Book

Kirk, R, 2025, The Fleurieu Rocks! From the Big Bang to the Fleurieu Peninsula…a geological tour, Freestyle Publications, Yankalilla

Description

This book looks at three different perspectives of the Fleurieu Peninsula – 20,000 years ago, the present, and time-travelling back billions of years. It will discuss the formation of the Earth – there are some very old rocks on the Fleurieu Peninsula. The old sediments were deposited in subsiding basins, on what was then the east coast of Australia, before being hit by a massive tectonic plate which folded and heated up the Fleurieu Peninsula’s rocks. Following this, a lot of rocks are missing (due to the area being land) before the Permian glaciation, where the Fleurieu Peninsula was covered by gigantic glaciers. Finally, after more missing rocks, young rocks were deposited in warm seas with many fossils. (Read more from Freestyle Publications | The Fleurieu Rocks!)

Parts, chapters and sections

Foreword p. v
Acknowledgements p. viii
Introduction p. 1

PART 1

1. In the beginning – how the Universe formed p. 9
2. The earliest Earth – how the Earth formed p. 19
3. Moving around – plate tectonics p. 40
4. The old rocks – Archaean, Adelaidean, and Cambrian p. 51
5. The big chill – Permian glaciation p. 88
6. The young rocks – Paleogene and Quaternary p. 76

Appendix: The basics – understanding the fundamentals of geology p. 112

PART 2-GEOLOGICAL FIELD TRIPS

1. Introduction to field trips p. 123
2. Hallett Cove: Brachina Formation p. 128
3. Hallett Cove: Geological Reserve p. 139
4. Maslin-Port Willunga (Chapel Hill Road) p. 148
5. Sellicks Beach p. 165
6. Myponga Beach p. 169
7. Carrickalinga Beach p. 176
8. The Links, Normanville p. 181
9. The Great Gorge, Lady Bay p. 192
10. Lady Bay Beach and Wirrina p. 202
11. Second Valley p. 212
12. Morgans Beach, Cape Jervis Lighthouse p. 219
13. Fishery Beach (Cape Jervis), Talisker Mine p. 226
14. Inman Valley p. 237
15. Rosetta Head, Victor Harbor p. 242

References p. 252
Glossary p. 254

About the Author

Rob first became interested in ‘rocks’ as an 8 year old, when he was known to pester geologists at the SA Museum. He holds a Bachelor Sciences (Honours), Adelaide University, and a Master of Science (Geology/Geophysics), University of WA and has worked all over the world. (Yankalilla and District Historical Society Inc. | The Fleurieu Rocks! Book Launch – Rob Kirk)

Where to find

Borrow

The South Australian public library network holds multiple copies. Although not within Alexandrina libraries, it is available as an inter-library loan: See Source at Libraries SA.

buy

The Fleurieu Rocks! is available through the publishing house: Freestyle Publications and other outlets such as the Fleurieu Sustainability Centre.

References

• Freestyle Publications 2025, The Fleurieu Rocks!, viewed on 24 June, 2026, <https://freestylepublications.com.au/shop/the-fleurieu-rocks/>. This page gives access to a shopping cart for purchasing The Fleurieu Rocks! by Rob Kirk.
• Libraries SA 2026, The Fleurieu Rocks!, viewed on 24 June, 2026, <https://libraries.sa.gov.au/client/en_AU/sapubliclibraries/search/results?qu=The+Fleurieu+Rocks%21&te=>. This Libraries SA search yields a link to details about the book and how to put a hold for borrowing.
• Yankalilla and District Historical Society Inc. 2025, The Fleurieu Rocks! Book Launch – Rob Kirk, viewed on 24 June, 2026, <https://www.yankalilladistricthistory.org.au/events/rob-kirk-the-fleurieu-rocks%21-book-launch->. This page provides information about Rob Kirk, geologist as well as information about the content of the book.

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