[1] The Hopeman Sandstone Formation is predominantly composed of fine- to coarse-grained yellowish sand with well rounded grains, mostly deposited as wind-blown dunes, but occasionally deposited by sheet floods.

[1] Basal beds are pebbly and the unit varies, exhibiting large-scale crossbedding to fine rarely contorted laminations.

[1] The name Cutties Hillock is believed to derive from the Scottish Gaelic ceide sealge, meaning 'hill brow of the hunting'.

Benton and Walker (1985) argue that the name Cuttie's Hillock Sandstone should be retained to distinguish these fossil-bearing beds from those on the coast, which have only yielded footprints and very few body fossils.

The pareiasaur Elginia[3] and dicynodonts Geikia and Gordonia are known from the formation, the fossils are preserved as hollow internal moulds within the sandstone.