There are differing views as to how the deposition of aeolianites correlates with glacial-interglacial cycles. This study attempts to address this lack of understanding by providing chronological evidence of the timing of the formation of aeolianites at two Australian sites. A third site is also considered but at the time of writing there is limited chronological information available. At the same time the potential of the application of thermoluminescence dating to determine the age of these deposits is also evaluated. The study areas considered are Rottnest Island and the Fremantle coastline in Western Australia, Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea off the east coast of Australia and Norfolk Island further east of Lord Howe Island also in the Tasman Sea.

The chronostratigraphy of aeolianite on Lord Howe Island has been comprehensively examined by one of the present authors (Brooke) whereas the depositional chronology of Western Australian aeolianite is only known from previous dating at one or two key sites in the area. At present there is very little known of the timing of the formation of aeolianite upon Norfolk Island although there is a reported age suggesting that aeolianite emplacement took place during the last glacial maximum period at a time of sea level low stand.

In two cases out of the three thermoluminescence has successfully demonstrated that the timing of the emplacement of the aeolianite formations studied is most probably related to source availability. Dune and subordinate marine deposits of Lord Howe Island appear to have been emplaced only during sea level high stands when the platform around the island was flooded and when beach sediments were accumulated around the coast. In contrast the aeolianites found upon Rottnest Island and the adjacent Western Australian coastline appear to have been formed during periods of both high and low sea level indicating a more continuous supply of shallow marine sediments. In the case of Norfolk Island, in a setting similar to that of Lord Howe Island, one might expect aeolianites to have formed during similar times of high sea level. As yet however, due to the lack of suitable crystalline minerals, thermoluminescence has not been successful in determining the timing of the emplacement of the aeolianites found upon the island. An age reported by another researcher, using an alternative dating method, however, suggests deposition during the last glacial maximum. The amount of supporting evidence for aeolianite formation on the island during this low stand sea level period at present is however slim.