Koonalda Cave vandalized

Submitted: Saturday, Dec 24, 2022 at 12:15

ThreadID: 145150 Views:4676 Replies:3 FollowUps:2

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Candace S.

"Earlier this year it was discovered that the cave had been unlawfully accessed and a section of the delicate finger flutings had been vandalized, with damage scratched across them into the side of the cave..."

I've looked at several articles, but none indicate the date when the damage was discovered. Nor does there seem to be any guess at when it might have occurred (logically, it must have been since the last authorized visit to the cave).

The first place I saw this news was on CNN. Here's a link to that article: Click here

While searching, I also came across this 2020 proposal to have guided tours of the cave. However, it was rejected in January 2022 (scroll to the bottom to see the final decision).Koonalda Cave Tourism Proposal

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Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Saturday, Dec 24, 2022 at 13:34

Saturday, Dec 24, 2022 at 13:34

I visited Koonalda cave at Christmas in 1954 as an 8 year old with a group exploring caves. I don't recall the flutings at that time. There were ochre hand prints.

Koonalda Cave 1954

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

AnswerID: 642386

Follow Up By: DesF - Wednesday, Dec 28, 2022 at 15:42

Wednesday, Dec 28, 2022 at 15:42

I climbed down that ladder many years ago on my first trip across. we were in my sisters FC Holden Wagon, was so scary then,

FollowupID: 921957

Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Wednesday, Dec 28, 2022 at 16:01

Wednesday, Dec 28, 2022 at 16:01

Not that ladder, but maybe a similar one.
We brought that one with us and assembled it nearby (and took it away again afterwards). There are a number of caves on the Nullarbor that need an access ladder due to the collapsed doline entrances.
We actually took a boat down into the Koonalda cave to explore the lake.

Koonalda Cave 1954

EDIT.... This is not the boat we took into Koonalda in actual fact, this is another cave, maybe Nullarbor. The boats were borrowed from the local stations.

Koonalda Cave 1954

For those who have visited the old Koonalda homestead that is built from railway sleepers, I am pretty sure that this is the homestead that pre-dated it. The railway sleeper one had not been built yet in 1954.

Koonalda homestead, 1954

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome

FollowupID: 921958

Reply By: Member - McLaren3030 - Sunday, Dec 25, 2022 at 08:30

Sunday, Dec 25, 2022 at 08:30

Hi Candace,

I generally watch the news every night on TV, and I do not recall seeing this reported on any major news service here in Australia. I was away for about 6 weeks on a remote fishing trip from early July to Mid August so it could have been reported then.

It seems that some people today have very little respect for others. They just feel it is their “right” to do what they want, when and where they want, regardless as to how their actions might effect anyone else.

Macca.