The Caves, Queensland

The locality is in Central Queensland region. Alligator Creek, a tributary of the Fitzroy River forms the western boundary of the locality. The town is in the centre of the locality.{{Cite QPN|389|Alligator Creek|watercourse in the Shire of Livingstone|access-date=19 March 2021}}{{Queensland Globe|access-date=19 March 2021}}

Cammoo is a neighbourhood within the north of the locality ({{coord|-23.1666|150.45|type:city_region:AU-QLD|name=Cammoo (neighbourhood)}}).{{cite QPN|5876|Cammoo|locality unbounded in Livingstone Shire|accessdate=27 December 2020}}

The Bruce Highway (locally also known as Yaamba Road) and the North Coast railway line traverse the locality from south (Etna Creek) to north-west (Milman), passing through the town, which is served by The Caves railway station ({{coord|-23.1807|150.4614|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=The Caves railway station}}) while Cammoo railway station further north in the locality ({{coord|-23.1669|150.4519|type:railwaystation_region:AU-QLD|name=Cammoo railway station (former)}}) is now abandoned.{{Cite web|date=2 October 2020|title=Railway stations and sidings - Queensland|url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/transport-features-queensland-series/resource/84fff9a0-e315-4844-9c4d-63934562a9bd|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005070354/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/transport-features-queensland-series/resource/84fff9a0-e315-4844-9c4d-63934562a9bd|archive-date=5 October 2020|access-date=5 October 2020|website=Queensland Open Data|publisher=Queensland Government}}

The Mount Etna Caves National Park ({{Coord|-23.1575|150.4822|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Etna Caves National Park}}) protects the limestone caves area in the north of the locality and its colonies of ghost bats:{{Cite QPN|50959|Mount Etna Caves National Park|national park in Shire of Livingstone|access-date=18 March 2021}}

• Cammoo Caves ({{coord|-23.1627|150.4662|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Cammoo Caves}}){{Cite web|date=12 November 2020|title=Mountain peaks and capes - Queensland|url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/geographic-features-queensland-series/resource/06ff12a9-862e-4aac-bf9d-693f0a63b4c9|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125215033/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/geographic-features-queensland-series/resource/06ff12a9-862e-4aac-bf9d-693f0a63b4c9|archive-date=25 November 2020|access-date=25 November 2020|website=Queensland Open Data|publisher=Queensland Government}}
• Johansens Caves ({{coord|-23.1531|150.4610|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Johansens Caves}})
• Mount Etna Caves ({{coord|-23.1600|150.4551|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Etna Caves}})

Olsens Caves in the east of the locality ({{coord|-23.1650|150.4905|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Olsens Caves}}) is outside the national park.

The locality has a number of mountains, including:

• Limestone Peak ({{coord|-23.1592|150.4641|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Limestone Peak}}) {{convert|204|m}}{{cite QPN|19428|Limestone Peak|mountain in Livingstone Shire|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• Mount Charlton ({{coord|-23.1681|150.4375|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Charlton}}) {{convert|79|m}}{{cite QPN|6932|Mount Charlton|mountain in Livingstone Shire|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• Mount Etna ({{coord|-23.1582|150.4524|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Mount Etna}}) {{convert|283|m}}{{cite QPN|11895|Mount Etna|mountain in Livingstone Shire|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• Scrubby Hill ({{coord|-23.1737|150.4361|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Scrubby Hill}}) {{convert|116|m}}{{cite QPN|30286|Scrubby Hill|mountain in Livingstone Shire|access-date=25 November 2020}}
• Spinifex Hill ({{coord|-23.1647|150.4586|type:mountain_region:AU-QLD|name=Spinifex Hill}}) {{convert|157|m}}{{cite QPN|31658|Spinifex Hill|mountain in Livingstone Shire|access-date=25 November 2020}}

File:Group from Rockhampton, just before returning from a day trip to Mount Etna Caves, 1921.jpg

