What appears below is based upon B. Dunlop's historical summary that appeared in hsi excellent guidebooks to Jenolan Caves. This book is now out of print although it is well worth seeking out through a second hand book dealer.
FOR 25 years after the opening of the road across the mountains
to Bathurst, the caves, hidden in wild country unattractive to settlers, remained
undiscovered. Then not earlier than 1838, perhaps as late as 1841, James Whalan,
a pastoralist of Tarana, and two mounted police, while tracking a bushranger
named McKeown, saw the open arches and passed through the Devil's Coachhouse.
James McKeown was an escaped convict . . . whose presence on the main western
road was for years excessively irritating to the settlers, on whose stores he
laid an oppressive toll . . . Whalan set out to track McKeown and followed him
up hill and down dale for miles. After they had covered about 20 miles the bushranger
suddenly disappeared . . The tracks led up to a wild cavern and into it ...
and burst again into open day, and the route lay along a rugged gorge for some
three miles. Here the bushranger again disappeared . . All about were evidences
of careful cultivation, the bushranger having laid out quite a nice little farm
Satisfied that he had run down his bird, Whalan retraced his steps . . . When
he returned home he told his brother Charles of the strange country he had wandered
into "I have been through the Devil's Coachhouse," he said Next day
a party was made up, and with the aid of troopers McKeown was captured His hiding
place was a huge hole in the mountain-side, known now as McKeown's Hole . .
. McKeown lived to return from a long term of exile on Norfolk Island and to
re-visit the scene of his former exploits. -("Argus")
McKeown, of course, and probably other cattle stealers, had seen the open arches
before this discovery, and the caves had long been known to the Aborigines.
Unfortunately, no contem-porary accounts are known. The earliest literature
consists of newspaper articles beginning in 1848, which tell nothing of the
discovery. Credit for the discovery was first claimed, as far as is known, in
the eighties for both James and Charles Whalan, by their sons, but both stories
agree that James saw the caves first. C. S. Wilkinson, in "N.S.W. Railway
Guide," 1886, attributed the discovery to James in 1841, and has been followed
by Cook, Foster and Trickett. W. L. Havard considers 1838 the more probable
year of discovery.
Charles Whalan, brother of James, explored the great arches immediately after
the discovery and for many years he and his sons were prominent as honorary
guides. His house, "Glyndwr," near Oberon, was a regular stopping
place for visitors.
1846. Arch Cave discovered .
1848. Elder Cave discovered.
1860. Lucas Cave discovered. First shown to the public in 1860. The discovery
of the Arch, Elder and Lucas Caves added greatly to the fame of the system because
the Elder and Lucas were the first to contain fresh-surfaced sparkling formations.
1866. Caves reserve created.
1867-1896. Jeremiah Wilson first "keeper."
Names. The Government Gazette, in announcing Wilson's appointment (8/3/67),
used the name "Binda Caves," which was thus their first official title.
They had, however, become generally known as the Fish River Caves, and this
name appears subsequently in official references.
Tourist Conditions. Wilson's appointment did not bring about any immediate improvements,
except control. That little was expected of him is indicated by his salary,
£25 a year and a small allowance for expenditure on the caves. He continued
to reside at his farm on Fish River Creek, nearly 20 miles away. Intending visitors
to the caves were required to notify him well beforehand and were met at Tarana
railway station. They were taken as far as possible in buggies but were obliged
to make the steep descent into the caves valley on foot. The journey from Sydney
took 24 hours and a night was then spent in the Grand Archway before commencing
to inspect caves. These arrangements continued for thirteen years, till 1880.
Within the caves there were still no improvements, paths were almost unmade
and there were many points difficult to negotiate. Special clothing was necessary.
For lighting, each visitor carried a candle, and the guide illuminated special
features by holding aloft a strip of burning magnesium ribbon. In later years
a special lamp was used for burning magnesium.
1872. Breaking of stalactites made a punishable offence. The known caves
had all suffered considerably at the hands of souvenir hunters. Fortunately
only one of the caves now regularly inspected was known at the time.
1877. Discovery of Glass Cave and Frenchman's Cave.
1878. Discovery of Bottomless Pit.
1879. Discovery of Right Imperial (now Imperial) Cave by Wilson. First
shown to the public in 1880. Road from Oberon continued right to the caves.
