Natural Temperate Grassland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain | |
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![]() A wallaby in the grassy plain of Griffiths Island | |
Ecology | |
Realm | Australasia |
Biome | Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands |
Borders | |
Geography | |
Area | 22,000 km2 (8,500 sq mi) |
Country | Australia |
Elevation | 10–50 metres (33–164 ft) |
Coordinates | 38°12′S 143°15′E / 38.2°S 143.25°E |
Climate type | Oceanic climate (Cfb) Mediterranean climate (Csb) (western fringe) |
Soil types | Basalt |
The Victorian Volcanic Plain Grasslands are a critically endangered temperate grasslands that occur in the Australian state of Victoria, stretching from Hamilton in the northwest to the city of Melbourne. Part of the Southern Volcanic Plain and bordering the Gippsland Plains Grassy Woodland to the east, the grasslands sit on Cainozoic volcanic deposits.[1] In 2011, the Victoria State Government had reserved 15,000 hectares of land to protect the critically endangered community.[2] Only less than 5% of the pre-European concentration of the grasslands remain.[3]