The National tribune., 1900-01-11
THE WOMBEYAN CAVE.
Natural Wonders of New South Wales.


New South Wales possesses numerous
caves of a most picturesque and even
marvellous character. several, especially
the Jenolan and Yarrangbally Caves,
being of enormous extent, and only par
TALLY explored, fresh discoveries occa-
sionally being made. With two of three
exceptions they are in limestone rock.
and filled with stalactiteS and stalagmiteS
of every possible shape and size The
Wonbeyan Caves, situated about 40 miles
from Goulburn tine metropolis of the south
ern portion of the Colony, have Yet 10 be
fully explored, but even now n couple of
days may be spent III viewing the different
chambers. The caves can I've reached by
coach from several points ON the railway
between Sydney and the Victorian Eorder.
the most picturesque route beng through
the neighborhood of the Wolondilly River.
Entering the Old Cave-that first dis
cOvercd-the visitor PASSES on into the
drawing room, n beautiful chamber. and
thence into the ceiling room, 50 called from
the delicate formations which ornament
the roof. Continuing his course the visitor
proceeds up an ascending path into the
ballroom, passing, in so doing, The Trophy,
said to he one of the grandcst masses of
huge StalactiteS To be found in Australia, if
not in the world. One of the features of
the ballroom is a fine echo, the sound of the
voice being repeated with considerable dis
tinctness. Near the ballroom is the Bat
Chamber, so called from its being the home
of myriadS Of these gobln-looking crea-
lures. 1t has beautiful appearance, and
when illumined by the magnesium light
seems like glimpse of fairy-land. Only
portion of the passages known to exist have
been explored, and it is probable that other
and finer chambers have yet to be discovered.
The New Cave, situated a short distance
from the Old Cave, was discovered in a
singular manner, in 1888, by a neighbor
ing settler, who, having noticed vapor
issuing from a hole in the mountain side,
effected an entry, with the aid of his two
brothers, who lowered him, by means of a
rope, the result being the discovery of a new
and magnificent cave. Subsequently the
entrance was made more readily accessible.
Passing through the entrance, a perpen-
dicular descent of % feet is made, after
which similar distance is traversed on a
somewhat steep. incline, the passage be-
coming larger as it proceeds, until it opens
into beautiful chamber, crowded with
stalactites and stalagmites, the bright,
fresh color of which imparts an additional
charm to the scene. From here three
series OF caves branch off in different d-
rections. The first of these to the right
of the entrance proceeds about 300 feet
in a somewhat zigzag line, on a somewhat
level floor, forming kind of corridor some
10feet in width and II feet in hight.
The floor for some distance from the
entrance is remarkably pretty in its forma-
ton, resembling a stream of CRYSTALS over
flowing from large basin, the stream be-
low the main basin being composed of in
Vulnerable miniature basins in terraces
each basin being filed with a pure white
coral-like formation. Other parts of the
floor are covered with spherical Stalag-
mites resembling snowballs. The stalac-
tites in this, as also in the other branches,
are grouped more regularly than is usually
the case, as they run i'll almost parallel
lines across the limestone roof.
1t may be mentioned, for the benefit of
non-scientific readers, that a stalactite is
pendent cone or cylinder attached, like an
icicle, to the roof or side of a cave produced
by the percOlation, during many thousands
of years, through the rock above of water
holding carbonate Of lime in solution. The
same water dropping on the floor produces
similar masses, reversed III form-that is,
with the base on the floor and the points
above. These latter are called stalag-
mites.
The stalactites in this portion Of the New
Cave, as well as the other formations, are
remarkable for their snowy whiteness and
transparency, the only exception being
an occasional nest of stalacttes resem-
bling terra Gotta in appearance, and so
lending pleasing variety of color.
The middle series of caves, by far the
largest consists of a chain of chambers,
ranging -om the size of small cabin to
that of lofty cathedral. These are formed
by immense rocks falling and wedging
themselves together in all shapes, which
necessitateS the making of a number of
steep ascents and descents.