Koonalda Cave - SA

Access to the cave is now not possible as the gate is locked and there is no sign of a ladder under the gate. The cave is still worth a visit.

Hi, I worked on building the Eyre Highway (last 44 miles to BP Border Village) with Crawford Earthmovers. Neville Gurney was the son of the lease holder of Koonalda Station. And he brought all the water for the watertruck from the Koonalda cave. I went down into the cave with Neville and a few others in 1975. In those days you had to get permission from the Gurney family because the University of New South Wales was doing excavations there from time to time. There was no gate then, just a rusty steel ladder. I believe it was Neville Gurney's Grandfather who planted the fruit trees down on the entrance level. Hope this helps. Cheers. The Gurney's had a 99 year lease on the property, but after the road was completed, the area was turned into a national park and the family had to vacate the land. I do not know if they were compensated or not.