Great Dividing Range

The Great Dividing Range is a series of plateaus and low mountain ranges that stretch across eastern Australia. Right here in Melbourne, you can think of it as the backbone of the continent, running for thousands of kilometers like a giant spine. It carved the landscape we see today, dictating the flow of rivers and marking the boundary between the damp east coast and the arid interior. Imagine, it’s been around for over 300 million years, formed during a time when Australia was still attached to other continents, and it has stood witness to the continent’s incredible journey. It’s quite a history for a mountain range, isn’t it? While the top of the range is quite a distance away, it plays a role in everything we see around us here. Because it blocks incoming moisture from the Pacific, it determines the amount of rain that falls within the state of Victoria. For example, it’s the Great Dividing Range that influences the more arid climate of central Victoria, which is in stark contrast to the rainforests of the east coast. Not only that, but the Great Dividing Range provides water to Melbourne through rivers that feed into reservoirs. Did you know that Melbourne’s water supply comes largely from the Yarra River, which itself is fed by the Great Dividing Range? So as you walk around Melbourne, you won’t see the range itself, but it’s playing a critical part in making the city function! Take a moment to appreciate its hidden influence on the life of the city—it’s a powerful reminder of the invisible forces that shape our world.