.3.1.2 Currents p. 29
- 1.3.1.3 Weathering processes p. 30
- 1.3.2 Landforms and processes of depositional coasts p. 31
- 1.3.2.1 Beaches p. 32
- 1.3.2.2 Coastal dunes p. 34
- 1.3.2.3 Aeolianite or dune limestone p. 37
- 1.3.2.4 Tidally dominated shorelines p. 38
Chapter 2 The coast of metropolitan Adelaide p. 45
Chapter 3 The Fleurieu coast p. 71
- 3.3.1 Southern Aldinga Bay p. 75
- 3.3.2 Myponga Beach p. 76
- 3.3.3 Yankalilla Bay p. 77
- 3.3.3.1 Normanville Embayment p. 78
- 3.3.3.2 Little Gorge to Rapid Bay p. 80
- 3.3.3.3 Rapid Bay p. 81
- 3.3.4 Rapid Head to Cape Jervis p. 82
- 3.4.1 Backstairs Passage p. 86
- 3.4.2 Coalinga Creek Beach and Naiko Inlet p. 86
- 3.4.3 Blowhole Beach p. 86
- 3.4.4 Blowhole Beach to Deep Creek p. 88
- 3.4.5 Deep Creek Cove Beach p. 88
- 3.4.6 Boat Harbor Beach p. 89
- 3.4.7 Tunkalilla Beach Embayment p. 89
- 3.4.8 Tunk Head to Parsons Beach p. 90
- 3.4.9 Coolawang Beach p. 90
- 3.4.10 Parsons Beach and Waitpinga Beach p. 90
- 3.4.11 Newland Head p. 91
- 3.5.1 Newland Head to King Beach p. 94
- 3.5.2 King Beach to Rosetta Head (The Bluff) p. 96
- 3.5.3 Rosetta Head (The Bluff) p. 96
- 3.5.4 The Victor Harbor Embayment p. 96
- 3.5.5.1 The Yilki Terrace p. 96
- 3.5.5.2 Newland Lowland and Yilki Shore Platform p. 97
- 3.5.5.3 Terraces of the Inman and Hindmarsh Rivers p. 98
- 3.5.5.4 Victor Harbor Lowland p. 98
- 3.5.5.5 Police Point Spit p. 98
- 3.5.5.6 River mouth changes p. 99
- 3.5.5.7 Chiton Rocks p. 99
- 3.5.5.8 Watson Gap-Boomer Beach to Knight Beach p. 100
- 3.5.5 The Granite Islands p. 101
- 3.5.6 The granite coast of Port Elliot p. 103
- 3.5.6.1 Green Bay p. 104
- 3.5.6.2 Horseshoe Bay p. 104
- 3.5.6.3 Crockery Bay p. 105
- 3.5.6.4 Fisherman Bay (Sandy Bay) and Basham Beach p. 105
Chapter 4 The River Murray Estuary p. 109
- 4.7.1 Coastal erosion p. 123
- 4.7.2 Migration of the Murray Mouth p. 126
- 4.7.3 Impacts of river and estuary regulation p. 128
- 4.7.3.1 Barrages p. 130
- 4.7.3.2 Bird Island p. 131
- 4.7.3.3 Mouth closure p. 133
- 4.7.3.4 Lakes Alexandrina and Albert p. 135
- 4.7.3.5 Lake shoreline erosion p. 136
- 4.7.3.6 Increased sedimentation in the lakes p. 138
Chapter 5 The Coorong Coastal Plain and the Limestone Coast p. 145
- 5.3.1 Younghusband Peninsula p. 149
- 5.3.2 The Coorong Lagoon and associated lakes p. 150
- 5.3.3 Woakwine Range at Salt Creek p. 154
- 5.3.4 ‘The Granites’ at Ocean Beach p. 154
- 5.3.5 Kingston SE to Cape Thomas p. 155
- 5.3.6 Guichen Bay, Rivoli Bay and the Robe-Woakwine Seaway p. 156
- 5.3.8 Woakwine Range at McCourt Cutting p. 160
- 5.3.9 Nora Creina Bay p. 163
- 5.3.10 Cape Buffon to Carpenter Rocks p. 163
- 5.3.11 Carpenter Rocks to Port MacDonnell p. 164
- 5.3.12 Flint cobble beaches at Port MacDonnell p. 166
Chapter 6 The northern Gulf St Vincent tidal coastline (the Samphire Coast) p. 177
Chapter 7 The Yorke Peninsula coastline p. 197
7.2.1 Tectonic influences on the Yorke Peninsula coast p. 200
7.3.1 The east coast p. 202
7.3.2 The south- and west-facing coast of the ‘foot’ p. 203
7.3.3 The west coast p. 204
- 7.4.1 Ardrossan area p. 205
- 7.4.2 Ardrossan to Pine Point p. 207
- 7.4.3 Black Point p. 207
- 7.4.4 Port Julia to Port Vincent p. 208
- 7.4.5 Port Vincent to Stansbury p. 209
- 7.4.6 Stansbury to Troubridge Point p. 210
7.5.1 Point Davenport p. 217
7.5.2 Foul Bay to Corny Point p. 217
7.6.1 Hardwicke Bay p. 224
7.6.1.1 Point Turton to Point Gawler p. 226
7.6.2 Port Victoria p. 229
7.6.3 Wardang Island (Wauraltee Island) p. 229
7.6.4 Point Pearce Peninsula to near Tickera p. 230
Chapter 7 The Yorke Peninsula coastline p. 197
7.2.1 Tectonic influences on the Yorke Peninsula coast p. 200
- 7.3.1 The east coast p. 202
- 7.3.2 The south- and west-facing coast of the ‘foot’ p. 203
- 7.3.3 The west coast p. 204
7.4.1 Ardrossan area p. 205
