OFR 151.pdf - CRC LEME

and Taxodiaceae (Hill et al. 1993, Hill 1995). McGowran (1989) has provided a valuable
review of Eocene eustatic change southern Australia.
3.1.1 North-West Australia
Leaf and fruit impressions are preserved in the Tertiary Van Dieman Sandstone, Melville
Island, Northern Territory (Pole and Bowman 1996). These are unlikely to be older than
Eocene although the minimum age is unclear. The impressions are thought to include fossil
species of Cupressaceae, Proteaceae (Grevillea and a genus, Dilobia, which is endemic to
Madagascar) and Myrtaceae (Melaleuca). The parent vegetation is suggested to be an opencanopied,
non-rainforest community.
Inferred Climate
Pole and Bowman (ibid) propose the vegetation type implies strongly seasonal to monsoonal
(humid-perhumid) rainfall and, less certain warm to hot (megatherm) temperatures.
3.1.2 North-East Australia
1. Northern Tablelands of New South Wales
Late Eocene (Middle Nothofagidites asperus Zone Equivalent) macrofloras are preserved in
‘deep leads’ at Vegetable Creek on the New England Tablelands. These have been studied
since the 1880s although a number of early identifications are incorrect, e.g. beech (Fagus).
Re-examination of archived material by Hill (1988a, 1988b) and Hill and Carpenter (1991)
confirm the presence of Lauraceae and an extinct Nothofagus (Lophozonia) species related to
the extant dominants of cool temperate rainforest in Tasmania (N. cunninghamii) and in the
Eastern Highlands in central-northern New South Wales and southern Queensland (N.
moorei). Early collections also preserve probable specimens of Phyllocladus, an extinct
Araliaceae and Proteaceae cf. Darlingia, which is now endemic to Queensland (cf. Blackburn
1981, Christophel 1994).
Inferred Climate
The specimen of a Nothofagus (Lophozonia) sp. is considered to be the earliest macrofossil
evidence for a cool temperate (microtherm) element in the Eocene vegetation of mainland
Australia. If correct, then local conditions were uniformly wet (perhumid) and cool (upper
microtherm).
3.1.3 Central Australia
1. Lake Eyre Basin
Organic impressions (leaves and fruits), which have been dated by the associated fossil pollen
as Middle Eocene (Lower Nothofagidites asperus Zone Equivalent), occur at Nelly Creek
(Christophel et al. 1992, Christophel 1994, Callen et al. 1995, Alley et al. 1996, Greenwood
1996). Identified taxa include Araucariaceae (Agathis), Podocarpaceae (extinct genus),
Casuarinaceae (Gymnostoma), Lauraceae, Myrtaceae (extinct genera), Proteaceae and
Sterculiaceae (Brachychiton). A possible correlative flora is preserved in silcrete at Stuart
and Poole Creek (Greenwood et al. 1990, Greenwood 1991).
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