Borenore Caves

Last updated

Borenore Caves
Borenore Caves.jpg
Location Orange, New South Wales, Australia
Discovery
  • 9,000 years ago  Wiradjuri
  • 1830 John Henderson
[1]
Geology Limestone
AccessPublic; limited access May–October
LightingNil
FeaturesHome to Eastern bent-winged bats
Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve
New South Wales
Australia New South Wales relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve
Nearest town or city Orange
Coordinates 33°14′56″S148°56′6″E / 33.24889°S 148.93500°E / -33.24889; 148.93500 Coordinates: 33°14′56″S148°56′6″E / 33.24889°S 148.93500°E / -33.24889; 148.93500
EstablishedDecember 1997 (1997-12)
Area1.36 km2 (0.5 sq mi) [2]
Managing authorities
Website Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve
See also Protected areas of
New South Wales

The Borenore Caves, contained within the Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve, are a series of limestone caves that are located in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. The caves are renowned for their karst qualities, namely the numerous fossils from a long-lived reef complex from the Silurian period. Fossils include corals, crinoids, brachiopods, gastropods, pentamerids, colonial tryplasmids and trilobites. Borenore's karst is surrounded by igneous rock that flowed from volcanic eruptions at nearby Mount Canobolas. [1]

Contents

The 136-hectare (340-acre) reserve is situated 17 kilometres (11 mi) west of Orange, and is registered as a natural heritage site on the Register of the National Estate for its large diversity of karst morphological and sedimentological features. [1] Camping in the reserve is not permitted.

Features and location

Access is self-guided and suitable for casual visitors. Entry to the reserve is free.

The reserve contains over forty caves, including:

Mining

The caves are also notable as a source of Borenore Red marble early in the twentieth century, which was mined in the area until 1994. Borenore Red marble may be found in The Strand Arcade and in Buckingham Palace. Around 1898, while enjoying a picnic at Borenore, Peter Rusconi and his sons Joe and Frank Rusconi, monumental stonemasons from Italy, recognised the rich quality of the marble on the reserve. This marble was considered to be some of the best in the world and was mined for around thirty years. Examples of the famous Borenore red marble can be seen in Central Station, the Sydney GPO, the Commonwealth Trading Bank Building in Martin Place, and Jenolan Caves House as a mantelpiece. [1]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve: Plan of Management (PDF). Jenolan Caves Reserve Trust (PDF). Government of New South Wales. 2 April 2001. ISBN   0-7313-6988-2 . Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  2. "Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve". Office of Environment and Heritage. Government of New South Wales . Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  3. "Arch Cave". Dingo Gap Gallery. 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  4. "Tunnel Cave". Dingo Gap Gallery. 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  5. "Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve: About: Why you should visit". NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service . Government of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2014.