The Fleurieu Rocks! Book Launch
Rob Kirk

District Councillor and retired geologist Karin Hatch launched the book. 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. Karin and Rob enthusiastically compared geological formations. Karin recommended the new addition to the SA Museum where rocks are displayed according to colours and also, the Tate Museum at the University’s Geology Department, which is open to the public.

Rob said ‘our journey in the galaxy is affecting our geology’. He explained the importance of cosmology to understanding geological ages. Some of the oldest rocks are at Lady Bay and Inman Valley. Lady Bay has folded right over as a result of tectonics and erosion. Inman Valley reveals the effects of glaciers as it is part of the ‘glacial fairway’ from Victor Harbor to Normanville. His book provides 14 field trips starting with Hallet Cove (which ‘has everything’ and is Rob’s favourite site) to Lady Bay (also ‘special’) to Victor Harbor. Another interesting trip is the Talisker Fault—the site of early mining and Rob said that after touching rocks there, wash your hands as they would be contaminated by arsenic!

The area is so fascinating Flinders University Paleontology Society want to do a dig to find megafauna evidence. Pat James of the Field Geology Club recommended Rob’s book as a successor to Walter Howchin’s geology ‘bible’ and was delighted to have both books as sources for field trips.

The book is available at the Fleurieu Coast Visitor Centre and from https://freestylepublications.com.au/shop/