Friends of Buchan Caves

Who are the Friends Of Buchan Caves?

The Friends of Buchan Caves (Inc.) is a volunteer group based in Victoria, Austalia. Its main aim is the preservation of caves and their natural flora and fauna. The Friends meet in the Buchan Caves Reserve and donate their time and skills to carry out special tasks, such as cave conservation, rehabilitation and management and revegetation projects.

Formed in 1987 by members of the Victorian Speleological Association, Lillydale District Caving Team and staff of the Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands (now the Department of Sustainability and Environment). The Friends became an incorporated body in late 1991.

The Friends of Buchan Caves is one of the many Volunteer Friends Groups in Parks Victoria. It is twenty eight years old in 2015 and one of the longest running Friends groups. Parks Victoria manages all the parks and reserves in this state, including the Buchan Caves Reserve.

Annual membership of the Friends Of Buchan Caves is just AU$2 to cover the cost of printing and mailing the newsletter within Australia, or AU$5 for a family membership. Anyone can become a member and the membership fee can be paid for several years in advance.  If you would like to join then please Contact Us.

Participation in Friends projects is very satisfying and rewarding. We urge you to consider coming along to Buchan on one of the weekends during the year to contribute to the volunteer work that we do there. We usually stay at Homeleigh, which is a guest-house in Buchan which is owned and run by cavers. The rates are very reasonable. An alternative is to camp in the main Caves Reserve, which is free for friends volunteers.

Everyone is good friends and we would welcome any helpers. The work is very interesting but not too demanding and everyone gets to choose how they would like to be involved. Have a look at some of the back issues of the newsletter to get an idea of what we do.

The diverse natures and backgrounds of the people who comprise the Friends are reflected in the projects and services that they undertake.

Why don’t you come along and see what being a Friend is all about?