Geography of Victoria

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Geography of Victoria
Land borders: New South Wales, South Australia. Maritime Borders: Tasmania
Highest pointMount Bogong
1,986 m (6,516 ft)
Lowest pointBass Strait
sea level
Longest riverGoulburn River
654 km (406 mi)
Largest lakeGippsland Lakes
600 km² (373 sq mi)

prominence
.

Approximately 80% of Victoria's population lives around the coasts of the

Western Port Bay in the south-central region, chiefly in the state's two largest cities, Melbourne (state capital) and Geelong
.

Climate

Köppen climate types in Victoria
Average monthly maximum
temperatures in Victoria
Month Melbourne
°C (°F) 		Mildura
°C (°F)
January 25.8 (78) 32.8 (91)
February 25.8 (78) 32.7 (91)
March 23.8 (75) 29.3 (85)
April 20.2 (68) 24.1 (75)
May 16.6 (62) 19.6 (67)
June 14.0 (57) 16.0 (61)
July 13.4 (56) 15.4 (60)
August 14.9 (59) 17.7 (64)
September 17.2 (63) 21.1 (70)
October 19.6 (67) 25.0 (77)
November 21.8 (71) 29.0 (84)
December 24.1 (75) 31.7 (89)
Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Victoria has a varied climate despite its small size. It ranges from semi-arid temperate with hot summers in the north-west, to temperate and cool along the coast. Victoria's main land feature, the Great Dividing Range, produces a cooler, mountain climate in the centre of the state. Winters along the coast of the state, particularly around Melbourne, are relatively mild (see chart at right).

The coastal plain south of the Great Dividing Range has Victoria's mildest climate. Air from the Southern Ocean helps reduce the heat of summer and the cold of winter. Melbourne and other large cities are located in this temperate region.

Wimmera are Victoria's warmest regions with hot winds blowing from nearby semi-deserts. Average temperatures exceed 32 °C (90 °F) during summer and 15 °C (59 °F) in winter. Except at cool mountain elevations, the inland monthly temperatures are 2–7 °C (4–13 °F) warmer than around Melbourne (see chart). Victoria's highest maximum temperature of 48.8 °C (119.8 °F) was recorded in Hopetoun on 7 February 2009, during the 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave.[3]

The Victorian Alps in the northeast are the coldest part of Victoria. The Alps are part of the Great Dividing Range mountain system extending east–west through the centre of Victoria. Average temperatures are less than 9 °C (48 °F) in winter and below 0 °C (32 °F) in the highest parts of the ranges. The state's lowest minimum temperature of −11.7 °C (10.9 °F) was recorded at

Falls Creek on 3 July 1970.[3]

Rainfall

Rainfall in Victoria increases from south to the northeast, with higher averages in areas of high altitude. Mean annual rainfall exceeds 1,800 millimetres (71 inches) in some parts of the northeast but is less than 280 mm (11 in) in the Mallee.

Rain is heaviest in the

Western District, making them both leading farming areas. Victoria's highest recorded daily rainfall was 377.8 mm (14.87 in) at Tidal River in Wilsons Promontory National Park on 23 March 2011.[3]

  • Average temperatures and precipitation for Victoria
  • Average January maximum temperatures: Victoria's north is almost always hotter than coastal and mountainous areas.
    Average January maximum temperatures:
    Victoria's north is almost always hotter than coastal and mountainous areas.
  • Average July maximum temperatures: Victoria's hills and ranges are coolest during winter. Snow also falls there.
    Average July maximum temperatures:
    Victoria's hills and ranges are coolest during winter. Snow also falls there.
  • Average yearly precipitation: Victoria's rainfall is concentrated in the mountainous north-east and coast.
    Average yearly precipitation:
    Victoria's rainfall is concentrated in the mountainous north-east and coast.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology, Department of Primary Industries, Australian Natural Resources Atlas

