Malcolm Wallace has found there are numerous
young fault-lines weaving their way across
Australia.
Image: iStockphoto

The recipient of the prestigious Geological Society of Australia (Victoria Division) Selwyn Medal for 2008 says that, despite popular belief, Australia is a geologically active continent with moving fault-lines, regular seismic activity, and a long history of mountain making.
 
Internationally respected geologist, Associate Professor Malcolm Wallace from the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Melbourne, received the Medal on 25 September at the Geological Society of Australia’s (Victoria Division) annual Selwyn Lecture 2008.

The Medal is named in honour of Sir Alfred Selwyn, an eminent Victorian pioneering geologist and founder of the Geological Survey of Victoria. It recognises significant ongoing or former contributions of high calibre to any field of Victorian geology.

“Australia is considered by many to be one of the flattest and most geologically stable continents in the world” Associate Professor Wallace said. “But we have discovered substantial evidence of ancient and current mountain building on this continent, and seismic activity which commenced 10 million years ago and continues to this day.

“In fact, there are numerous young fault-lines weaving their way across southern Australia, including one that goes right around the perimeter of Adelaide. There are also young fault-lines running through the Mornington Peninsula outside Melbourne, the Strzelecki Ranges in Victoria and the Flinders Ranges in South Australia.

“While they may not translate into major earthquakes tomorrow, their seismic activity is generated by tectonic plates pushing up against each other on a daily basis, so it is critically important that scientists and emergency management agencies know of their whereabouts and the potential risks they pose – this is where geoscientists play a crucial role.”

Immediate-past Chairman of the Geological Society of Australia (Victoria Division), Associate Professor Stephen Gallagher, said Associate Professor Wallace is respected internationally for his exceptional geoscientific research.