Story perspectives

Twelve Apostles Dated 14-8 Myr, Climate Archive Threatened

4/25/2026

Summary

Melbourne Researchers Date

University of Melbourne researchers dated the Twelve Apostles to 8.6–14 million years, linked uplift to tectonics, and noted a yellow limestone layer forming 11.6–8.6 million years ago that marked the stacks’ final rise.
Associate Professor Stephen Gallagher’s micro-fossil analysis dates the Gellibrand Marl to 16–14.1 million years and the grey limestone to 14–11.6 million years.
Physical geographer Matej Lipar warned the stacks are fragile climate archives that must be studied before collapse.

Summary

Scientists Warn Erosion

The Twelve Apostles draw roughly 2.8 million tourists each year.
Visitor spending fuels businesses in nearby towns such as Port Campbell and Warrnambool, linking the landmark to regional economic health.
Scientists warn that ongoing erosion of the sea stacks could diminish their visual appeal and threaten future tourism income.
Researchers Dr Matthew McCurry and Dr Erich Fitzgerald highlighted that foraminifera dating refines geological timelines and shows the stacks formed during the Middle Miocene Climatic Transition.

Summary

Researchers Date

Researchers dated the Twelve Apostles using Dr. Clifford Mallet’s 1960s micro-fossil collections.
The historic samples let the team avoid the hazardous cliff climbs Mallet called a “complete disaster.”
Associate Professor Stephen Gallagher said modern fieldwork follows strict safety protocols, unlike earlier expeditions.
The stacked climate records will serve as a window to model future sea-level rise and temperature trends, underscoring the importance of preserving geological archives.

Summary

Gallagher studies stacks

Professor Stephen Gallagher said his next priority is to study the middle stratigraphic layer of the Twelve Apostles stacks to improve knowledge of past climate and tectonics.
The Twelve Apostles lie along the Great Ocean Road between Port Campbell and Princetown on Victoria’s south-west coast.
They are about two hours from Geelong’s CBD and nearly three hours from Melbourne’s CBD, a convenient day-trip for city residents.

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Melbourne Researchers Date

University of Melbourne researchers dated the Twelve Apostles to 8.6–14 million years, linked uplift to tectonics, and noted a yellow limestone layer forming 11.6–8.6 million years ago that marked the stacks’ final rise.
Associate Professor Stephen Gallagher’s micro-fossil analysis dates the Gellibrand Marl to 16–14.1 million years and the grey limestone to 14–11.6 million years.
Physical geographer Matej Lipar warned the stacks are fragile climate archives that must be studied before collapse.

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