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When it comes to attractions, there's nothing quite like the Wellington
Caves. With a history spanning millions of years, it's no wonder so many
people are drawn to the Molong area each year just for the sole purpose
of experiencing the internationally acclaimed Wellington Caves.
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The Cathedral Cave with its fabulous display of stalagmites and stalactites
is documented as displaying possibly the world's largest stalagmite, an awe
inspiring limestone structure measuring and incredible 15 meters in height
and 32 meters around its base.
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Tours of the Cathedral Cave and the smaller but equally fascinating Garden
Cave are conducted each day by experienced cave guides.
Other caves in the complex include the Bone Cave where fossils of animals which
roamed the earth more than two and a half billion years ago have been found;
the Water Cave, rediscovered recently after being lost for more than 20 years;
and the magnificent River Cave only opened to experienced cave divers.
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Another unique feature of the Wellington Caves area is the historic Wellington
Phosphate Mine which operated during the First World War. The New South Wales
Phosphate Company located phosphate reserves in the area in 1913 and phosphate
extraction commenced at the end of the same year.
In all, around 6,000 tonnes of phosphate were removed from the mine and used as
fertiliser. In 1995 the mine again became significant, this time as a forerunner
in cave and mine restoration.
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Now complete, the restoration initiative has become another unique tourist
attraction for the area, allowing visitors to experience methods and conditions
of mining as they were at the turn of the century. They are able to view
first-hand, fossils and bones which date back hundreds of thousands of years.
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The Wellington
Caves area is located just eight kilometres south of Wellington. The
turn off from the Mitchell Highway is marked by the Wellington
Gateway Project, a contemporary, community-based sculpture and
information bay.
Maps and tourism details are provided for visitors to the area.
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