Beautiful Photos of the Jenolan Caves around 1900

The Jenolan Caves are limestone caves located within the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve in the Central Tablelands region, west of the Blue Mountains, in Jenolan, Oberon Council, New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The caves and 3,083-hectare (7,620-acre) reserve are situated approximately 175 kilometers (109 mi) west of Sydney, 20 kilometers (12 mi) east of Oberon and 30 kilometers (19 mi) west of Katoomba (74 kilometers (46 mi) by road). Dating back to 340million years ago, it is the oldest known and dated open cave system in the world.

The caves are the most visited of several similar groups in the limestone caves of the country, and the most ancient discovered open caves in the world. They include numerous Silurian marine fossils and the calcite formations, sometimes pure white, are noted for their beauty. The cave network follows the course of a subterranean section of the Jenolan River. It has more than 40 kilometers (25 mi) of multi-level passages and over 300 entrances. The complex is still being explored. The caves are a tourist destination, with eleven illuminated show caves open to paying visitors.

The caves and conservation reserve are one of the eight protected areas that was inscribed in 2000 to form part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Greater Blue Mountains Area. Here below is a set of beautiful photos from Powerhouse Museum that shows the Jenolan Caves around 1900.

'The Garden Palace', Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

'Madonna', Imperial Cave, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

'Architect's Studio', Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

'Architect's Studio', Left Imperial Cave, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

Cave Road, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

Caves House, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

Limestone caves scene, possibly Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

Pool by Grand Arch, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

Shawl Cave, Right Imperial Cave, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

Show Room, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

Stalagmite Cave, Right Imperial Cave, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

The bathing pool, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900

The Gem of the West, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, circa 1900