Creation of the Southeastern Australian landscape

What is it about?

The high plains of the Australian South-eastern Highlands either represent an ancient landsurface that dates back around 200 million years, or formed more recently due to extensive erosion following uplift around 100 million years ago. Geomorphological and clay isotope evidence support the first hypothesis rather than the second, which is based on fission track data. The two hypotheses can be reconciled if the ancient landsurface was buried by kilometres of sediment which has since been removed, but there is no evidence that this was the case. As a result, I favour the first hypothesis.

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Why is it important?

A better understanding of the landscape evolution of South-eastern Australia is relevant to similar landscapes elsewhere in the world.