Twelve Apostles Younger Than Thought, Study Reveals

A new study published in the Australian Journal of Earth Sciences reveals that Australia's Twelve Apostles limestone stacks are younger than previously believed, dating back 8.6 to 14 million years. Lead author Stephen Gallagher of the University of Melbourne used microscopic fossils to refine the age, correcting earlier estimates of 7 to 15 million years. The rock towers were pushed out of the sea by tectonic plate movements, with coastal erosion carving them only in the last few thousand years. The shoreline extended 45 miles further into the ocean 20,000 years ago. The stacks preserve records of past climates, including a warmer period 13.8 million years ago. Of the original nine towers, two collapsed in 2005 and 2009, leaving seven standing. The site attracted 2.2 million visitors in 2024, expected to rise to 3 million by 2032.