Naracoorte Caves National Park

Naracoorte Caves National Park
Joanna & Mount Light^[1], South Australia
Naracoorte Caves National Park; Joanna & Mount Light, South Australia
IUCN category II (national park)
	Skeleton of a marsupial lion (Thylacoleo carnifex) in the Victoria Fossil Cave
	Naracoorte Caves National Park
Nearest town or city	Naracoorte
Coordinates	37°2′10″S 140°47′51.5″E / 37.03611°S 140.797639°ECoordinates: 37°2′10″S 140°47′51.5″E / 37.03611°S 140.797639°E
Established	Conservation Park 27 April 1972; National Park 18 January 2001
Area	6.60 km2 (2.5 sq mi)
Visitation	78,000 (in 1999-2000)
Managing authorities	Department of Environment and Water
Website	Naracoorte Caves National Park
Footnotes
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Part of	Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh/Naracoorte)
Criteria	Natural: viii, ix
Reference	698-002
Inscription	1994 (18th Session)
Area	300 ha
See also	Protected areas of South Australia

Naracoorte Caves National Park is a national park near Naracoorte in the Limestone Coast tourism region in the south-east of South Australia (Australia). It was officially recognised in 1994 for its extensive fossil record when the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List, along with Riversleigh. The park preserves 6 km² of remnant vegetation, with 26 caves contained within the 3.05 km² World Heritage Area.^[7] Out of the 28 known caves in the park, only four are open to the public. Other caves are kept away from the public eye as they are important for scientific research and also for the protection of the caves and their contents. Many of the caves contain spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.^[8]

History[]

European discovery[]

The caves, which are located within the boundaries of what is now the national park, were first encountered in 1845 with the discovery of Blanche Cave.^[6]

Naracoorte Forest Reserve[]

In 1885, the Department of Woods and Forests appointed a caretaker due to “the popularity of the caves and their vulnerability to vandalism.”^[6]

National Pleasure Resort[]

In 1916, the control of the portion of the forest reserve which contained many of the caves and which consisted of about 20 hectares (50 acres) of land was transferred from the Department of Woods and Forests to the Immigration, Publicity and Tourist Bureau who would manage it as a national pleasure resort under the National Pleasure Resort Act 1914 until 1972. The change of control was gazetted on 1 March 1917.^[9]^[10]^[3] The national pleasure resort's development into “an important regional tourist destination was greatly assisted by the discovery in 1969 in Victoria Cave of the largest known Australian Pleistocene vertebrate fossil cave deposit.”^[6]

Conservation Park[]

On 27 April 1972, it was renamed as the Naracoorte Caves Conservation Park upon the proclamation of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 which repealed the former act along with other statutes concerned with conservation.^[3] In 1982, the conservation park was listed on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate.^[11]

World heritage listing[]

On 17 December 1994, part of the conservation park, being an area of 300 hectares (740 acres) was “inscribed on the World Heritage List” along with the Riversleigh fossil site in Queensland as the Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh/Naracoorte).^[12]

National Park[]

On 18 January 2001, the Naracoorte Caves Conservation Park was abolished and the land that it occupied was reconstituted as a national park because it was considered to be “of national significance by reason of the natural features of the land” and was assigned the name, Naracoorte Caves National Park.^[4]

National heritage listing[]

On 21 May 2007 The Australian Fossil Mammal Sites was one of 15 World Heritage places to be added to the Australian National Heritage List.^[13]

State heritage listing[]

On 17 May 2017, the extent of the national park was listed as a state heritage place on the South Australian Heritage Register with the name of the Naracoorte Caves Complex.^[14]

Visitor attraction[]

The park is a visitor destination in itself, with a camping ground and caravan park, dormitory accommodation for groups, picnic grounds and a licensed cafe. The range of visitor activities is extensive. Show cave tours are guided by professional interpreters through highly decorated caves with some tours visiting amazing fossil deposits. Modern technology has been utilised to show visitors the normally inaccessible interior of Bat Cave, where thousands of southern bent-wing bats breed each year. Other opportunities include adventure caving, a selection of specialty tours and special events. The Wonambi Fossil Centre, the park's visitor centre, features displays of fossils and bones found in the caves and dioramas of extinct animals.