The town takes its name from The Caves railway station, which in turn was originally called Etna railway station but was renamed by the Queensland Railways Department on 23 July 1914, because of the limestone caves in the area.{{Cite QPN|33899|The Caves|railway station in Shire of Livingstone|accessdate=5 October 2017}}

Mount Etna Provisional School opened on 7 November 1904 but was renamed The Caves Provisional School in 1905. It became The Caves State School on 1 January 1909.{{Citation|title=Queensland schools past and present|publication-date=2010|author1=Queensland Family History Society|edition=Version 1.01|publisher=Queensland Family History Society|isbn=978-1-921171-26-0}}

The Fitzroy Caves National Park was gazetted in 1973 with a focus on the protection of the bats rather than the caves. In 1990 it was renamed Mount Etna Caves National Park. In 1999 the park was extended to provide more protection to the caves.{{Cite web|last1=Berrill|first1=Peter|last2=Vavryn|first2=Dianne|title=An overview of the Mount Etna campaign|url=http://www.ackma.org/journal/72/An%20Overview%20of%20the%20Mt%20Etna%20campain%20-%20Peter%20Berill%20and%20Dianne%20Vavryn.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319051029/http://www.ackma.org/journal/72/An%20Overview%20of%20the%20Mt%20Etna%20campain%20-%20Peter%20Berill%20and%20Dianne%20Vavryn.pdf|archive-date=19 March 2021|access-date=19 March 2021|page=4}}

The Caves Progress & Agricultural Society was established in 1975 to provide a venue to hold agricultural shows, campdrafts, rodeos, and other sporting events.{{Cite web|title=Our Venue|url=https://www.thecavesprogress.com/our-venue|access-date=2021-03-19|website=The Caves Progress & Agricultural Society Inc}}

The Caves War Memorial was unveiled on Thursday 25 April 1985 (Anzac Day in Queensland) by Lindsay Hartwig, Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Callide and chairman of the Livingstone Shire Council.{{Cite web|date=2014-06-23|title=The Caves War Memorial|url=https://www.qldwarmemorials.com.au/memorial|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-19|website=Queensland War Memorials Register|language=en-AU|archive-date=9 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309084438/https://www.qldwarmemorials.com.au/memorial}}{{Cite web|title=The Caves War Memorial|url=https://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/92649-the-caves-war-memorial|access-date=2021-03-19|website=Monument Australia}}

In the {{CensusAU|2011}}, the locality of The Caves had a population of 708 people.{{Census 2011 AUS | id = SSC31607| name = The Caves (State Suburb) | accessdate = 18 April 2017 | quick = on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the locality of The Caves had a population of 718 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC32812|name=The Caves (SSC)|accessdate=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the locality of The Caves had a population of 680 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL32785|name=The Caves (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}

The Caves State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 1 Barmoya Road ({{coord|-23.1767|150.4593|type:edu_region:AU-QLD|name=The Caves State School}}).{{cite web|date=9 July 2018|title=State and non-state school details|url=https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121065959/https://data.qld.gov.au/dataset/state-and-non-state-school-details/resource/5b39065c-df32-415c-994c-5ff12f8de997|archivedate=21 November 2018|accessdate=21 November 2018|publisher=Queensland Government}}{{cite web|title=The Caves State School|url=https://thecavess.eq.edu.au/|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=19 March 2021}} In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 87 students with 6 teachers (5 full-time equivalent) and 8 non-teaching staff (5 full-time equivalent).{{Cite web|title=Annual Report 2016|url=https://thecavess.eq.edu.au/Supportandresources/Formsanddocuments/Annual%20reports/School%20Annual%20Report%202016%20in%202017.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005004040/https://thecavess.eq.edu.au/Supportandresources/Formsanddocuments/Annual%20reports/School%20Annual%20Report%202016%20in%202017.pdf|archive-date=5 October 2017|access-date=5 October 2017|website=The Caves State School}} In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 89 students with 5 teachers (4 full-time equivalent) and 10 non-teaching staff (5 full-time equivalent).{{cite web|title=ACARA School Profile 2018|url=https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx|accessdate=28 January 2020|publisher=Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority|archive-date=27 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827085246/https://www.acara.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/school-profile-2018.xlsx|url-status=live}}

There is no secondary school in The Caves. The nearest government secondary school is Glenmore State High School in Kawana, Rockhampton, to the south.

