Coastal erosion and accretion, Stanwell Park Beach, N.S.W., 1890–1980

Summary A direct linear transformation method was used to locate the position of high tide run‐up from oblique and vertical aerial photographs of Stanwell Park beach, N.S.W. between 1890–1980 on a plan map accurate to ± 2.5 m. Results indicate minor net erosion of less than 5 m over these ninety years. Accretion was dominant during the 1930s and ‘40s, while the effects of occasional erosional events increased after 1948. Even though Stanwell Park beach would be expected to undergo changes similar to those reported from other adjacent beaches, the record shows significant discrepancies. The data indicate that profiling of part of a beach may not be representative of changes on the beach as a whole.