Melbourne sits on a mix of Quaternary basalts, Silurian mudstones, and deep alluvial deposits. With an average annual rainfall of 650 mm and expansive clay profiles reaching depths of 2 meters, bearing capacity varies dramatically across suburbs. Our team performs in-situ plate load tests and lab-confined compression to determine ultimate bearing capacity under AS 4678. Before any foundation design, we recommend combining this analysis with a study of SPT to correlate N-values with settlement tolerance. The city's variable geology demands site-specific numbers, not book values.
In Melbourne's Yarra Valley clays, bearing capacity can drop from 300 kPa to 80 kPa within 5 meters of lateral distance. Site-specific testing is non-negotiable.