Wilkies Shellbed

Oysters galore: out crops above the road here reveal what is known as the Wilkes Shellbed a reef built up of layers of oyster fossils. Up to 15 metres thick, it can be traced for over 50 kilometres. The giant oyster shells it contains (6 cms diameter) date from a much warmer period about 2.5 million years ago when this area was under water. Fossils of 130 other creatures which found a home in this bed have also been found.