Borenore Caves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Borenore Caves |
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| Location | Orange, New South Wales, Australia |
| Discovery |
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| Geology | Limestone |
| Access | Public; limited access May–October |
| Lighting | Nil |
| Features | Home to Eastern bent-winged bats |
| Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve New South Wales |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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 Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve
Location in New South Wales
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| Nearest town or city | Orange |
| Established | December 1997 |
| Area | 1.36 km2 (0.5 sq mi) |
| Managing authorities |
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| Website | Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve |
| See also | Protected areas of New South Wales |
The Borenore Caves are a cool series of limestone caves found in the Central West area of New South Wales, Australia. These caves are part of the Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve. They are famous for their special rock formations, called karst, and the many fossils found there.
These fossils come from an ancient reef that existed millions of years ago during the Silurian period. You can find fossils of corals, sea lilies (crinoids), and even trilobites! The Borenore karst area is surrounded by volcanic rock that came from eruptions at nearby Mount Canobolas.
The reserve covers about 136-hectare (340-acre) (which is like 336 football fields!). It's located about 17 kilometres (11 mi) west of Orange. This special place is listed as a natural heritage site because of its amazing variety of rock shapes and types. Remember, you can't camp in the reserve.
Exploring Borenore Caves
You can explore the Borenore Caves by yourself, and it's great for anyone who wants to visit. There's no entry fee to get into the reserve.
The reserve has more than forty caves! Here are a few of the most interesting ones:
- Arch Cave
- Tunnel Cave – This cave is a long, dark passage, about 110 metres (360 ft) (360 feet) long. It comes out from the bottom of a big hill. The entrance at the top of the hill is about 30 metres (98 ft) (98 feet) higher than the exit at the bottom. The Tunnel Cave is closed from May to October each year. This is to protect a group of Eastern bent-winged bats that sleep there during winter.
- Verandah Cave
A History of Marble Mining
The Borenore Caves area is also known for its beautiful Borenore Red marble. This marble was mined here until 1994. You can see this special red marble in famous buildings like The Strand Arcade and even Buckingham Palace!
Around 1898, an Italian family of skilled stone workers, Peter Rusconi and his sons Joe and Frank Rusconi, were picnicking at Borenore. They quickly realized how high-quality the marble was. This marble was considered some of the best in the world and was mined for about thirty years. You can still see examples of the famous Borenore red marble in places like Central Station and the Sydney GPO in Sydney.
