Publications
Last Update:
Sat 26 Aug 2023

Publications of the Sydney Speleological Society


The Sydney Speleological Society (SSS) has achieved a distinguished publishing record since being founded in March 1954. It urges its members to publish articles on caves and cave areas, the results of trips, fieldwork and documentation. These range from short monographs to full length books. The Society is a non-profit organisation and all monies from its publications are used to finance other books of interest to cavers and speleologists. The Sydney Speleological Society seeks to extend its list of caving publications and will consider manuscripts from anyone who wishes to submit them to the Society, whether or not they are members of The Sydney Speleological Society. The subject matter must be of speleological interest, but there are no criteria on length or format as the Society has several methods of publication and can accommodate almost any style.

ALL of the following publications are FOR SALE (except where noted as Out of print). Note that photocopies of Out of print publications can be arranged.

Ordering Information

All publications that are in print are able to be purchased through our online order form, payment can currently be made by Direct Deposit, Cheque, Money Order or Cash (Payable at general meetings). Credit Card processing via Pay Pal will be availible soon.

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If you have any questions on any of our publications or would simply like more information please do not hesitate to email us at: publications@sss.org.au

Please note all prices are in $A. Current postage prices are available on application.



Latest publication from Sydney Speleological Society

Launch of the "Caves and Karst of Wombeyan" was held (appropriately) at Wombeyan Caves in November 2004.

Front Cover

Rear Cover

Price:

$A 59.50 plus $A 9.00 Postage (within Australia, contact the editor for overseas pricing)

Contents:

211 Pages (A4)
Colour Front and Rear Cover
16 Pages of colour photos (79 Photos)
28 Maps
145 B&W photos
29 Tables, sketches & figures
Appendix
References
Index



AUSTRALASIAN SPELEO MAP INDEX NO. 1
SSS Occasional Paper No. 5 (Out of print)
Australasian Speleo Map Index # 1

Author: R and L Hawkins.

Published:
1972 - Soft cover. 1 B&W photograph on cover. 33 Quarto pages.

Contents:
Introduction
Explanation of Tables
Origin of Maps
Acknowledgments
References List of Cave and Cave Area Maps from NSW (pp.1-19)
Northern Territory (p.19)
Queensland (pp.20-23)
South Australia (pp.23-26)
Tasmania (pp.26-28)
Victoria (pp.28-30)
Western Australia (pp.30-31)
New Caledonia (p.32)
New Guinea (pp.32-33)
New Zealand (p.33).


AUSTRALIAN SPELEO ABSTRACTS (Publication ceased 1990)
SSS Occasional Paper No. 5 (Out of print)
Australian Speleo Abstracts

Editor: Greg Middleton

Published:
No 1 1970 (1)
viii + 70 Quarto pages. Published December 1970, Reprinted August 1975. (Out of print)
Soft cover. 1 B&W photograph on cover. 33 Quarto pages.

No 2 1970 (2)
viii + 46 Quarto pages. Published June 1971. (Out of print)

No 3 1971 (1)
vi + 58 Quarto pages + 11 (Index to ASF Newsletter Issues 1 - 30). Published January 1972.

No 4 1971 (2)
iv + 62 Quarto pages. Published November 1972.

No 5 1972 (1)
iv + 62 Quarto pages. Published February 1973.

No 6 1972 (2)
iv + 76 Quarto pages. Published March 1974.

No 7 1973
120 A4 pages. Published December 1974

No 8 1974
96 A4 pages. Published March 1976.

No 9 1975
92 A4 pages. Published July 1978. (Out of print)

No 10 1976/1979
vi + 166 A4 pages. Published July 1989 (Includes Index to all issues 1-10).

Index to 1970/71/72
(Issues 1-6) 44 Quarto pages. Published May 1975. Reprinted September 1976.

Index 1973/74/75
(Issues 7-9) 27 A4 pages. Published 1986.
Prices on application.


