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Tuff Stone Masonry near Tower Hill in Victoria: Fragmentary Remains of Pioneer Settlement in Australia

Abstract Examples of volcanic tuff in pioneer buildings have been identified in western Victoria, Australia, in the vicinity of the Tower Hill volcanic crater. A field study has highlighted the use of tuff (notably in small domestic buildings dating to the early years of the colony) and has prompted investigation of these fragmentary and often neglected remains, including assessment of their present condition. The study and petrography of the volcanic tuffs from several cottages and a church, coupled with observations of the building stones by James Bonwick made in 1857, provide further insights into the durability and weathering characteristics of the local tuff stones. These stones are comparable to those used extensively in ancient Rome, as described by Vitruvius, who provided guidance on their physical properties and use. Recent re-assessment of the deterioration of these tuff stones has shown just how relevant that advice remains today.