Underground Australia

The National Library of Australia has compiled and shared a wonderful collection of public domain historical photographs of caves and hidden spaces throughout Australia. You can learn more about the book, Underground Australia written by historian Michael McKernan, at the NLA Bookshop.

This plate commemorates James Carvosso Wiburd, who retired in 1932 after forty-seven years service at Jenolan Caves - by Frank Hurley c1910

Adelie Land, a grotto of mysteries [Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914] - Frank Hurley

Conway shovel in operation No 4 power station, and men, Kiewa, December 1947, State Electricity Commission of Victoria - by Frank Hurley c1910

Yanchep, Crystal cave, Western Australia- by Frank Hurley c1910

Opal miner, George Lowe chips away at the face of his opal mine, Lightning Ridge, 1953 by Bill Brindle

Snowy Mountains Scheme T-2 tunnel work, 1957, Dept of Overseas Trade, Melbourne - by Wolfgang Sievers

The Cascades, River Cave, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales - by Frank Hurley c1910

River Cave, Margaret River, Western Australia, - by Frank Hurley c1910

Hawkesbury train emerging from tunnel, New South Wales- by Frank Hurley c1910

Unidentified Australian Army soldiers constructing a dugout - scenes of Army life in Australia during World War II - by John Flynn c1937

Miners - by WJ Mildenhall c1901

Post office and telegraph station, Coober Pedy - by John Flynn

The dazzling beauty of the Persian Chamber, Orient Cave, Jenolan Caves, New South Wales, - by Frank Hurley c1910

Frank Moon lying underneath some stalactites, Buchan Caves, Victoria - by John Flynn

Cave prison - taken on a survey trip undertaken in 1927 for the Flying Doctor Scheme - by Cameron, TW c1927

On the frozen sea in a cavern eaten out by the waves under the coastal ice-cliffs, Adelie Land [Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914] - Frank Hurley