1880. First permanent settlement. Wilson leased two acres and erected
an accommodation house. First improvements and protective measures within the
caves.
1880-1881. Left Imperial (now Chifley) Cave discovered by Wilson. First
shown to the public in 1880.
1882. Mammoth Cave discovered
1884. Wilkinson branch discovered. Bridle track from Katoomba across
the Kanimbia and Cox's River Valleys defined by Surveyor W. M. Cooper.
Name Jenolan applied. Surveyor Cooper pointed out that "Fish River Caves"
was a misnomer, the Fish River being on the western side of the Dividing Range
and the caves on the eastern side. At his suggestion the caves were officially
named "Jenolan Caves" after the parish in which they are situated
(Government Gazette, 19/8/1884). Trickett states that Jen-o-lan is a native
name signifying a high mountain, and W. L. Havard has ascertained in the Royal
Australian Historical Sciety's Journal & Proceedings that it was the native
name for a certain hill on the Cox's River.
1887. First permanent electric lighting. Passage lights were installed
in the Imperial Cave. Special features were still illuminated by magnesium ribbon.
The Lucas Cave was similarly lit by 1894 and subsequently the Nettle and Arch
Caves, but not the Elder. Current was at first supplied by a steam-driven dynamo
in the Grand Archway.
Late 1880's. Road from Mt. Victoria completed to within a quarter of
a mile of the Grand Arch. This road has since been the main route to the caves.
Tourists could then reach the caves in rather less than 24 hours from Sydney.
Woolcott's Tourists' Guide gave the following schedule: Leave Sydney by 5 p.m.
train; stay night at Mt. Victoria; leave 9 a.m. for caves; lunch en route; arrive
at caves afternoon. "Passengers" walk the final 200 yards to the house,
their luggage being carried on horseback.
1890. Jersey Cave discovered.
1892. Passage from Grand Arch to Lucas Balcony discovered by F. Wilson,
a discovery put to use in 1897. Previously a climb over the limestone was necessary
to reach the Lucas entrance.
1893-1894. Jubilee Cave discovered by J. Wilson. First shown to the public
in 1897.
1896. Limestone bridge and road through Grand Archway completed. J. Wilson's
lease terminated and land resumed.
1896-1903. F. J. Wilson, Caretaker.
1897. Aladdin Cave discovered by F. J. Wilson.
1897-1898. Oliver Trickett surveyed the caves.
1898. Present entrance to Imperial Cave cut. The older entrance was higher
in the Grand Arch and was reached by ladder. Central section of present Caves
House completed and leased. Post Office erected.
1900. Mafeking Cave discovered by F. J. Wilson.
1901. Short tunnel cut from Lucas Cave to Balcony. Until 1954 it was
the main entrance to all other south-side caves.
1903-1932. J. C. Wiburd, Caretaker.
1903. River and Skeleton Caves discovered by J. C. Wiburd and others.
River Cave opened to the public in 1904. Skeleton (now called the Cerberus)
first shown to the public in 1905.
1904. Temple of Baal and Orient Caves discovered by J. C. Wiburd and
others. The Temple of Baal is firt shown to the public in 1909 and the Orient
in 1917.
1907. Northern wing. Caves House, commenced (completed 1909). The interest
created by the new discoveries and the coming of motor cars and organised tours
had greatly increased the number of visitors.
1908. Dam built. Blue Lake created.
1914. Four-storey block. Caves House, commenced (completed 1918).
1916. House under Government control.
1921. Ramp in Grand Arch to Imperial Cave.
1923. Tunnel cut from Left Imperial Cave to Grand Archway. Path built
beside Styx. Staff quarters erected.
1932-1946. A. Bradley, Chief Guide.
1937. Detour constructed to avoid steep ladder in Exhibition Chamber.
1938. Steps in Grand Archway constructed.
1946. J. O'Connor appointed Chief Guide.
1952. Left Imperial Cave re-named Chifley Cave.
1954. Binoomea Cut constructed to facilitate entry to Temple of Baal
and Orient Caves.
1955. F. H. Harman appointed Chief Guide.
1963. Wallaby and koala breeding centres established in McKeown's Valley.
1964. Road widened at entrance to the Grand Arch. New roadway formed
behind Caves House to provide a traffic link with new parking area. Barallong
Cave discovered.
