Abercrombie Caves

Useful Information

photography — The Abercrombie Caves, **John Rider Roberts** (*1820-✝1868), 1867, Australia. Public Domain.

Location:	Caves Road, Abercrombie River NSW 2795. Off main road between Bathurst and Goulburn, 72 km from Bathurst and 122 km from Goulburn. 289 km west of Sydney. (-33.911097, 149.359449)
Open:	Currently closed for repairs. All year Thu-Mon 9-16:30. During NSW school holidays daily 9-16:30. Closed 25-DEC. [2023]
Fee:	Archway self-guided: Adults AUD 20, Children (5-15) AUD 13, Children (0-4) free, Seniors AUD 17, Family (2+2) AUD 50. Belfrey Cave: Adults AUD 33, Children (8-15) AUD 25, Children (0-7) not allowed, Seniors AUD 30, Family (2+2) AUD 83. Bushrangers Cave: Adults AUD 33, Children (6-15) AUD 25, Children (0-5) not allowed, Seniors AUD 30, Family (2+2) AUD 83. Grove Cave: Adults AUD 20, Children (7-15) AUD 18, Children (0-6) not allowed, Seniors AUD 21, Family (2+2) AUD 60. [2023]
Classification:	Karst Cave Collapsed Cave Natural Bridge.
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	Archway: L=221 m, W=70 m, H=30 m.
Guided tours:	Archway self guided: L=1,400 m (total), L=200 m (cave), D=60 min, St=202. Belfrey Cave: L=800 m (total), L=260 m (cave), D=60 min, Max=12, MinAge=8. Bushrangers Cave: L=1,400 m (total), L=450 m (cave), D=90 min, St=324, Max=40, MinAge=6. Grove Cave: L=70 m, D=50 min, St=46, Min=2, Max=12, MinAge=7. V=10,000/a[2000]
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	The Guides, Abercrombie Caves & Reserve, Trunkey Creek, via Bathurst, NSW 2795, Tel: +61-2-6368-8603, Fax: +61-2-6368-8634. E-mail: Barry Cubitt, Senior Guide.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

6-OCT-1821	an article in the Sydney Gazette mentioned a cave, which most likely was Abercrombie.
1830	a fight between the Ribbon Gang and armed settlers, mounted police and an army regiment took place near the Caves.
1834	the first recorded tourist party visited Abercrombie.
1842	official discovery by Surveyor W. R. Davidson, caves called Burragylong Caverns, survey of the caves.
1843	report of a visit to the caves in The Sydney Morning Herald.
MAY-1843	the artist Conrad Martens made a number of sketches.
1844	the Caves were visited by William Charles Wentworth and Governor Fitzroy.
1854	gold was discovered in the area, which caused a huge increase in visitors to the caves.
1860s	caves now known as Abercrombie.
1870	increasing number of visitors from Sydney.
1880	dancing platform in the Archway built.
1888	temporary keeper employed to look after the caves which were suffering from graffiti and vandals.
1895	more than 1,000 people per year visit the caves.
1977	excavations in a shelter north of the Great Arch revealed stone tools and animal bones.
15-NOV-2022	damaged by flood, closed for repairs.
2023	scheduled reopening after repairs.

Description

The Abercrombie Caves were probably discovered around 1820, in 1821 an article in the Sydney Gazette mentioned the discovery of a huge cave in the area. They reported that 'a cave of considerable dimensions has been recently discovered in the neighbourhood of Bathurst'. However, there is no possibility to identify the cave from the article and so it is only an educated guess that this was Abercrombie. The cave was the hideout of some bushrangers (outlaws) known as The Ribbon Gang, led by the disgruntled convict Ralph Entwistle. The gang started to afflict the area in September 1830, but in October 1830 they were tracked down and after a bloody battle the bushrangers entered the Arch of Abercrombie Cave, which was called The Bridge at that time. They escaped through an exit hole, but were caught the next day. Two members of the gang died from wounds, the remaining ten were hanged on 02-NOV-1830. It seems long trials were not very popular at that time.

This is the first account of the caves, and probably because of the bloody history the caves became popular during the next years. At first primarly people from the surrounding properties visited the caves, then gold was discovered and gold diggers visited the cave and built the stage in the Archway for Saturday evening dances. And then the number of visitors from Sydney increased, and the caves became real show caves with the employment of a temporary keeper.

In Abercrombie Reserve more than 50 caves are known today. The highlight is the Abercrombie Archway or Archway Cave, a Geology Natural Bridge 221 m long, 70 m wide and 30 m high. It is the largest natural arch in the southern hemisphere, representing the ruins, the last remains of a collapsed cave system. Many other parts of this cave system still exist, accessible primarily from the arch. The various guided tours concentrate on different parts of the main passage.

The Archway Cave is visited on a 1.4 km long self guided tour, which brings the visitor to the southern end of the Archway along Grove Creek, then through Grove Creek valley to the northern end where it enters the cave. Part of the tour is the Golddigger's Stage, a large platform, used for dances and concert performances. It was built by gold miners, living in the area since the year 1854. A nice tour to explore the main sight at your own pace. Recommended for photographers.
Bushrangers Cave was named after the Ribbon Boys, who hid in this part of the cave in 1830, before they were captured. On this tour the guide concentrates on the history of the cave: bushranging, the discovery and exploration of the cave, the graffiti by early cave visitors. This tour shows three huge chambers with numerous beautiful formations. The Pulpit chamber is home for a small colony of Common Bentwing Bats.
Grove Cave is located at the southern end of the Grand Arch and is rather small. It is a fine example of a small and narrow solution passageway. The Red Shawl Chamber of this cave contains exceptionally beautiful shawls. Visitors that want to see a cave from a cavers perspective, can visit the Grovel, a crawly bit. This tour is not suitable for people who have problems with confined spaces.
Belfrey Cave is a somewhat special tour, as it shows certain older parts of the cave. The tours are limited to 12 persons and the minimum age is 5. Steep ladders and many steps are part of the tour. But the reward are views from the highest point in the roof of the Archway and interesting geological features like fossil deposits.
Archway guided is also called King Solomon's Temple. This tour shows three huge chambers with numerous beautiful formations. This is the oldest part of the show cave, first visited in 1834. The Goldminers dance platform from 1880 and a walk over the suspension bridge are part of the tour. Behind the bridge are the galleries called King Solomon's Temple, which have an abundance of speleothems.
A Night Tour makes no sense in other caves. But Abercrombie, with its two huge entrances has daylight in many parts of the guided tour. At night the art of the light designers, undisturbed by natural light, allows different views of the gothic arches and the massive decorations of the cave. This tour is offered afzer appointment only and is rather long and strenuous.

It seems the last two tours are currently not offered. As the park is closed due to necessary repairs after a flood in 2022, there might be updates after the reopening in APR-2023.