Structure[]

The limestone of the area was formed from coral and marine creatures 200 million years ago and again 20 million years ago when the land was below sea level. Ground water since then has dissolved and eroded some of the limestone, creating the caves. The caves, such as the Victoria Fossil Cave and Blanche Cave, are often not far below ground, and holes open up creating traps for the unwary. This is the source of the remarkable collection of fossils. Mammals and other land creatures have fallen into open caves and been unable to escape. The fossil record has been preserved in strata formed from eroded topsoil washed and blown in. In some places, the fossil-bearing silt is up to 20 metres thick. Some of these areas are being preserved for future research when better methods of dating and reconstructing fossil records may have been found. These fossil traps are especially significant for tracing Australian megafauna.

References[]

^ "Search results for "Naracoorte caves National Park" with the following datasets selected – "NPW and Conservation Properties", "Suburbs and Localities", "Local Government Areas", "SA Government Regions" and "Gazetteer"". Location SA Map Viewer. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
^ "Terrestrial Protected Areas of South Australia (refer 'DETAIL' tab )". CAPAD 2016. Australian Government, Department of the Environment (DoE). 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "No. 56 of 1972 (National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1972)". The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia: 660 & 702. 27 April 1972. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Brindal, Mark (18 January 2001). "NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE ACT 1972 SECTIONS 29(3) AND 28(1): ABOLITION OF NARACOORTE CAVES CONSERVATION PARK AND CONSTITUTION OF NARACOORTE CAVES NATIONAL PARK" (PDF). South Australian Government Gazette. South Australian Government. p. 70. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
^ "Protected Areas Information System - reserve list (as of 25 November 2014)" (PDF). Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d South East Region, National Parks and Wildlife SA, Department for Environment and Heritage (2001), Naracoorte Caves National Park management plan, South East, South Australia (PDF), South Australia. Department for Environment and Heritage, p. 15, ISBN 978-0-7308-5846-1CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ "Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh / Naracoorte)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
^ "About Naracoorte Caves". National Parks South Australia.
^ STYLES, A. W. (1 March 1917). "GRANT OF NARACOORTE CAVES AS A PUBLIC PLEASURE RESORT, &c" (PDF). The South Australian Government Gazette. South Australian Government. p. 368. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
^ "THE NARRACOORTE CAVES". The Border Watch. LV (5463). South Australia. 22 July 1916. p. 4. Retrieved 26 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Naracoorte Caves Conservation Park (Place ID 8013)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment.
^ "Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh/Naracoorte), Naracoorte, SA, Australia (Place ID 105089)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment.
^ "Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Naracoorte), Naracoorte, SA, Australia (Place ID 105692)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment. 21 May 2007. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
^ "Naracoorte Caves Complex (designated place of geological, palaeontological and speleological significance)". Heritage Places Database. South Australian Government. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2018.

External links[]

[LMV-1] "Search results for "Naracoorte caves National Park" with the following datasets selected – "NPW and Conservation Properties", "Suburbs and Localities", "Local Government Areas", "SA Government Regions" and "Gazetteer"". Location SA Map Viewer. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 19 October 2019.

[CAPAD2016SASum-2] "Terrestrial Protected Areas of South Australia (refer 'DETAIL' tab )". CAPAD 2016. Australian Government, Department of the Environment (DoE). 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2018.

[NPWact-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c "No. 56 of 1972 (National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1972)". The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia: 660 & 702. 27 April 1972. Retrieved 26 February 2018.

[SAGG-2001-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b Brindal, Mark (18 January 2001). "NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE ACT 1972 SECTIONS 29(3) AND 28(1): ABOLITION OF NARACOORTE CAVES CONSERVATION PARK AND CONSTITUTION OF NARACOORTE CAVES NATIONAL PARK" (PDF). South Australian Government Gazette. South Australian Government. p. 70. Retrieved 26 February 2018.

[ReserveList-5] "Protected Areas Information System - reserve list (as of 25 November 2014)" (PDF). Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources. Retrieved 8 January 2015.