7.4.2 Ardrossan to Pine Point p. 207
7.4.3 Black Point p. 207
7.4.4 Port Julia to Port Vincent p. 208
7.4.5 Port Vincent to Stansbury p. 209
7.4.6 Stansbury to Troubridge Point p. 210
7.5.1 Point Davenport p. 217
7.5.2 Foul Bay to Corny Point p. 217
- 7.6.1 Hardwicke Bay p. 224
- 7.6.1.1 Point Turton to Point Gawler p. 226
- 7.6.2 Port Victoria p. 229
- 7.6.3 Wardang Island (Wauraltee Island) p. 229
- 7.6.4 Point Pearce Peninsula to near Tickera p. 230
Chapter 8 The northern Spencer Golf coast p. 243
Chapter 9 The Gulf Coast of Eyre Peninsula p. 273
9.2.1 Pillie Lake p. 280
- 9.10.1 Carrow Wells p. 291
- 9.13.1 Mills Beach p. 297
- 9.13.2 Point Gibbon p. 297
- 9.13.3 Port Gibbon p. 299
9.14.1 Franklin Harbor p. 300
9.14.2 Lucky Bay p. 302
9.14.3 Shoreline between Franklin Harbor and Whyalla p. 303
9.14.4 Whyalla p. 305
Chapter 10 The Bight Coast – West coast of Eyre Peninsula p. 309
- 10.14.1 Baird Bay p. 337
- 10.14.2 Calca Peninsula p. 337
- 10.14.3 Searcy Bay p. 393
- 10.14.4 Scaele Bay p. 340
- 10.14.5 Corvisart Bay p. 340
- 10.14.6 Streaky Bay p. 340
- 10.14.7 Acraman Creek p. 341
- 10.15.1 Eyre Island p. 343
- 10.15.2 Smoky Bay p. 344
- 10.15.3 Laura Bay p. 344
- 10.15.4 Decres Bay p. 344
- 10.15.5 Bosanquet Bay p. 344
- 10.15.6 Murat Bay p. 345
- 10.15.7 Tourville Bay p. 345
- 10.16 Point Peter to Rocky Point p. 345
10.18.1 Point Fowler area p. 346
10.19.1 The Nullarbor (Bunda) Cliffs p. 351
Chapter 11 Kangaroo Island p. 355
- 11.3.1 Stranded cobble shoreline, Kingscote p. 361
- 11.3.2 Western Cove to Redbank, Nepean Bay p. 362
- 11.3.3 Dudley Peninsula p. 363
- 11.3.4 The southern coastline: Point Reynolds to Cape du Couedic p. 367
- 11.3.5 Remarkable Rocks p. 372
- 11.3.6 Admiral’s Arch p. 374
- 11.3.7 The western coast — Cape du Couedic to Cape Borda p. 375
- 11.3.8 Cape Borda to Cape Dutton p. 377
- 11.3.9 King George Beach p. 378
- 11.3.10 Cape Dutton to Point Marsden p. 378
Chapter 12 Explaining the coastal landscapes of South Australia – A synthesis p. 387
- 12.2.1 The modern coastline: A general overview p. 388
- 12.2.1.1 Current sea level trends p. 388
- 12.2.2 Geology p. 389
- 12.2.2.1 Geological history p. 390
- 12.2.3 Coastal processes p. 391
- 12.2.4 Climatic influences p. 391
- 12.2.5 Wind and wave regimes p. 392
12.3.1 The last interglacial shoreline p. 393
12.3.1.1 The Gawler Craton p. 393
12.3.1.2 The last interglacial shoreline as a tectonic indicator p. 393
12.3.1.3 The last interglacial deposits as a climatic indicator p. 393
12.3.2 during the Quaternary
The Southeast Coastal Plain: A unique record of sea level movements p. 394
12.3.3 Inherited features on the South Australian coastline p. 394
12.3.4 Part of the world’s largest temperate carbonate factory p. 395
12.3.5 The estuary of Australia’s largest exoreic river system, the Murray-Darling p. 395
12.3.6 Fossil shorelines inland of the modern coast p. 396
12.3.6.1 Ooldea Range p. 396
12.3.6.2 Kanawinka Escarpment p. 397
12.3.7 Nullarbor Cliffs — Part of the largest unbroken cliff line in the world p. 397
12.3.8 Spectacular submarine canyons of South Australia p. 397
12.3.9 Two coastal enigmas p. 399
12.3.10 Human impacts on the coastline p. 400
About the authors
Professor Robert P. Bourman — BA (Hons, 1st Class), MA, Dip Ed, Dip T, PhD
Bourman biography
