Situated to the east of the tiny township of Hyden in the western part of Australia, Wave Rock Australia is a naturally occurring formation of rock that gets its name from its peculiar shape that closely resembles a high sea wave about to break on the land. Being of immense ethnic significance to the native dwellers of the area, the aborigines, this is a hugely popular tourist spot, garnering close to 150,000 tourists every year.
Wave Rock Australia is made, almost entirely, of granite. The entire outcrop spreads across many hectares and comprises a portion of the eroded remnants of the famous Hyden Rock. The actual wave portion of Wave Rock is close to 50 feet in height and 350 feet in length.
Wave Rock Australia contains a special retaining wall which is located about halfway up its height. This retaining wall hugs the curves of the rock and enables water from any rains to get collected and stored in a storage block. This retaining wall, the kinds of which are found commonly on many similar rock formations in the local area of the Wheatbelt of Australia, was erected in the year 1951 by the Australian Public Works Department.
The rock formation of Wave Rock Australia was created approximately 60 million years ago and contrary to popular belief, was not the result of the occurrence of any wave in that area. The rounded shape of Wave Rock Australia is related directly to chemical weathering on the sub surface of the rock plate. This phenomenon had been followed by a process called fluvial erosion in which the underlying yielding granite got further weathered. Prior to exposure, the weathering happened underneath the surface, below the level of the ground, resulting in the peculiar undercut foot or pedestal, with the typical circular overhang on top.