Ngilgi Cave

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Ngilgi Cave
Ngilgi Cave SMC 2008.jpg
Inside Ngilgi Cave
Ngilgi Cave
Location Yallingup, Western Australia
Coordinates 33°38′32″S115°02′03″E / 33.6422°S 115.0342°E / -33.6422; 115.0342
Depth39 m (128 ft) [1]
Length730 m (2,400 ft) [1]
Discovery10 October 1899 [2] (European)
Geology Karst cave
AccessDaily tours, closed 25 December
Registry6YA-1 [1]

Ngilgi Cave, previously known as Yallingup Cave, is a karst cave to the northeast of Yallingup, in the southwest of Western Australia.

Contents

In many sections of the cave a red layer of soil can be seen; this is called paleosol.

Discovery

The local Wardandi people have long known of the existence of the Ngilgi cave. [3] The Wardandi believe the caves to be their passage to the afterlife. [4]

Edward Dawson was the first European to enter the cave when he went searching for stray horses in 1899. [2] He acted as a guide to the cave from December 1900 to November 1937.

It was frequently promoted and was highlighted in early twentieth century tourism promotion materials. [5] [6] [7] [8]

Naming

It was originally named for the nearby town of Yallingup but renamed in 2000 [9] to acknowledge the cave's part in Australian Aboriginal mythology. Ngilgi (pronounced Neelgee) [10] was a good spirit who triumphed in battle against an evil spirit Wolgine. [2]

The story is part of the heritage of the Wardandi people who are the custodians of the caves in the area. [4]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 "Australian Karst Index Database". Australian Speleological Federation. 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Jochen Duckeck (2014). "Ngilgi Cave". Show Caves of the World. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  3. Marisa Quinn-Haisu (18 November 2017). "Ngilgi Cave, Yallingup". Weekend Notes. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  4. 1 2 Hall, Susan (Summer 2007). Harding, Alison (ed.). "Wardan Aboriginal Centre" (PDF). Transwa In-service magazine. West Perth: Countrywide Publications. pp. 4–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  5. The Caves of Western Australia. Perth: A.E. Forsaith. 1905. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  6. The caves of Western Australia, A.E. Forsaith, 1910, retrieved 7 September 2018
  7. "BEAUTIFUL FOLDED SHAWLS IN THE YALINGUP CAVE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA". Sunday Times (Perth) . No. 1287. Western Australia. 13 August 1922. p. 9. Retrieved 7 September 2018 via National Library of Australia.
  8. "The WONDERLAND of the WEST". Sunday Times (Perth) . No. 780. Western Australia. 15 December 1912. p. 3 (First Section). Retrieved 7 September 2018 via National Library of Australia.
  9. Display panel "Ngilgi once more" at the cave, 5 February 2024
  10. "A dry day in wine country". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 12 February 2005. Retrieved 8 September 2018.


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