Capricorn Caves Celebrate 140 Year Milestone!
Posted on December 10th, 2024
The Capricorn Caves celebrated their 140th anniversary as a tourist attraction on Friday evening (8th December), marking a significant milestone for this iconic Queensland attraction – said to be the oldest tourism attraction in Queensland.
Capricorn Caves Owner John Augusteyn welcomed State Member for Mirani Glen Kelly MP, LSC Mayor Adam Belot, Deputy Mayor Pat Eastwood, Cr Glenda Mather, Cr. Lance Warcon, RRC Cr. Shane Latcham and Capricorn Enterprise CEO Mary Carroll to an exclusive event to help celebrate this very special milestone. The celebration highlighted the rich cultural and natural heritage of the caves, located near Rockhampton and included an exclusive evening cave experience.
A Norwegian pioneer by the name of John Olsen, discovered the caves in 1882 and commenced the first guided tours by candlelight only a mere two years later in the year 1884. The Olsen family were the custodians of the then Olsen’s Capricorn Caves for 106 years, before selling the cave system and the special responsibility that goes with this in 1988 to Ann and Ken Augusteyn. The Augusten family set to work on shining an international spotlight on this fantastic attraction, they invested significantly into improving the access and lighting in and around the cave system, redeveloping the site to also offer a cafe, caravan park, and school camps program; and became a pioneering tourism business for Advanced Eco Tourism Accreditation. The Capricorn Caves, as they are known today are in the safe hands of Ann and Ken’s son, John Augusteyn, and under his guidance the passionate Capricorn Caves team continue this great work with an increased vision for sustainability and palaeontology discoveries.