Weatherboxes

Climate data for Victoria (Extremes)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 47.2
(117.0) 		48.8
(119.8) 		44.4
(111.9) 		39.3
(102.7) 		32.2
(90.0) 		25.7
(78.3) 		27.1
(80.8) 		29.9
(85.8) 		37.7
(99.9) 		40.2
(104.4) 		45.8
(114.4) 		46.6
(115.9) 		48.8
(119.8)
Record low °C (°F) −3.9
(25.0) 		−3.9
(25.0) 		−4.3
(24.3) 		−8.2
(17.2) 		−8.3
(17.1) 		−11.7
(10.9) 		−11.7
(10.9) 		−10.5
(13.1) 		−9.4
(15.1) 		−8.4
(16.9) 		−6.8
(19.8) 		−5.2
(22.6) 		−11.7
(10.9)
Source: Bureau of Meteorology[4]
Climate data for Melbourne (Köppen Cfb)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 46.0
(114.8) 		46.8
(116.2) 		40.8
(105.4) 		34.5
(94.1) 		27.0
(80.6) 		21.8
(71.2) 		21.3
(70.3) 		24.6
(76.3) 		30.2
(86.4) 		36.0
(96.8) 		41.6
(106.9) 		44.6
(112.3) 		46.8
(116.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27.0
(80.6) 		26.7
(80.1) 		24.4
(75.9) 		20.6
(69.1) 		16.7
(62.1) 		14.0
(57.2) 		13.4
(56.1) 		14.7
(58.5) 		17.1
(62.8) 		20.0
(68.0) 		22.6
(72.7) 		24.8
(76.6) 		20.2
(68.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 20.6
(69.1) 		20.6
(69.1) 		18.6
(65.5) 		15.4
(59.7) 		12.5
(54.5) 		10.2
(50.4) 		9.6
(49.3) 		10.4
(50.7) 		12.1
(53.8) 		14.3
(57.7) 		16.6
(61.9) 		18.5
(65.3) 		14.9
(58.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 14.2
(57.6) 		14.4
(57.9) 		12.8
(55.0) 		10.1
(50.2) 		8.3
(46.9) 		6.4
(43.5) 		5.8
(42.4) 		6.0
(42.8) 		7.2
(45.0) 		8.7
(47.7) 		10.6
(51.1) 		12.3
(54.1) 		9.7
(49.5)
Record low °C (°F) 6.0
(42.8) 		4.8
(40.6) 		3.7
(38.7) 		1.2
(34.2) 		0.6
(33.1) 		−0.9
(30.4) 		−2.5
(27.5) 		−2.5
(27.5) 		−1.1
(30.0) 		1.0
(33.8) 		0.9
(33.6) 		3.5
(38.3) 		−2.5
(27.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 39.3
(1.55) 		41.4
(1.63) 		37.5
(1.48) 		42.1
(1.66) 		34.3
(1.35) 		41.5
(1.63) 		32.8
(1.29) 		39.3
(1.55) 		46.1
(1.81) 		48.5
(1.91) 		60.1
(2.37) 		52.5
(2.07) 		515.5
(20.30)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 8.3 7.5 8.4 9.9 12.0 13.0 14.0 14.8 13.9 12.5 10.8 9.9 135.0
Average afternoon
relative humidity
(%) 		44 45 46 50 59 65 63 57 53 49 47 45 52
Mean monthly sunshine hours 272.8 231.7 226.3 183.0 142.6 120.0 136.4 167.4 186.0 226.3 225.0 263.5 2,381
Percent possible sunshine 61 61 59 56 46 43 45 51 52 56 53 58 53
Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology[5]
Climate data for Geelong (Köppen Cfb)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 46.3
(115.3) 		47.9
(118.2) 		42.0
(107.6) 		36.1
(97.0) 		28.0
(82.4) 		23.6
(74.5) 		22.5
(72.5) 		25.9
(78.6) 		31.3
(88.3) 		37.8
(100.0) 		41.8
(107.2) 		45.8
(114.4) 		47.9
(118.2)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 26.6
(79.9) 		26.2
(79.2) 		24.4
(75.9) 		20.5
(68.9) 		17.3
(63.1) 		14.7
(58.5) 		14.2
(57.6) 		15.4
(59.7) 		17.8
(64.0) 		20.3
(68.5) 		22.6
(72.7) 		24.5
(76.1) 		20.4
(68.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 14.2
(57.6) 		14.5
(58.1) 		12.6
(54.7) 		9.7
(49.5) 		7.7
(45.9) 		5.7
(42.3) 		5.2
(41.4) 		5.5
(41.9) 		6.7
(44.1) 		8.1
(46.6) 		10.6
(51.1) 		11.9
(53.4) 		9.4
(48.9)
Record low °C (°F) 4.5
(40.1) 		6.8
(44.2) 		2.9
(37.2) 		0.6
(33.1) 		−1.3
(29.7) 		−2.9
(26.8) 		−4.0
(24.8) 		−4.4
(24.1) 		−1.7
(28.9) 		0.1
(32.2) 		2.6
(36.7) 		4.8
(40.6) 		−4.4
