Traveller safety information

Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary covers about 17 hectares and is located at the mouth of the Barwon River at Barwon Heads, about 20 km to the west of the entrance to Port Phillip Bay.

The intertidal and shallow subtidal sandstone and basalt reefs of the marine sanctuary provide habitat for a diverse range of marine flora and fauna. The water of the reefs supports extensive kelp forests including thick patches of both Giant and Bull Kelp. The wrecks of two ships are located on the outer edges of the reef.

The marine sanctuary is a popular area for activities including swimming, rock pool rambling and snorkelling. The stands of Giant Kelp at Barwon Bluff provide an inviting swim for snorkellers, and the rock platforms are home to an abundance of life in easily accessed rockpools.

Barwon Bluff was a particularly significant place for local Wauthaurong people that made their home from Ballarat to the coast. With combinations of sea, rock platforms, rivers and extensive wetlands, the area was an important summer camping ground for many thousands of years. Numerous artefacts from this rich history are found locally in the form of shell middens, campsites, and tools. There are many protected midden sites, all of which are located directly on the Bluff and also to the west along 13th Beach. Bluff Marine Sanctuary includes the wrecks of two ships, situated on the outer part of the reef.

In Early European history Barwon Bluff was an important landmark for ships entering the Port Phillip Heads. There were a number of wrecks in the area resulting from the mistaking of the Bluff for the entrance to Port Philip Bay, particularly during the wars as many coastal identifying features were obscured to protect the coast from enemy spies. One the most famous of these wrecks was the steamer Orungal, the boiler of which can be seen sticking out of the water to the north of the Marine Sanctuary. An immigrant ship, the Earl of Charlemont, was also wrecked here in 1853 during the gold rush period.

The Barwon River was the basis of a small commercial fishing fleet and a number of historic buildings in the river relate to this period of Barwon Heads history. Its development as a major port was limited by the treacherous sandbars across the entrance and the strong tidal flow.

Aboriginal Traditional Owners

Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, Aboriginal people maintain their connection to their ancestral lands and waters.
Further information is available from Aboriginal Affairs Victoria AAV and Native Title Services Victoria

Due to the wide diversity of habitats within a small area Barwon Bluff Marine Sanctuary has enormous importance for students and teachers wanting to learn about Victoria's marine and coastal environments and the animals and plants they support.

The far eastern edge of the Marine Sanctuary falls under the influence of the Barwon River, which brings sediment down river. Some animals, like the unusual Hairy Stone Crab (Lomis hirta), are quite limited to this area as their habitats are heavily influenced by the river.
The rocks are often covered in brown algae ranging in size from Bull Kelp (Durvillea potatorum) to the smaller Neptunes Necklace (Hormosira banksii) in the intertidal area.
Many of the boulders in this area cover an astounding diversity of marine invertebrates including molluscs like Elephant Snails (Scutus antipodes) and many species of Chiton, crabs and other crustaceans, worms, sea squirts, flatworms, and sponges. The tip of the eastern reef has numerous filter-feeding animals such as tubeworms (Galeolaria caespitosa) and feather stars that enjoy the fast currents. Small colourful sea slugs are hidden along the reef sides.

Between the Basalt and Sandstone reefs there is a small sandy beach littered with the remains of animals and plants that live in the deeper water that have washed up onto the shoreline. The beach also provides a convenient viewing point for a forest of Giant Kelp (Macrocystis angustifolia) which grows attached to the submerged sections of the reef.

Further west, the sandstone reef is covered in Neptunes Necklace and supports an extensive range of intertidal molluscs, numerous seastars in the pools, and anemones and crustaceans like barnacles on the higher points. This area is used for schools conducting surveys and is well described at www.rockyshores.auz.info.

Offshore rocks provide vantage points to view large stingrays as well as small sharks such as Varied Catsharks (Parascyllium variolatum) and Port Jackson Sharks (Heterodontus portusjacksoni). Under ledges Southern Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii) can be found and also the highly sought after Black Lipped Abalone (Haliotus rubra). The Marine Sanctuary provides protection for these animals giving them greater opportunity to breed and replace those that are taken form other areas, assisting in the sustainability of these fisheries.

Maori Octopus (Octopus maorum)

At night the Maori Octopus, Australia's largest octopus, prowls for large crabs in the rock pools. They are completely harmless and are fascinating to watch. With an arm span of three metres and their deep red colouration, they are one of the most beautiful octopus species in Australia. Divers will sometimes come across their home dens beneath boulders, the entrance littered with discarded shells of former meals. Maori Octopus can manipulate their soft skin to resemble large spikes in an attempt to bluff predators. As suggested by their name, the species is also found in New Zealand waters.

Geological, Hydrological and Landform Features

The Barwon Heads Bluff (Mt. Colite) was formed from dune materials deposited by winds during periods when sea levels were lower than at present. It contains numerous shell fragments that over time have dissolved and cemented together the sand and produced a type of rock called calcarenite, or dune limestone. Beneath the Bluff there are two separate reefs which are of geological and geomorphological significance at the regional and local level.

The composition of the reefs reflects the complex geological history of the site. The eastern half of the reef is basalt formed from a lava flow from nearby Mt. Duneed, while the west reef is old sandstone formed under ancient seas.

The differences in rock type have led to a wide rage of habitats available for animals and plants to utilise. This is particularly important in the basalt reef as the rock has broken down to form a boulder field with enormous numbers of crevices, cracks, rockpools, and covered areas, all providing habitat for animals and plants that seek out different forms of shelter from sun and waves.

Beyond the low tide, the reef is dissected by deep gutters close to shore, with numerous holes and undercuts. Further out, the reef consists of low profile rock with some rock rubble. These underwater formations create a large range of habitats in a relatively small area.

For the protection of the marine environment, a number of activities are prohibited within the boundaries of Victoria's marine national parks and marine sanctuaries. No fishing, netting, spearing, taking or killing of marine life. All methods of fishing, from the shore or the sea, are prohibited. You can help to protect the marine environment by:

• enjoying the marine environment without touching, disturbing or removing the plants and animals
• minimising your impact when diving and snorkelling by:
  • being careful with your fins
  • practicing buoyancy control
  • securing all gauges and pressure hoses
• taking all your rubbish with you
• not chasing or grabbing free-swimming animals
• keeping your distance from large marine animals (including birds), or blocking their path
• taking care where you anchor your boat (anchor in sand, rubble or mud, avoiding reefs and other sensitive areas, and use mooring buoys where provided)
• ensuring that your vessel has an approved sewage holding facility and that sewage is disposed of appropriately on the mainland
• learning more about the wonderful marine environment
• getting involved in your local Friends group or establishing a new Friend?s group
• minimising the rubbish you produce at home and not putting oils or chemicals down the sink or drain.

Remember, all objects (artefacts), animals, plants, and the seabed are totally protected in the Marine Sanctuary.

For your own safety, only undertake activities appropriate to your skills and abilities. Take all necessary precautions, be aware of changing conditions, and watch for potential hazards, such as rips. A number of marine animals are potentially harmful if not treated with respect and care, so ensure that you familiarise yourself with these species. Sunburn and hypothermia are also potentially harmful but easily avoided.

The shore platforms and shallow reefs of Barwon Bluff have been used extensively in the past for marine education and interpretation by schools, universities and the nearby Marine Discovery Centre at Queenscliff.

Marine National Park and Marine Sanctuaries Resource Kit – This education resources kit contains a comprehensive collection of many materials produced by Parks Victoria in relation to the Marine National Park system including lesson ideas for teachers and links to other resources.

• Brisbane Ranges National Park
• Great Otway National Park
• Steiglitz Historic Park