[mp-6] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d South East Region, National Parks and Wildlife SA, Department for Environment and Heritage (2001), Naracoorte Caves National Park management plan, South East, South Australia (PDF), South Australia. Department for Environment and Heritage, p. 15, ISBN 978-0-7308-5846-1CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[WH-listing-7] "Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh / Naracoorte)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 17 May 2015.

[8] "About Naracoorte Caves". National Parks South Australia.

[SAGG-1917-9] STYLES, A. W. (1 March 1917). "GRANT OF NARACOORTE CAVES AS A PUBLIC PLEASURE RESORT, &c" (PDF). The South Australian Government Gazette. South Australian Government. p. 368. Retrieved 30 March 2018.

[10] "THE NARRACOORTE CAVES". The Border Watch. LV (5463). South Australia. 22 July 1916. p. 4. Retrieved 26 February 2018 – via National Library of Australia.

[NRE-11] "Naracoorte Caves Conservation Park (Place ID 8013)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment.

[AHD-WHL-12] "Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh/Naracoorte), Naracoorte, SA, Australia (Place ID 105089)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment.

[AHD-13] "Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Naracoorte), Naracoorte, SA, Australia (Place ID 105692)". Australian Heritage Database. Department of the Environment. 21 May 2007. Retrieved 21 March 2018.

[SAHR-14] "Naracoorte Caves Complex (designated place of geological, palaeontological and speleological significance)". Heritage Places Database. South Australian Government. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2018.

