Abercrombie Caves
33°54′47″S 149°21′04″E / 33.91307°S 149.35112°E
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Also known as Abercrombie Karst Conservation Reserve.
Abercrombie Caves lie between Bathurst and Crookwell in New South Wales, Australia, near the small village of Trunkey Creek. The cave complex is an example of a limestone arch formation that has been eroded by water action, it has developed from a sinkhole that became a blind valley. Several good examples of crayback formations exist in both entrances.
Abercrombie's most famous feature is the 'The Archway' it is the largest natural arch in the southern hemisphere. Within the Archway Cave is the gold miners dance platform built in January 1880 by gold miners, replacing a platform built in the 1860s, the 1880s platform is still used for performances to this day including the annual Carols in the Caves performance.
Other caves within the Abercrombie Cave complex are; King Solomon's Temple, Cathedral Cave, Grove Cave, and the Bushranger's Cave.[1]
Bushrangers
It is believed that various bushranger groups used the caves as a hideout during the 1800s. The earliest known is the Ribbon Gang who used the caves in 1830.[2]
Explorers
It is believed that a tourist party visitied the caves in 1834 but the Caves were not 'officially' discovered until 1842 by Surveyor W.R. Davidson. Surveyor Wells discovered the Koh-i-noor, Bushranger, Long Tunnel, and Cathedral caves and the Hall of Terpsichore (The Dance Hall) in 1843. Explorer William Wentworth and Governor Charles Fitzroy visited Abercrombie Caves in 1844.[2]
Gold
Gold was discovered in the area in 1854. A gold exploration community was established at Mount Gray, just above the caves. Miners from many of the surrounding communities would often visit the caves for recreation.
The caves were originally known as Burragylong Caverns and during the mining period they became known as Abercrombie caves.
Vandalism occurred in the early days when many pieces of white marble were carted away by the visitors as souvenirs and the miners damaged many of the formations by firing rifles at them, some graffiti name carvings can still be seen inside the caves from the 19th century period.[2] SM MIK
External links
References
- ^ "Abercrombie Caves". Newspaper. Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
- ^ a b c "Abercrombie Karst Conservation Reserve". Website. NSW Office of Environment & Heritage. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
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