PRINCESS MARGARET ROSE CAVE , VICTORIA
(Regrettably, neither Mr Allen nor any other officer of the Commission was able to attend but this paper was made available for inclusion in the proceedings)
The cave is located on the northern bank of Glenelg River approximately 7 river miles upstream from Nelson. It is also accessible by road from:
- Mt Gambier via Caroline (18 miles)
- Rennick (12 miles)
- Mt. Gambier - Portland Rd (12 miles)
The cave is within the Princess Margaret Rose Cave Scenic Reserve and is managed by the Forests Commission of Victoria.
As well as the Cave other developments that have taken place within the reserve area are:
- Picnic - barbecue area
- Walking track through native forest
- Camping area
- Residence for the Warden
Delightful views of the Glenelg River and its gorge are obtained from the Lower Glenelg National Park which separates the Scenic Reserve from the river.
The cave is entered through a building which also houses the motors supplying power to light the cave. A steep set of steps descend to the floor of the cave from this building. These steps pass underneath the original entrance which has a vertical shaft. The cave is not large when compared with some tourist caves, as it extends only 360' from the entrance. At its deepest point the floor of the cave is approximately 50' below the surface.
The cave contains both living and dead features, but improvement in the lighting is required to highlight distinctive formations.
The P.M.R. cave is considered to have been formed by a stream running along the bedding plane between two ages of limestone formed in Miocene times. It is generally a very active cave and management has concentrated on retaining it in a natural state. Barriers and protective fences are kept to the bare minimum.
The smooth walls of the cave caused by the flow of the stream is contrasted with the frequently domed ceiling, formed by solution tubes from the surface.
Helictites occur in this cave in unusual numbers and sizes and are thus one of the main attractions. There is also an active column, 30 feet in circumference and 28 feet high which is considered to be one of the largest active columns in Australia.
Another feature is the deep red colour in some of the stalagmites and shawls, which has been caused by tannin from tree roots as well as iron compounds in the soil.
Bats were originally very numerous in the cave as evidenced by the layer of guano still visible on the cave floor, but since the opening of the cave to the public the bats have disappeared.
Cave crickets still continue to be found and a recent count discovered a population of 160.
The present management of the cave is directed towards the encouragement of people to visit the area, particularly family groups. Admittance charges are low (adults 30c, children 10c) for this reason, as well as the fact that facilities are limited and road conditions sometimes are poor. No charge is made for admittance to the area unless a person goes on a cave tour. Cave tours are usually conducted hourly and on every day of the year except Good Friday and Christmas day. One full time warden is employed and up to three relieving guides are available when the warden is off duty and at the times of peak tourist loading
During the tours, emphasis is placed on imparting just sufficient geological explanations to account for the formation of the different types of features and information concerning growth rate and ages of them.
Attempts are made to create atmosphere of friendly discussion rather than a large lecture on geology. Questions are requested, and answered with as much detail as possible.
Tours average 30 minutes duration as the exit from the cave is the same as the entrance, only one party can be accommodated in the cave at one time. This limits the number of tours that can be taken in a day. Touring parties are limited to 50 people.
Following the actual tour of the cave, people are encouraged to use the picnic-barbecue facilities and the walking tracks. Advice is also given on alternative routes for the return journey so that tourists may see different sights on their way home.
A residence is supplied for the warden, he is responsible for the day to day maintenance of the Scenic Reserve and for the conduct of cave tours, under the direction of the District Forester based at Rennick. Assistance as required is provided from Rennick for development works, picnic area maintenance, rubbish disposal, etc.
Many requests are received by the warden for overnight camping accommodation, either in tents or caravans. Funds have not yet allowed planned facilities for camping to be constructed. A limited number of tent camp sites are available, but these can not be increased until further toilets are provided.
The number of visitors that have toured the cave in the last three financial years are:
| 1970/71: | 13,000 |
| 1971/72: | 17,000 |
| 1972/73: | 22,000 |
Record attendance for one day is 960 people recorded on Easter Sunday, 1973.