Research from the University of Melbourne has revealed that the iconic Twelve Apostles, 25 miles of rock formations along Australia’s southern coast, were formed due to tectonic plate movements over millions of years. The lead researcher, Associate Professor Stephen Gallagher, from the School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, found that while the Twelve Apostles were pushed out of the sea, they were also made into one of the world's best-preserved and accessible records of ancient climates and sea levels. The study was published in the Australian Journal of Earth Sciences. The researchers used microscopic fossils to accurately date the layers to 8.6 to 14 million years old, which have provided scientists with a clearer idea of the Apostle's age than previously.