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show v t Protected areas of South Australia
National parks	Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary Belair Canunda Coffin Bay Coorong Flinders Chase Ikara-Flinders Ranges Gawler Ranges Great Australian Bight Marine Dhilba Guuranda-Innes Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre Lake Gairdner Lake Torrens Lincoln Malkumba-Coongie Mount Remarkable Murray River Naracoorte Caves Nullarbor Onkaparinga River Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges Witjira
Conservation parks	Aberdour Acraman Creek Aldinga Scrub Althorpe Islands Angove Avoid Bay Islands Baird Bay Islands Bakara Bandon Bangham Barwell Bascombe Well Baudin Baudin Rocks Beachport Beatrice Islet Belt Hill Beyeria Big Heath Billiatt Bird Islands Black Hill Black Rock Boondina Breakaways Bullock Hill Busby Islet Butchers Gap Calectasia Calpatanna Waterhole Cap Island Cape Blanche Cape Gantheaume Cape Willoughby Caralue Bluff Carappee Hill Carcuma Caroona Creek Carpenter Rocks Carribie Chadinga Charleston Christmas Rocks Cleland Clements Gap Clinton Cocata Cooltong Corrobinnie Hill Cox Scrub Cromer Cudlee Creek Custon Cygnet Estuary Danggali Darke Range Deep Creek Desert Camp Dingley Dell Douglas Point Dudley Eba Island Ediacara Elliot Price Eric Bonython Ettrick Eurilla Ewens Ponds Fairview Ferguson Ferries-McDonald Finniss Fort Glanville Fowlers Bay Franklin Harbor Furner Gambier Islands Gawler Ranges Geegeela Giles Glen Roy Goose Island Gower Grass Tree Greenly Island Guichen Bay Gum Lagoon Gum Tree Gully Hacks Lagoon Hale Hallett Cove Heggaton Hincks Hogwash Bend Hopkins Creek Horsnell Gully Ironstone Hill Jip Jip Kaiserstuhl Kapunda Island Karte Kathai Kellidie Bay Kelly Hill Kelvin Powrie Kenneth Stirling Kinchina Kulliparu Kungari Kyeema Lake Gilles Lake Hawdon South Lake Newland Lashmar Lathami Laura Bay Lawari Lesuer Leven Beach Lincoln Lipson Island Little Dip Lowan Maize Island Lagoon Malgra Mamungari Mantung Marino Marne Valley Martindale Hall Mary Seymour Media Island Messent Middlecamp Hills Mimbara Minlacowie Moana Sands Monarto Monarto Woodlands Montacute Moody Tank Morialta Mount Boothby Mount Brown Mount Dutton Bay Mount Magnificent Mount Monster Mount Scott Mount Taylor Mullinger Swamp Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert Munyaroo Murrunatta Mylor Myponga Nene Valley Nepean Bay Neptune Islands Newland Head Ngarkat Ngaut Ngaut Nicolas Baudin Island Nixon-Skinner Nuyts Archipelago Nuyts Reef Olive Island Padthaway Pandappa Para Wirra Paranki Lagoon Parndana Peachna Peebinga Pelican Lagoon Penambol Penguin Island Penola Piccaninnie Ponds Pigface Island Pike River Pine Hill Soak Pinkawillinie Point Bell Point Davenport Point Labatt Pooginook Pualco Range Pullen Island Pureba Ramco Point Ramsay Reedy Creek Rilli Island Rocky Island (North) Rocky Island (South) Roonka Rudall Salt Lagoon Islands Sandy Creek Sceale Bay Scott Scott Creek Seal Bay Searcy Bay Seddon Shannon Sheoak Hill Simpson Sinclair Island Sir Joseph Banks Group Sleaford Mere Spring Gully Spring Mount Talapar Talisker Tallaringa Telford Scrub Telowie Gorge The Dutchmans Stern The Knoll The Pages The Plug Range Thidna Tilley Swamp Torrens Island Troubridge Island Tucknott Scrub Tumby Island Venus Bay Verran Tanks Vivigani Ardune Vivonne Bay Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Wahgunyah Waitpinga Waldegrave Islands Wanilla Wanilla Land Settlement Warren Warrenben West Island Wharminda Whidbey Isles White Dam Whyalla Wiljani Wills Creek Winninowie Wirrabara Range Wittelbee Woakwine Wolseley Common Yalpara Yeldulknie Yulte Yumbarra
Game reserves	Bool Lagoon Bucks Lake Chowilla Currency Creek Lake Robe Loch Luna Moorook Mud Islands Poocher Swamp Tolderol
Recreation parks	Anstey Hill Blackwood Forest Brownhill Creek Caratoola Cobbler Creek Granite Island Greenhill Long Island O'Halloran Hill Onkaparinga River Shepherds Hill Sturt Gorge Totness
Regional Reserves	Chowilla Innamincka Lake Frome Nullarbor Munga-Thirri–Simpson Desert Strzelecki Yellabinna
Conservation reserves	Bernouilli Buckleboo Bunbury Bunkers Cortlinye Cox Scrub Cunyarie Desert Camp Hardings Springs Lacroma Moongi Mootra Pinkawillinie Reservoir Poolgarra Tola Former conservation reserves
Wilderness Protection Areas	Billiatt Cape Bouguer Cape Gantheaume Cape Torrens Danggali Hambridge Hincks Investigator Group Memory Cove Nullarbor Nuyts Archipelago Ravine des Casoars Western River Yellabinna
Other protected areas	Arkaroola Protection Area
Former protected areas	Investigator Group Isles of St Francis Katarapko Mount Rescue Mount Shaugh Port Gawler Scorpion Springs
Related topics	Marine protected areas of South Australia List of protected areas in Adelaide

show v t World Heritage Sites in Australia
New South Wales	Australian Convict Sites¹ Gondwana Rainforests¹ Blue Mountains Lord Howe Island Group Sydney Opera House Willandra Lakes Region
Northern Territory	Kakadu National Park Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
Queensland	Australian fossil mammal sites¹ Riversleigh Fraser Island Gondwana Rainforests¹ Great Barrier Reef Wet Tropics of Queensland
South Australia	Australian fossil mammal sites¹ Naracoorte
Tasmania	Australian Convict Sites¹ Macquarie Island Tasmanian Wilderness
Victoria	Royal Exhibition Building Carlton Gardens Budj Bim Cultural Landscape
Western Australia	Australian Convict Sites¹ Ningaloo Coast Purnululu National Park Shark Bay
External territories	(Norfolk Island) Australian Convict Sites¹ Heard Island and McDonald Islands
¹ Shared with other states/territories