But residents can rest easy —an eruption not expected for about 5000 years.

A free seminar in Penshurst will bring together experts from Monash University, Melbourne University and Museum Victoria to look at volcanoes in Victoria, particularly in the south-west.

Julie Boyce, a research associate at Monash University, will be one of the speakers and said it was entirely possible that renewed activity could create a new volcano in Western Victoria.

“It’s inherently difficult to predict volcanic eruptions and a new volcano could form anywhere,” she said.

She said the New Volcanic Province, from Melbourne to South Australia, is considered active due to the number of known volcanoes. 

On  average there is one eruption every 10,800 years, with the last in Mount Gambier 5000 years ago. The event will focus on volcanoes at Mount  Rouse, Mount Napier, Mount  Baimbridge and Mount  Pierrepoint.

Mary Johnson, secretary of the Friends of Yatmerone, said Western Victoria was renowned for its volcanic plains and the seminar was a unique opportunity.

Day one is on Saturday, February 28 and open to everyone. The day will include talks in the morning with a field trip up to Mount Rouse after a barbecue lunch.

She said the volcanic plains influenced the day-to-day lives of residents.

 “It determines who we are as a community,” she said. 

“It’s important from an indigenous perspective as well as a contemporary perspective.”

On Sunday, March 1, there will be hands on lessons for local primary and secondary school students. 

The seminar, titled Fire In The Hills: Volcanoes of the Newer Volcano Province, has been organised by the Volcanoes Discovery Centre, Friends of Yatmerone and Advance Penshurst.