(24.1)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 31.1
(1.22) 		35.0
(1.38) 		24.8
(0.98) 		39.8
(1.57) 		32.4
(1.28) 		40.5
(1.59) 		36.1
(1.42) 		38.3
(1.51) 		40.2
(1.58) 		40.9
(1.61) 		50.7
(2.00) 		28.5
(1.12) 		439.2
(17.29)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 6.0 5.7 6.7 9.7 11.9 13.8 15.4 15.2 13.6 12.0 9.9 8.5 128.4
Average afternoon
relative humidity
(%) 		50 49 49 56 64 68 66 62 58 53 54 53 57
Source 1: Bureau of Meteorology, Avalon Airport (1991–2020)[6]
Source 2: Bureau of Meteorology, Avalon Airport (all years)[7]
Climate data for Mildura (Köppen BSk)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 46.9
(116.4) 		46.7
(116.1) 		42.1
(107.8) 		37.8
(100.0) 		29.6
(85.3) 		25.4
(77.7) 		26.8
(80.2) 		29.9
(85.8) 		37.4
(99.3) 		40.2
(104.4) 		45.5
(113.9) 		46.8
(116.2) 		46.9
(116.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 32.3
(90.1) 		31.7
(89.1) 		28.4
(83.1) 		23.6
(74.5) 		19.1
(66.4) 		16.0
(60.8) 		15.4
(59.7) 		17.3
(63.1) 		20.5
(68.9) 		24.1
(75.4) 		27.6
(81.7) 		30.3
(86.5) 		23.9
(74.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 16.7
(62.1) 		16.5
(61.7) 		13.9
(57.0) 		10.1
(50.2) 		7.5
(45.5) 		5.2
(41.4) 		4.3
(39.7) 		5.3
(41.5) 		7.4
(45.3) 		9.8
(49.6) 		12.6
(54.7) 		14.9
(58.8) 		10.4
(50.6)
Record low °C (°F) 7.6
(45.7) 		5.2
(41.4) 		3.8
(38.8) 		0.6
(33.1) 		−2.1
(28.2) 		−3.7
(25.3) 		−4.0
(24.8) 		−3.1
(26.4) 		−1.1
(30.0) 		1.1
(34.0) 		3.3
(37.9) 		5.3
(41.5) 		−4.0
(24.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 22.6
(0.89) 		22.4
(0.88) 		20.0
(0.79) 		19.3
(0.76) 		25.2
(0.99) 		22.4
(0.88) 		25.5
(1.00) 		25.5
(1.00) 		27.5
(1.08) 		28.9
(1.14) 		25.7
(1.01) 		25.3
(1.00) 		289.6
(11.40)
Average rainy days 3.6 3.0 3.5 4.3 6.7 7.9 9.3 9.0 7.3 6.7 5.6 4.4 71.3
Average afternoon
relative humidity
(%) 		27 30 33 40 50 56 54 47 40 34 30 27 39
Mean monthly sunshine hours 341.0 288.4 297.6 255.0 204.6 168.0 182.9 222.0 254.2 291.4 297.0 331.7 3,133.8
Source: [8]
Climate data for Falls Creek (Köppen Dfc/Dfb)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 29.7
(85.5) 		28.6
(83.5) 		25.3
(77.5) 		19.1
(66.4) 		16.1
(61.0) 		13.2
(55.8) 		9.8
(49.6) 		11.9
(53.4) 		14.5
(58.1) 		21.7
(71.1) 		25.3
(77.5) 		26.6
(79.9) 		29.7
(85.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 17.9
(64.2) 		17.2
(63.0) 		14.3
(57.7) 		9.9
(49.8) 		6.0
(42.8) 		2.9
(37.2) 		1.1
(34.0) 		1.9
(35.4) 		4.9
(40.8) 		9.6
(49.3) 		12.5
(54.5) 		15.4
(59.7) 		9.5
(49.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 8.9
(48.0) 		8.6
(47.5) 		6.3
(43.3) 		3.2
(37.8) 		0.6
(33.1) 		−1.6
(29.1) 		−2.9
(26.8) 		−2.7
(27.1) 		−0.9
(30.4) 		1.6
(34.9) 		4.3
(39.7) 		6.6
(43.9) 		2.7
(36.8)
Record low °C (°F) −3.9
(25.0) 		−6.5
(20.3) 		−3.6
(25.5) 		−6.9
(19.6) 		−7.7
(18.1) 		−8.6
(16.5) 		−8.5
(16.7) 		−9.6
(14.7) 		−8.6
(16.5) 		−7.0
(19.4) 		−6.0
(21.2) 		−4.5
(23.9) 		−9.6
(14.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 110.9
(4.37) 		92.7
(3.65) 		97.4
(3.83) 		87.2
(3.43) 		98.0
(3.86) 		138.3
(5.44) 		93.1
(3.67) 		97.6
(3.84) 		117.9
(4.64) 		116.5
(4.59) 		121.7
(4.79) 		107.3
(4.22) 		1,278.6
(50.33)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 10.3 9.9 9.9 9.4 10.3 13.1 14.3 14.0 13.4 11.8 11.7 10.0 138.1
Source: Bureau of Meteorology[9]

