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McCrae Landslide: Lessons from a Hillside Collapse

*A failure on an ancient sea cliff destroyed a large house, injuring one person. Source: ABC news*

On January 14, 2025, a coastal community in McCrae, Victoria faced a sudden and destructive landslide that sent a multi-million-dollar home tumbling down an ancient sea cliff. The collapse seriously injured a building surveyor who had been inspecting the site just moments earlier. The event has since prompted a formal public inquiry, uncovering a troubling pattern of early warnings, water infiltration, and unclear accountability.

Warning Signs Below the Surface

In the weeks leading up to the main landslide, several smaller slope failures and signs of ground instability had been observed. Water seepage through retaining walls, disintegrating asphalt, and boggy terrain were among the many indicators indicating potential subsurface saturation. Despite the absence of significant rainfall, water was heard and seen flowing heavily through the stormwater system in the area.

Signs of water damage in McCrae early this year. (McCrae Inquiry). Source: ABC news

Residents raised concerns about leaking infrastructure and unusual water accumulation, which were later investigated by independent experts. A calculation based on observations estimated that over 54 million litres of water had infiltrated the slope before the landslide occurred. This significant underground saturation likely increased pore water pressure within the slope, weakening the already fragile geological structure.

Homes, Lives, and Structures Disrupted

Multiple properties in the area remain inside a designated exclusion zone, with families displaced, homes left uninhabitable, and structural assessments ongoing. Some homes had been assessed as at risk in prior engineering reports, with engineering assessments recommending limited occupation or temporary evacuation.

Reports presented at the inquiry revealed that previous landslides had not always been disclosed in pre-purchase assessments. Furthermore, drainage systems, vegetation removal, and unpermitted retaining wall construction are being investigated as possible factors affecting slope conditions.

Experts have pointed to changing groundwater conditions as a key trigger. Poor subsurface water management and the absence of updated planning overlays may have influenced site conditions in what is now known to be a geologically sensitive zone.

What Comes Next?

The inquiry is now considering a range of contributing factors, including stormwater runoff, infrastructure integrity, local geology, and land use modifications. While a single cause may not be definitively confirmed, a combination of hydrological, human, and planning elements is widely seen as central to the event.

The incident illustrates the geotechnical effects associated with water infiltration and slope instability scenarios. It also includes review of planning, infrastructure coordination, and risk-related communication in areas susceptible to landslides.

The following video contains video footage of the catastrophic hillside landslide along with discussions concerning that more McCrae homes could be at risk of consecutive landslides.