Princess Margaret Rose Cave Project
Project status
Princess Margaret Rose Cave is currently closed to the public. Safety works within the cave, including upgrades to the stairs, lighting and electrical systems, are nearing completion. Last updated: April 2024
The project
The Princess Margaret Rose Cave is a well-known limestone cave, next to the Glenelg River and located in the Lower Glenelg National Park on Traditional Country of the Gunditjmara people. The Princess Margaret Rose Cave area is a popular visitor site and includes a park information centre, bookable campground and access to walking and fishing opportunities. The site has been closed to the public due to safety risks for the last two years.
As part of the Victoria's Great Outdoors Program (VGO), the Princess Margaret Cave and visitor facilities will be redeveloped and upgraded. These upgrades including essential safety works will allow the site to be reopened to the public. This includes upgrades to the existing visitor centre (including internal interpretation displays), cave lighting and electrical systems, toilets, and pathways from the entry to the carpark.
Project benefits
Visitors
Essential safety works will see the reopening of the cave and provide a quality and contemporary visitor experience with improved safety, facilities and lighting.
Economy
Upgrades to the Princess Margaret Rose Cave will provide economic opportunities and benefits for tourism operators and surrounding towns.
Project funding
Upgrades are part of a $2 million investment into the region through the Victoria’s Great Outdoors program.
Project timeline
Like many construction projects across the country, Victoria’s Great Outdoors projects have been impacted by rising costs, supply chain disruptions and other post-pandemic infrastructure challenges. We are working hard to deliver the remaining projects in 2024. This timeline will be updated as the project progresses.
Environment and cultural heritage management
We are undertaking environmental and cultural heritage assessments on the site to enable further upgrade works onsite, including new toilet facilities. These assessment works are complex and take time. The end result will be a much-improved experience for this key visitor attraction for south-western Victoria and for south-eastern South Australia.
Putting safety first
Visitor safety is our number one priority when considering risk in parks.
While nature will always be unpredictable, our projects and maintenance works help minimise risks and help people explore the great outdoors safely.
Parks Victoria is responsible for continuously managing and maintaining over 50,000 pieces of infrastructure across the state annually.
We’re also delivering new projects to help visitors get into nature. These are thoroughly planned and prepared to keep people and projects separate – and safe. When visiting a park where projects are happening, especially during construction, it’s important that people follow the direction of signs, stay out of fenced and restricted areas, and listen to Parks Victoria staff and work crews.
Who are we working with?
Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation, and local councils including Glenelg Shire.
Access changes
Princess Margaret Rose Cave and Princess Margaret Rose Cave campground will be closed until further notice to accommodate infrastructure repair works. This includes access via vehicle or boat on the Glenelg River. Camping is not permitted on the site or in the picnic area.
FAQs
What will these works at Princess Margaret Rose Cave include?
Works include essential safety works to reopen visitor access to the caves, upgrades to the existing visitor centre (including internal interpretation displays), upgrades of the cave lighting and electrical systems, upgrades to pathways from the entry to the carpark, and upgrades to the toilets.
When will the works be completed?
Like many major construction projects across the country, Victoria’s Great Outdoors projects in the vicinity of the Princess Margaret Rose Cave have been impacted by rising costs, supply chain disruptions and other post-pandemic infrastructure challenges. We are working hard to deliver the remaining projects by June 2024.
How will the site by managed when it reopens?
Parks Victoria is looking for a tour provider at the Princess Margaret Rose Cave. This is a rare opportunity to secure a lease in a National Park and showcase one of Victoria’s most decorated limestone caves to domestic and international visitors. We plan to re-open the cave once a suitable operator has been sourced and we’ve worked through the assessments necessary to protect the cultural and environmental heritage of the site. We will keep this page and the community updated as works progress.