Regional divisions

The geography of Victoria has several different divisions depending on the aspect of the geography in question. Geomorphological divisions are listed in the following sections. From a human geographical perspective, the state is divided up into the following regions:

Central

East and South-East

North-East

North-West

West

South-West

Eastern Uplands (Victorian Alps)

Topography and hydrology

Centred on the

Murray-Darling Basin
from those flowing southwards directly to the sea. It is the largest and most diverse geomorphic region in the State.

The main streams draining northwards are the

Port Phillip Bay, drains the southwest area of the Uplands. The south-west of the state is dominated by the Hopkins and Glenelg rivers. The longest river in Victoria is the Goulburn, which rises below the peak of Corn Hill (1,331 m) and flows into the Murray river near Echuca
. It is over 650 kilometers long.

Major peaks on the

Mount Buller (1,804 m) to the north west of Mount Howitt. Mount Wellington (1,632 m) lies at the southern end of the Snowy Range. The highest point south of the main divide is Mount Reynard
which lies at an elevation of 1,737 meters.

Dendritic patterns of narrow ridges and valleys are typical of the region and characterise much of the deeply dissected landscape on either side of the Great Divide. Occasional isolated summits such as Mount Buller and Feathertop stand above the remnant plateaus or broad ridges.

Extensive landscapes of low relief occur at higher altitudes in the form of plateaus such as the Bogong High Plains, the plateaus of Mount Buffalo (about 1,400 m) and the Baw Baw Plateau, which are collectively commonly referred to as “high plains”. Extensive plateaus at successively lower elevations also frequent the further they are from the main divide. These include the Pinnibar plateau in the north-east, Nunniong plains to the south (about 1,200 m), and the Koetong - Shelly, Wabonga and Strathbogie plateaus further north (about 600–1,100 m).

The northerly draining valleys widen and the stream gradients gradually decrease as they near the Riverine Plain to the north and west of the region. The lower reaches of these streams have flood plains of fine sediments flanked by several sets of terraces. Alluvial or colluvial formations emerge from minor valleys of small ephemeral streams that drain the interfluves of major valleys. The ridges, as they approach the lowland plains, give way to low hills which mark the later stages of erosion of the upland ridges.

