| LOCATION |
| Map |
Show Map
|
| Address |
Howard Drive PENNESHAW |
| Locality |
|
| Accuracy |
L - low level confidence |
| Council Area |
Kangaroo Island Council |
| Polygon Type |
B - Building footprint |
| DESCRIPTION |
| Details (Known As) |
Christmas Cove [including cliff & seabed of cove entrance] [Designated as a place of geological significance] |
| Registered Name |
Christmas Cove |
| Significance |
Christmas Cove is a 'partially exposed glaciated rock basin' from the Palaeozoic which is not demonstrated elsewhere in the State. This unique formation makes the place highly geologically significant, demonstrating evidence of Permian glaciation in the north-eastern and western side of the Cove that can be used to better understand the glacial event and how it shaped the State. The place is also closely related to the 1800's charting of the South Australian coastline by Captain Matthew Flinders and is reputed to be the landing point of HMS Investigator on Kangaroo Island in 1802.
STATEMENT OF DESIGNATION
Designated Place of Geological Significance
Christmas Cove demonstrates clear evidence of Permian (298-251 million years ago (Ma)) glaciations that likely contributed to the formation of the basin and have scraped and gauged underlying Cambrian (538-485 Ma) bedrocks. Several examples of rocks transported from other locations, such as Cape Willoughby, and dropped by the movement of the glacier can be found scattered throughout glacial clays. Such evidence provides information about the movement, direction and duration of the glacial event and are highly important in furthering our understanding of Permian glaciations within South Australia including their movement and the climate that shaped the geology of the State.
BHI Summary of State Heritage Place APPROVED DATE: 18-JUN-2026 |
| Subject Index |
Landscape area - Geological Site; Exploration and survey - Landing Site |
| Class |
State |
|
|
| STATUS |
| Status Code |
REG - Confirmed as a State Heritage Place in the SA Heritage Register |
| Status Date |
13-JUN-1996 |
| REFERENCE |
| LGA |
Kangaroo Island |
| State Heritage ID |
14751 |
| Heritage Number |
16046 |
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|
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| SECTION 16 INFORMATION |
| Section 16 |
c - it may yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the State's history, including its natural history
g - it has a special association with the life or work of a person or organisation or an event of historical importance
|
| PLAN PARCEL & TITLE |
| As listed in the SA Heritage Register |
| Plan Parcel & Title Information |
CR 5228/52 T110201 A91,CT 5981/854 D72454 A100 |