ABSTRACTNearshore bar morphology has been studied in a low energy, short period-wave environment. The modal beach state was the Rhythmic Bar-and-Beach, characterized by the presence of crescentic bars and megacusps. This beach state is also the most frequently occurring state along moderate to high- energy coasts in southeastern Australia. The reasons for the morphological similarities in these very different coastal environments have been investigated and it was found that morphology at the low-energy site to a large degree was influenced by sporadically occurring storms. During the periods between storms, the morphology was more or less arrested.Tentatively suggested wave height threshold conditions for the initiation of a given beach state were compared with results reported from southeastern Australia (Short 1980) and it was found that these threshold values were significantly different, probably owing to the finer sediment grain sizes and steeper waves at the low-energy site.Finally,Ω= Hb/wsT and 30-day weighted mean (Ω30) have been computed. A somewhat improved weighted mean expression is proposed for this locality. Values were approximately twice as large as results reported from southeastern Australia.