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KARST IN THE WEST KIMBERLEY – AN OVERVIEW AND UPDATE ROSS AND JAY ANDERSON KARST IN THE WEST KIMBERLEY – AN OVERVIEW AND UPDATE Ross and Jay Anderson PO Box 443 Cloverdale WA 6153 PHOTO: ROSS ANDERSON PHOTO: Kimberley Panorama. ABSTRACT The Kimberley region in WA contains several significant karst systems. This area has been the focus of several intensive speleological expeditions. Since the mid 1900s several speleological groups have undertaken trips to this area. The expeditions have had the goal of documenting and recording the karst values of the area. The WA Speleological Group (WASG) is one such group that has undertaken speleological studies in the Kimberley. It is essential, not only that speleological research is documented, but also that information is kept in a central area. It is also seen as important that the speleological groups in Western Australia are aware of trips occurring to the region, and of outcomes. This will assist in the co-ordination of information and ensure that valuable volunteer time is not wasted. The main speleological expeditions/trips that are known to have occurred to this area are outlined. What is currently known about the karst in the Kimberley is discussed. Some recent discoveries and useful techniques of recording information are outlined. The potential for future visits and documentation of karst in the Kimberley are explored. INTRODUCTION Lowry, Davey, Jolly and Playford all visited the area numer- In general, the limestone in the Kimberley occurs as a ous times. Many of these trips were not individually recorded Devonian reef complex expressed as a series of ridges. The – however the information gained was utilized in scientific pa- ridges run NW-SE for about 296 km along the northern side pers and further documentation of the area. The authors are of the Fitzroy River Basin, fringing the Kimberley Plateau. preparing a paper with more details to appear in The Western Figure 1 shows the primary Limestone Ranges of the West Caver. This will contain a list of the WA led expeditions that Kimberley. the authors are aware of from documented literature. It will There have been numerous speleological expeditions to also contain references to other non-WA speleological groups the Kimberley. From our research it appears that the 1960s who have visited the Kimberley (Anderson in prep. b). and 1970s were a very busy time for cavers from all over Aus- It has been known for some time that the limestone ranges tralia to visit the Kimberley. During this time the Illawarra of the west Kimberley are of considerable international sig- Speleological Society (ISS) undertook six trips – mostly to the nificance both geologically and geomorphologically. Davey Laidlaw/Lawford Ranges karst area. References to these trips (1980) stated that “the karst in the west Kimberley must be regarded and more details will appear in The Western Caver (Anderson as one of the most diverse and scientifically interesting – not to men- 2005, in prep. b). Robinson (2004, pers.comm.) stated that tion scenically impressive – of our scarce Australian karst resources” . nearly all of the trips to the Kimberley were unrecorded. This Davey also pointed out that unfortunately the remoteness of is believed to be due to an agreement that ISS had with the the limestone ranges from the main centres of the Australian landowner not to publicize or document the area. In total, population has significantly inhibited systematic exploration ISS has undertaken 11 trips to the Kimberley, the majority of and documentation of the karst, and of caves in particular. trips being to the Cave Springs/Mimbi area. The remoteness means that travel to the area takes at least Western Australian cavers undertook numerous trips to the 2-3 days driving from Perth and 4-5 days driving from the east Kimberley karst areas. Speleologists like Jennings, Sweeting, coast. Visits to the karst areas in the north require consider- 25TH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE OF THE AUSTRALIAN SPELEOLOGICAL FEDERATION 64 Cave Mania 2005 ROSS AND JAY ANDERSON KARST IN THE WEST KIMBERLEY – AN OVERVIEW AND UPDATE able finances, planning, organization, time and of course be virgin ground for the bio-speleologist” (1962:33). To date, the “keen cavers”! The positive side is that the area has not had authors are only aware of three expeditions to the West the same environmental impact by recreational cavers as karst Kimberley to collect subterranean fauna for the WA Museum areas located closer to places like Perth or Sydney. (Vine 1996, Anderson in prep. a, Humphreys 1995). Some of the caves in the west Kimberley have been re- Davey (1980) also stated that there is little published re- corded since the turn of the 19th Century. The Kimberley’s search on the palaeontological and archaeological aspects three best known caves (The Tunnel, Old Napier Downs Cave of the caves. He cites work done/undertaken by Nicoll and Cave Spring Cave System) have been