Ashford Caves

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Bats occupy several caverns in the caves complex.
Bats occupy several caverns in the caves complex.

An outcrop of coralline limestone can be found about 8km west of the former Ashford coal Mine, North of Ashford and not far from the Queensland border town of Texas, Queensland. Originally on a private property, the Ashford Limestone caves are now part of the Kwiambal National Park. A basic camping ground called 'Peach trees' is nearby (within a 10 km Radius) as are the Macintyre Falls.[1]

The large arch-shaped opening was made to access the phosphate (guano) resources for use as fertilizer, which has been quite profitable. Prospects of mining limestone at this location have been explored, but dismissed as unviable.

A colony of Eastern Bentwing Bats[2] inhabits the cave system and breeds from November through March.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.inverell.nsw.gov.au/dir205/InvOnline.nsf www.inverell.nsw.gov.au
  2. ^ http://www.threatenedspecies.environment.nsw.gov.au/tsprofile/profile.aspx?id=10534 Eastern Bentwing Bat
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