Volcanic Eruptions

Did you know there were volcanoes in Victoria? 

Eruption locations of the Newer Volcanics Province

Eruption Centre

The region surrounding Penshurst is the centre of the Newer Volcanics Province, a volcanic field spanning Western Victoria. 

Our volcanic field stretches over an area of 15,000 square kilometres and contains over 400 small volcanoes and volcanic vents.

Some of the volcanoes in our region include:

  • Mount Rouse
  • Mount Napier
  • Mount Gambier (including Blue Lake)
  • Tower Hill
  • Mount Elephant
  • Mount Eccles (Budj Bim), with associated lava flow
  • Mount Leura
  • Mount Noorat
  • Mount Buninyong
  • Lake Bullen Merri
  • Lake Purrumbete
  • Red Rock

Explorable caves and lava tubes showcase well-preserved lava flow features, while the province is a fossickers dream, containing abundant mantle xenolith and megacryst collecting localities.

The Newer Volcanics Province is the most recent phase of volcanic activity in Australia with an age of over 4 million years.

While many of our volcanoes are considered extinct, the Mount Gambier (Blue Lake) volcano is still considered active!

Local Aboriginal people witnessed some of the eruptions, naming them ‘Willum-a-weenth’ (place of fire).

Volcanoes map of the Newer Volcanics Province

Start your journey here

Nestled at the foot of Mount Rouse, the Penshurst Volcanoes Discovery Centre is your jumping point for volcanic discovery in the Victorian Western District.