Victorian Speleological Association
Encyclopedia
The Victorian Speleological Association Inc. (VSA) was created in 1967 by the merger of the Victorian Cave Exploration Society (1957) and the Sub Aqua Speleological Society (1960). It is a member of the Australian Speleological Federation
(ASF) which is in turn part of the International Union of Speleology
. The Association aims to explore and chart the extensive cave
systems in Victoria (Australia)
and elsewhere, represent the interests of Victorian cavers to the relevant authorities and to encourage the preservation of caves in their natural state. There are over 800 caves in Victoria, many of them on private property. In addition to its exploration, campaigning and conservation work the Association's members oversee recreational expeditions underground for the general public.
The VSA has been actively involved with the exploration of sinkholes and caves at Nullarbor Plain
. These have proved a rich source of megafauna
fossils and the Association was instrumental in the discovery and recovery of a rare Thylacoleo skeleton in 2002. The significance of such discoveries was great enough to warrant a special report on the ABC science show, Catalyst which aired on Australian television in 2006.
Currently the VSA have members engaged in a programme of exploration and surveying in the Bullita Caves in the Gregory National Park
, Northern territory
, which, at over 100 km, is one of the longest underground systems in the world. It has also carried out an extensive period of exploration and surveying in the famous Buchan Caves
.
The role of the VSA in exploration and conservation is acknowledged in the Mount Eccles National Park and Mount Napier State Plan and Snowy River National Park Management Plan, while their publications are cited by Australian State Government agencies in guides to various cave systems.
Australian Speleological Federation
Australian Speleological Federation Inc. is an Environmental Organisation, registered by the Department of the Environment and Heritage in Canberra, Australia, with the primary objective of protecting the cave and karst environment of Australia...
(ASF) which is in turn part of the International Union of Speleology
International Union of Speleology
International Union of Speleology is a non-profit, non-governmental organization created to promote interaction between academic and technical speleologists from a wide range of nationalities for the purpose of developing and coordinating international speleology in all of its scientific,...
. The Association aims to explore and chart the extensive cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
systems in Victoria (Australia)
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and elsewhere, represent the interests of Victorian cavers to the relevant authorities and to encourage the preservation of caves in their natural state. There are over 800 caves in Victoria, many of them on private property. In addition to its exploration, campaigning and conservation work the Association's members oversee recreational expeditions underground for the general public.
The VSA has been actively involved with the exploration of sinkholes and caves at Nullarbor Plain
Nullarbor Plain
The Nullarbor Plain is part of the area of flat, almost treeless, arid or semi-arid country of southern Australia, located on the Great Australian Bight coast with the Great Victoria Desert to its north. It is the world's largest single piece of limestone, and occupies an area of about...
. These have proved a rich source of megafauna
Megafauna
In terrestrial zoology, megafauna are "giant", "very large" or "large" animals. The most common thresholds used are or...
fossils and the Association was instrumental in the discovery and recovery of a rare Thylacoleo skeleton in 2002. The significance of such discoveries was great enough to warrant a special report on the ABC science show, Catalyst which aired on Australian television in 2006.
Currently the VSA have members engaged in a programme of exploration and surveying in the Bullita Caves in the Gregory National Park
Gregory National Park
Gregory is a national park in the Northern Territory , 359 km south of Darwin.-Birds:The park has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area because it supports much of the eastern subspecies of the White-quilled Rock-Pigeon and small numbers of the endangered Gouldian...
, Northern territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, which, at over 100 km, is one of the longest underground systems in the world. It has also carried out an extensive period of exploration and surveying in the famous Buchan Caves
Buchan Caves
The Buchan Caves are a group of caves that include Royal Cave and Fairy Cave, located in Buchan, Victoria, with limestone formations created by underground rivers cutting through limestone rock almost 400 million years ago...
.
The role of the VSA in exploration and conservation is acknowledged in the Mount Eccles National Park and Mount Napier State Plan and Snowy River National Park Management Plan, while their publications are cited by Australian State Government agencies in guides to various cave systems.