There’s stand up comedy, TED Talks, even curling up with a fascinating new novel – but they’d all do well to paint a picture as vivid and extraordinary as the stories you hear from a local tour guide. If you’ve ever been to the alluring heritage listed Naracoorte Caves you’d know exactly what I’m talking about.
As you descend into a natural museum of fossils, stalagmites, and stalactites, you’re transported back in time to the South Australian wonder that is beneath the rich and expansive Limestone Coast.
Long story short, it took a whole lot of hasty courage for a local farmer to uncover the massive caves beneath Naracoorte in 1840. A bit of inquisitive exploring led to a breathtaking discovery which lay claim to an unlikely venue, host to hundreds of elegant celebrations in the following decades. How do we know all this? Well it’s all thanks to local guide, Barbara Lobban, who helped piece together the fascinating party history of the Naracoorte caves.
The image above was taken around 1890, with the photographer unknown. Barbara said it was a great representation of the way the caves were used in the early days after discovery.
“People had picnics and parties down there,” Barbara said. “We have a lot of visitors that come down and recall having birthdays in the cave. Some of these people have great-grandchildren and are looking all the way back to their childhood.”
Early on, the cave hosted numerous galas and elegant gatherings with only the light of old lanterns and a candle for each guest illuminating the dark depths. It would have been quite the spectacle in the late 1800s, with large top hats, flowing gowns, and vests all round, in a completely unique setting.
How did they get down there back then? The theory is that the large steps made from dolomite and still used today were built fairly early on.
“The steps are quite steep and you have to duck as you get further down,” Barbara said. “There are then wooden sleeper steps as you get close to the floor of the cave. You just have to imagine people walking down in their formal clothes holding old lanterns, before there was electrical lighting.”
A 21st or two was not uncommon and one the chambers was even dubbed “Robertson’s Parlour” for its reputation of holding outrageously glamorous parties.
Adorned with kerosene lanterns and long stick candles, the shadows of speleothem (the combined word for stalagmites and stalactites) would flicker across the uneven walls creating an ambience unknown to 21st century life.
“I think of Blanche Cave back in the day becoming a community centre,” Barbara said. “These days we have halls, and sports centres, but back then they had a cave.”
“It was also a great place to escape the heat, that’s another reason why people gathered down there.”
For the numerous weddings held in the caves, the space would be decorated head to toe. “A lot of the ladies made up huge flower arrangements and decorated the cave with them.”
Following the adorning traditions, the cave would be decorated with electric lights from the early 1900s. “They’d put early versions of coloured party lights on the roofs of the caves.” It would cast incredible shadows and colourful glows throughout.
The caves were discovered around 1845 by a pair of sheep farmers. Barbara said, “The story went: A herd of sheep strayed into the landscape and the farmers went looking. They found these three big openings in front of them and curiosity took over.”
“I know myself I would have been curious. I quite often ask visitors: What would you have done if you discovered these openings?”
“Most people are curious.”
The caves still regularly host numerous functions and events to this day within their chambers with Carols by Cavelight, jazz festivals, opera concerts and even the Olympic torch relay all in its history.
Classical festival Classics in the Cave was held in 2021 bringing acclaimed violinist Jonathon Glonek and German/American violinist Heidi Von Bernewitz for an iconic recital.
From glamorous galas to modern-day concerts, the Naracoorte Caves continue to echo with stories, both old and new. Next time you make the trip to Naracoorte, you’ll know just how lively the caves used to be – and continue to be.
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