Bob Bourman, formerly Professor of Geomorphology at the University of South Australia, is currently a Visiting Professorial Fellow at the University of Wollongong and a Visiting Research Fellow at The University of Adelaide. His early training in geomorphology was at The University of Adelaide with Dr C.R. Twidale, with whom he completed an Honours Degree and an MA investigating the geomorphology of Fleurieu Peninsula, awakening nascent curiosities and precipitating a lifelong interest in geomorphology. His PhD examined the origins of ferricrete and weathered zones in southern and southeastern Australia. Professor Bourman has researched a diverse range of topics (Permian glaciation, ferricretes, inselbergs, neotectonics, river terraces and alluvial sequences, paleo%oods and human impacts on the landscape), publishing some 170 peer-reviewed geomorphic papers, half of which have been related to the South Australian coast. Professor Bourman is also an educator, and he has taught in Secondary Schools and Tertiary Institutions for over 40 years.
Professor Colin V. Murray-Wallace — BA (Hons), PhD, DSc, GCHEd, FGS, FRGS
Murray-Wallace biography
Colin Murray-Wallace is a Quaternary geologist and currently a Professor in the School of Earth & Environmental Sciences in the University of Wollongong. His PhD and DSc degrees are from The University of Adelaide. He has been undertaking research on aspects of the long-term geomorphological evolution of the coastline of South Australia since 1983. Colin has been particularly interested in the origin of sedimentary carbonates and the development of the vast accumulations of coastal carbonate dune deposits (aeolianite of the Bridgewater Formation) that have formed during the past 2 million years in response to repeated cycles of sea level change. His first book, Quaternary sea-level changes: A global perspective, was published by Cambridge University Press in 2014.
Emeritus Professor Nick Harvey — BA Hons (1st Class), B Ed, M Plan, PhD
Nick Harvey biography
Nick Harvey is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Adelaide and an adjunct Professor in the College of Marine and Environmental Sciences at James Cook University. He is currently the Director of the Centre for Coastal Research at The University of Adelaide and Vice-President and Life Member of the Australian Coastal Society. He was formerly Vice-Chair of the international scientific steering committee for ‘Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone’ and a member of the South Australian Government’s Coast Protection Board. Nick was also one of the Lead
Authors for the 4th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which in 2007 was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace prize. Nick has 40 years of experience in coastal research, has over 200 publications including scientific papers and has written books such as Coastal Management in Australia published by Oxford University Press (2003) and republished by the University of Adelaide Press (2010) and Global Change and Integrated Coastal Management: The Asia-Pacific Region published by Springer (2006).
( Coastal Landscapes of South Australia | pp. xi-xii)
Where to borrow
According to WorldCat, this publication is available in Australian academic libraries. Visit: WorldCat | Coastal landscapes of South Australia.
A search for the title and one or more of the authors in Libraries SA did not yield a result. Note that other publications of which Bourman is the author yields results.
Where to obtain
You can download a PDF copy from the University of Adelaide by visiting Coastal Landscapes of South Australia download site. This publication is also available for purchase on Amazon.com.au. Visit Amazon Australia | Coastal Landscapes of South Australia Paperback – 30 June 2016.
References
- Bourman, R, Murray-Wallace , C, Harvey, N 2016, Coastal landscapes of South Australia, viewed on 13 March, 2026, https://www.adelaide.edu.au/press/ua/media/522/uap-coast-sa-ebook.pdf. This 405 page PDF provides information about the coastal landscapes in South Australia
- WorldCat 2026, Coastal landscapes of South Australia, viewed on 13 March, 2026, https://search.worldcat.org/title/999329142. This WorldCat search yields the book by Robert P. Bourman, Colin V. Murray-Wallace and Nick Harvey.