North Rockhampton Uniting Church (based in Frenchville, Rockhampton) holds quarterly services at the CWA Hall.{{Cite web|title=North Rockhampton Uniting Church|url=https://www.northrockyuc.org.au/?page_id=24|access-date=2020-12-02|website=www.northrockyuc.org.au|archive-date=2 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202212536/https://www.northrockyuc.org.au/?page_id=24|url-status=live}}

The Caves Lions Bicentennial Park is at 5-11 Barmoya Street ({{coord|-23.1761|150.4599|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Caves Lions Bicentennial Park}}).{{Cite web|date=20 November 2020|title=Land for public recreation - Queensland|url=https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/land-for-public-recreation-queensland/resource/d55804bc-f416-478b-8e9a-c12587ce8009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201122211519/https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/land-for-public-recreation-queensland/resource/d55804bc-f416-478b-8e9a-c12587ce8009|archive-date=22 November 2020|access-date=22 November 2020|website=Queensland Open Data|publisher=Queensland Government}}

The Caves Showgrounds are on Rossmoya Road ({{Coord|-23.1727|150.4583|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=The Caves Showground}}). The venue has an arena with supporting infrastructure such as kitchen, bar, pavilion, and announcer's box. It has powered and unpowered camp sites and toilet facilities. It also has paddocks, holding yards, and shutes to support the events involving animals.{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.thecavesprogress.com/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-19|website=The Caves Progress & Agricultural Society Inc|archive-date=19 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319062014/https://www.thecavesprogress.com/}}

The Caves War Memorial is in Buch Square off Rossmoya Road ({{Coord|-23.1782|150.4603|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=The Caves War Memorial}})

The Caves Post Office is at 7-9 Buch Square ({{Coord|-23.1781|150.4606|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=The Caves Post Office}}).{{Cite web|title=The Caves CPA|url=https://auspost.com.au/locate/post-office/qld/the-caves/4702/the-caves-cpa-445405|access-date=2021-03-19|website=Australia Post|language=en-AU}}

The Caves Show is an agricultural show held in April annually, but was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=The Caves Show|url=https://www.thecavesprogress.com/the-caves-show|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-19|website=The Caves Progress & Agricultural Society Inc|archive-date=19 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319061938/https://www.thecavesprogress.com/the-caves-show}}

The Caves Rodeo is held annually in September. It was also cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.{{Cite web|title=The Caves Rodeo|url=http://www.nationalrodeoassociation.com.au/coming-events/9-articles/326-the-caves|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-19|website=National Rodeo Association|archive-date=19 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319061940/http://www.nationalrodeoassociation.com.au/coming-events/9-articles/326-the-caves}}

File:Cathedral Cave, Capricorn Caves.jpg

The Caves is home to two cave based tourist attractions. They are:

• Capricorn Caves, a privately owned limestone caves system.
• Mount Etna Caves National Park, a state government owned limestone caves system with two separate sections (Cammoo and Mount Etna)

{{Reflist}}

• {{Citation|title=The Caves State School 75th year jubilee|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/165278759|publication-date=1979|author1=|publisher=Parents and Citizens' Association (The Caves)}}

{{commons category|The Caves, Queensland}}

• {{cite web|date=1976|title=Town map of The Caves|url=https://gisservices.information.qld.gov.au/arcgis/rest/directories/historicalscans/cad_scans/cad-map-town-the-caves-1976.jpg|publisher=Queensland Government}}

{{Shire of Livingstone}}

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Category:Towns in Queensland

Category:Shire of Livingstone

Category:Localities in Queensland