Welcome to the Victorian Speleological Association
Are you looking for a real-world adventure that’s a little more underground? Join the Victorian Speleological Association (VSA) and become part of a community of explorers, scientists, adventurers, and conservationists working together to uncover the secrets of Victoria’s vast cave systems.
Explore, Map, Protect, Discover What Lies Beneath
With over 800 caves scattered across Victoria the VSA offers unique access to:
– Cave Exploration & Mapping – Explore and document underground landscapes, some never before seen.
– Cave Management & Access – Work with landowners and authorities to find, protect and manage cave environments.
– Cave Conservation – Help preserve delicate ecosystems and advocate for responsible caving practices.
– Expeditions & Training – Join local and interstate trips, build your skills, and be part of an active, hands-on community.
Are you ready to go underground?
If you enjoy hiking, climbing, science, conservation, and/or just discovering places most people never get to see — this is your sign to go caving. No prior experience needed. Just bring curiosity, a headlamp, and a willingness to get a little muddy.
Join the VSA today and help us explore, protect, and celebrate the hidden world beneath Victoria. You are welcome to attend a VSA monthly meeting in Carlton. You can also send us an email or join our Facebook group.
Nargun Badge History
Organised cave exploration in Victoria really began in early 1956 with a meeting between myself, then a member of the Melbourne University Mountaineering Club (MUMC), and the then president of the Cave Exploration Group of South Australia (CEGSA), Elery Hamilton-Smith. Elery was coming to Melbourne from Adelaide on a visit. By some chance I had heard that he would be over, so we had a meeting at Melbourne University cafeteria.
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Elery had heard of a number of others in Victoria who were interested in caves and he put me in touch with them. A number of MUMC members were also interested, so there seemed to be sufficient numbers to form the nucleus of an organised group. The first organised trip was to Naracoorte with CEGSA: Ken Lynn from the United Kingdom took a prominent part. Following this we managed to put together a reasonable contingent to go to the 1956/1957 ASF Nullarbor Expedition.
The Victorian Cave Exploration Society (VCES) was formed in early 1957 with Ken as president and myself as secretary. Elery subsequently moved to Melbourne and was elected vice-president. Shortly after the foundation of the group it was obvious that we did not have a suitable club badge like those used by CEGSA and the Sydney clubs.
Chris Warner, who was the first treasurer of VCES, suggested that her father, a prominent artist, may be able to design a suitable badge. The design produced was fairly heraldic in concept and was used on letterheads during the latter part of 1957 and into 1958.
During a visit to East Buchan in early 1958, we were in Mabel Cave [EB-1] looking out of the balcony when someone suggested that there was a good subject for a photo of a trog looking out over the Buchan River. Many different photographs were taken. One in particular was taken, probably by Les Southwell of the VCES. It was a slide photograph of me standing in silhouette at the main entrance of Mabel Cave.
This photograph, when viewed on a screen at a club meeting, inspired Les to create and draw up the now well known Nargun badge as a sketch. This was promptly accepted as the most appropriate badge and it replaced the heraldic badge used previously. – Robin Bailey.
Excerpt from NARGUN Vol. 28, No. 10, Page 73, May 1996. Thanks to Daryl Carr for extracting this information from the VSA Library.
Homeleigh East Gippsland Caving Accommodation
Homeleigh is a former guesthouse and the original Buchan Pub in eastern Victoria, which was purchased by the Rimstone Cooperative in 1974. The cooperative was formed by members and friends of the VSA to secure a place for cavers to stay in the Buchan area at a discounted price.
The cooperative acquired Homeleigh and has been using funds from accommodation fees to maintain and renovate the property to improve facilities for its members and guests. If you are caving around Buchan, you are more than likely staying at Homeleigh.
