Victorian Speleological Association
About us
The VSA is an volunteer supported incorporated volunteer organisation with a formally elected committee. The committee consisting of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Program Organiser who manage the day to day business requirements. In conjunction there are several co-opted offices and positions to support the association including:
– Conservation
– Equipment
– Excavation
– Nargun (Periodical)
– Newsletter
– Records & Karst Index Database
– Website Management
The VSA
The VSA is a corporate member of the Australian Speleological Federation Inc. (ASF) which is part of the International Union of Speleology. As a member, VSA must adhere to the ASF code of ethics, risk management and cave safety standards. More information about these and other standards as well as other information relating to ASF can be found on the links page.
The 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 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.
Prominent Victorian Cave Areas
The VSA go caving to a quite a few areas around Victoria. The more frequented areas include Buchan, Limestone Creek, Gippsland, Ballarat, Hamilton and Portland.
The areas in the west tend to be volcanic areas whereas those in the east generally have limestone caves.
Cave Features
You’ll see incredible crystal formations, long shimmering straws, awesome columns, stalactites and stalagmites, beautiful helictites, sparkling rimstone pools, underground lakes and rivers, massive caverns, crawls and squeezes just big enough to fit through, bats, and oh yeah – MUD. You won’t believe your eyes when you enter the underground world.
The holy grail of caving is NEW caves – you have the opportunity to stand where NO human ever has before, and see things NEVER seen before in history. What other sport can offer you that?As a club the VSA go caving to a quite a few areas around Victoria. Some of the more frequented areas include Buchan, Limestone Creek, Gippsland, Ballarat, Hamilton and Portland. Those areas in the west tend to be volcanic areas whereas those in the east generally have limestone caves.
Club Trips
There are many club trips run throughout the year, typically with one trip per month. Trips are usually conducted within Victoria spanning limestone, volcanic or sea cliff areas. In addition to this, each year there is often at least one major caving expedition undertaken by interested members that will have those exploring caves in remote areas around Australia as well as trips to large cave systems overseas. Expeditions that have occurred in the past include trips to the Nullarbor Plain, Pungalina, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. Trips are constantly being organised so check the calendar page for trips that might interest you.
Though there are a number of publicly accessible caves throughout Victoria catering for all ages and ability, caving is not typically an easy stroll through an underground passage. It may and usually does involve getting extremely dirty as you crawl and squeeze your way through tight passages, swim through underground river systems, abseil or ladder down large cave shafts or aid/free climb to the top of an aven. Your efforts are often rewarded with the sight of fantastically shaped passages and cave decoration such as stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, rimstone pools, shawls and flowstone. Not to mention the thrill and excitement of possibly discovering a new cave or exploring a passage where nobody has ever been.
Monthly Meetings
The VSA meets on the first Wednesday of each month (except January and June) at the Kathleen Syme building in Faraday Street, Carlton. This is a good time to discuss upcoming caving trips (amongst other topics) and express any interests, thoughts or ask questions.
Typically each meeting has at least one presentation either by a club member or an invited guest. These presentations may cover past caving trips, current scientific work in the fields of palaeontology and/or geology, or anything else cave related. See the calendar page for more details relating to upcoming meetings.