Ngilgi Cave | |
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![]() Inside Ngilgi Cave | |
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Location | Yallingup, Western Australia |
Coordinates | 33°38′32″S 115°02′03″E / 33.6422°S 115.0342°E |
Depth | 39 m (128 ft)[1] |
Length | 730 m (2,400 ft)[1] |
Discovery | 10 October 1899[2] (European) |
Geology | Karst cave |
Access | Daily tours, closed 25 December |
Registry | 6YA-1[1] |
Ngilgi Cave, previously known as Yallingup Cave, is a karst cave to the northeast of Yallingup, in the southwest of Western Australia.
In many sections of the cave a red layer of soil can be seen; this is called paleosol.
Discovery
[edit]The local Wardandi people have long known of the existence of the Ngilgi cave.[3] The Wardandi believe the caves to be their passage to the afterlife.[4]
Edward Dawson was the first European to enter the cave when he went searching for stray horses in 1899.[2] He acted as a guide to the cave from December 1900 to November 1937.
It was frequently promoted and was highlighted in early twentieth century tourism promotion materials.[5][6][7][8]
Naming
[edit]It was originally named for the nearby town of Yallingup but renamed in 2000[9] to acknowledge the cave's part in Australian Aboriginal mythology. Ngilgi (pronounced Neelgee)[10] was a good spirit who triumphed in battle against an evil spirit Wolgine.[2]
The story is part of the heritage of the Wardandi people who are the custodians of the caves in the area.[4]
See also
[edit]Gallery
[edit]-
Entrance to Ngilgi Cave
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Plaque commemorating the discovery
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"Two Tonne Stalactite"
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Rock formation
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c "Australian Karst Index Database". Australian Speleological Federation. 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ a b c Jochen Duckeck (2014). "Ngilgi Cave". Show Caves of the World. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ Marisa Quinn-Haisu (18 November 2017). "Ngilgi Cave, Yallingup". Weekend Notes. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
- ^ a b Hall, Susan (Summer 2007). Harding, Alison (ed.). "Wardan Aboriginal Centre" (PDF). Transwa In-service magazine. West Perth: Countrywide Publications. pp. 4–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- ^ The Caves of Western Australia. Perth: A.E. Forsaith. 1905. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- ^ The caves of Western Australia, A.E. Forsaith, 1910, retrieved 7 September 2018
- ^ "BEAUTIFUL FOLDED SHAWLS IN THE YALINGUP CAVE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA". Sunday Times (Perth). No. 1287. Western Australia. 13 August 1922. p. 9. Retrieved 7 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The WONDERLAND of the WEST". Sunday Times (Perth). No. 780. Western Australia. 15 December 1912. p. 3 (First Section). Retrieved 7 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Display panel "Ngilgi once more" at the cave, 5 February 2024
- ^ "A dry day in wine country". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 12 February 2005. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
External links
[edit]- Ngilgi Cave Tourism Western Australia