fairly thoroughly (1977) and Gorter and Nicoll (1978) and Playford (1960). investigated (Jennings 1962, Jennings and Sweeting 1963, Even since that time, studies of the area have only been of a Lowry 1967, Shannon 1970). In 1973 Bridge listed a total reconnaissance nature. of 33 caves and karst features that were documented in the In the 1980s there were several expeditions to the Gogo literature at the time. Other authors (Cox and Dohnt 1971, and Mt Pierre Stations, East of Fitzroy Crossing. Significant Nicoll 1977, Shannon 1970, Dicker 1978) describe previously fossils were found at several sites that are believed to be unknown caves, which illustrate the potential for further in the Devonian reefs of the Laidlaw/Lawford ranges and discoveries in the region (Davey 1980). The WASG 1996 trip referred to as “Cave Springs”. This area also contains the (Vine 1997) added about 70 “new” caves and karst features Mimbi Cave system. to the known caves of the Kimberley. McKenzie (2004, pers. comm.) has indicated that there Davey (1980, p 41) has stated that “it must be stressed that was a recent Government expedition to the area – primarily many features of the limestone ranges are of considerable interna- concerned with live mammal trapping, but also examining tional significance, and that the area is an outstanding component caves and cliffs for subfossil deposits. O’Donnell (2004 pers. of Australia’s natural heritage”. Of particular concern to the comm.) stated that the group of CALM scientists found a authors is that many of the ASF recommendations regarding thylacine jawbone near the Cheddar Cliffs. the significance and protection of the Kimberley karst (when Davey’s closing comments are that “the limited features the ASF commented on the WA Dept of Conservation and identified so far are of considerable interest and it is very likely that Environment Report on the “Conservation through Reserves there will be significant discoveries in the future. As such, resource Committee” on System 7:The Kimberley”) have not yet been management must be sufficiently flexible to protect new sites as they resolved. Although important parts of the ranges are con- are identified” (1980:37). He also said that “the impression remains tained in National Parks (eg Windjana, Geiki Gorge, Tunnel that much of importance remains to be discovered, documented and Creek) there is little acknowledgement or management of protected” (1980:37). It is now 25 years later and this statement the area’s karst. The authors note that the WA Government is still true!! primarily operates the National Parks as “surface” environ- Jennings (1962:30) stated that “in the dissected limestone ments for tourism, and management of visitor impacts in country, dark cave entrances invite the caver on every hand. Indeed, tourism nodes. The IUCN outlines the need for Integrated there is much first exploration to be done by visiting speleologists.” Catchment Management. It is the IUCN Guidelines for karst (He went on to say that “unfortunately most will probably prove to management, which highlight the importance of what is re- be small caves”). The authors note that the nature of the karst, ferred to as a “total catchment regime” (Watson et al 1997). with its dissected fissures has nevertheless provided some The Kimberley region requires an integrated management extensive cave systems. More recent exploration has found approach, such as integrated catchment management. extensive network caves and extended the known sections This paper does not describe or outline the significance of caves. For example, KN1 was surveyed in 1959 (Jennings of the karst in respect to its geology. This has been discussed 1962) and the cave was later extended on several occasions. in detail in numerous papers (Davey 1980, Jennings 1962, It is the authors’ opinion that there are still large caves to Jennings and Sweeting 1963, Playford 1960, Playford 1976, be found. Although it must be noted that the definition of Playford and Lowry 1966, Teichert 1949, Playford 1976, “small” and “cave” are relatively subjective. Logan and Semeniuk 1976). Nor is this paper in any way In 1995, Humphreys reported that “few caves have previously attempting to describe the significance of the karst area’s been reported from the Devonian reef system, however… there is a large subterranean biota. The WASG web site (www.wasg.iinet.net. number of caves in the Devonian reef system. Some are substantial au/kimberley.html) notes that most cave fauna of the region and contain extensive decoration. In addition there are significant has been collected by two expeditions – the WA Museum caves in sandstone country” (Humphreys 1995: xiii) (WAM) and Bill Humphreys’ 1994 (Humphreys 1995) and the WASG 1996 (Vine 1997) expeditions. The most recent WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE KIMBERLEY KARST? WASG expedition (Anderson, in prep. a) has also undertaken Some early cave recordings include cave fauna sampling.

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