The floodplain and terraces of the Murray River at Wodonga indicate the eastern edge of the Northern Riverine Plain and the northern edge of the Eastern Uplands, at which point the floodplain is only about 150 m above sea level, consequently causing the flow of the major river systems in the region to have carved deep, narrow valleys in their upper reaches over time where the gradients are much steeper than along the floodplains.

South of the Great Divide the river systems increase in gradient and valley depth, and as they approach the Eastern Plain, having narrower alluviated valleys than those in the north. Large lowland areas enclosed by steep ridges such as the Murmungee basin south of

Orbost to the eastern suburbs of Melbourne
. The Eastern Uplands extend to the coast from Cape Conran to Rams Head, where the Nillumbik Terrain is absent, and is fringed with coastal sand dunes in parts.

Botany

Tall, thick forests of

Alpine Ash occur on the upper mountain slopes, while the world's tallest hardwood tree, Mountain Ash, is found at slightly lower altitudes in the west of the region, with a typical variety of mixed-species eucalypts in conjunction with Ti-Tree
shrubs composing the remainder of the forested portion of the Eastern Uplands.

The high plains are dominated by

heath communities which are widespread in areas where cold air drainage limits woody plant growth, with sphagnum bogs and fens in permanently wet areas. Snow Gum woodlands occupy the rocky knolls and ridges above approximately 1400–1500 m.[10]

Western Uplands (Grampians)

[11]

Dissected uplands

Strike ridges & valleys (Grampians range)

Low elevation plateau (Tablelands)

Southern Uplands (Strzelecki & Otways)

[12]

250-600m (Otway, Strzelecki & Hoddle Ranges)

100-250m

Below 100m

Northern riverine plains (Murray Valley & Riverina)

The town of Mildura is situated on the Murray River

[13]

Modern floodplains

Older alluvial plains

Alluvial fans & aprons

Hills & low hills

North-Western Dunefields & Plains (
The Mallee
)

[14]

Calcareous dunefields

Siliceous dunefields (Sunset, Big & Little Deserts)

Depressions

Clay plains with subdued ridges

Ridges with sand & flats

Hills & low hills

Western Plains (Glenelg-Hopkins)

[15]

Volcanic plains

Sedimentary plains

Hills & low hills

Eastern Plains (
Gippsland
)

[16]

Central sunklands

South-eastern riverine plains

High level terraces & fans

Coastal

Active cliffs (Port Campbell)

Steep slopes with basal cliffs (Cape Otway)

Victoria, Australia
. Taken as a 6 segment panorama showing the surrounding coastline.

Stranded cliffs (Gippsland Lakes)

Coastal barriers (
Ninety Mile Beach
)

Transgressive dunes

Low coasts (wetlands & tidal reaches)

Central bays (Port Phillip & Western Port)

Engineered coast (Port Melbourne)

See also

References

  1. ^ Jacaranda Atlas 6th Edition. Pages 80-87
  2. ^ https://www.ga.gov.au/scientific-topics/national-location-information/dimensions/area-of-australia-states-and-territories
  3. ^
    Bureau of Meteorology. Archived
    (PDF) from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  4. ^ "Official records for Australia in January". Daily Extremes. Bureau of Meteorology. 31 July 2013. Archived from the original on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  5. ^ "Melbourne Airport". BOM. Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Geelong (Avalon Airport) 1991–2020 averages". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Geelong (Avalon Airport) all years". Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  8. Bureau of Meteorology
    . Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  9. ^ "Climate Statistics for Falls Creek". Climate statistics for Australian locations. Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  10. ^ DPI, Eastern Uplands
  11. ^ DPI, Western Uplands
  12. ^ DPI, Southern Uplands
  13. ^ DPI, Northern Riverine Plains
  14. ^ DPI, Dunefields & Plains
  15. ^ DPI, Western Plains
  16. ^ DPI, Eastern Plains

External links

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