BIBLIOGRAPHY OF TASMANIAN KARST
Regional Bibliography Series No. 1
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_cart&business=3MNWSV2YXT4C8&lc=AU&item_name=BIBLIOGRAPHY%20OF%20TASMANIAN%20KARST&amount=10%2e00¤cy_code=AUD&button_subtype=products&shipping=5%2e00&add=1&bn=PP%2dShopCartBF%3abtn_cart_LG%2egif%3aNonHosted
Bibliography of Tasmanian Karst

Editors: Kevin Kiernan and Ross Ellis.

Published:
September 1989. A4 Pages. viii+18 1 map.

Price: $A 10.00 plus postage

Contents:
Numerous references to 75 karst areas in Tasmania, plus general and other areas. Also lists references to 7 different types of pseudokarst caves


BUNGONIA CAVES
SSS Occasional Paper No. 4
Bungonia Caves

Editors: R Ellis et al.

Published:
1972. Hard cover.
November 1977. Reprinted. A4 Pages. viii+18 1 map. xii + 230 Quarto pages. Hard Cover in dust jacket.
1992. Reprinted in Soft Cover (no colour illustrations). 40 B&W photographs, 18 colour photographs (B&W in soft cover edition), 12 figures, 108 maps (2 fold out, 1 in pocket at back of book), 18 tables, 12 historical source paper reprints, References, Index.

Price: $A 38.00 plus postage

Contents:
First Settlers
Early Visitors
History
Surface and Underground Plan
Cave Descriptions
The Efflux
Bungonia Cave Maps
Geomorphology
Foul Air
Fossil Records
Invertebrate Fauna
Bats
Birds
Flora
Conservation and Mining
Case for Bungonia Gorge
Historical Source Papers
References
Index.


CAVES AND KARST OF WOMBEYAN
SSS Occasional Paper No. 13
Caves and Karst of Wombeyan

Editor: Ross Ellis.

Editorial Committee: John Wylie, Glenda Wylie, Ben Nurse & Andrew Bosman

Published:
November 2004. Soft cover only. Colour front and back cover, 16 pages of colour photos (79 photos), 28 Maps, 145 B&W photos, 29 tables, sketches & figures, Appendix, References, Index

Price: $A 59.50 plus postage


CHILLAGOE CAVES
SSS Occasional Paper No. 3 (Out of print)
Chillagoe

Editor: R Ellis et al.

Published:
January 1969. Soft cover. 46 Quarto pages.
November 1972. Reprinted. 13 B&W photographs, 3 figures, 3 fold out maps.

Contents:
Chillagoe Caves
North Queensland. Introduction
Geography, Area Use-Past and Present
Geology
Flora
Fauna, Cave Descriptions (51 caves)
Limestone Bluff index (13)
Index of National Parks in Area. (9)
Cave Fauna Collections
Extracts of Interest
Biological Collections en Route to Chillagoe 1966-67
Acknowledgments
Bibliography.

COMMUNICATIONS [ANNUAL]

Communications Annual reprint















Communications Annual reprint

Only 2 issues published by editorial committee: R Russell et al.

Published:
Volume 1:
1955. 74 Quarto pages. Soft cover, 9 maps, 2 diagrams, 1 sketch.
June 2006. Reprinted as Volume 50 - Number 6 - Part 2 of Journal of Sydney Speleological Society. 74 A4 pages. Soft cover, 9 maps, 2 diagrams, 1 sketch.

Price: $A 15.00 plus postage

Contents:
Constitution
Society Meetings
Trip Reports
Experiences with Direction-Finding Equipment at Jenolan
Scaling Poles
40 Years ago at Bungonia and Wombeyan
Quartermasters Store
Library
Cave Mapping
Trip organisation.

Volume 2:
1956. 86 Quarto pages plus 8 page (O.S.S. supplement) 5 maps, 4 Diagrams, 2 Tables, 2 Sketches. Soft cover.
July 2006. Reprinted as Volume 50 - Number 7 - Part 2 of Journal of Sydney Speleological Society. 86 A4 pages plus 8 A4 page Orange Speleological Supplement. Soft cover, 5 maps, 4 figures.

Price: $A15.00 plus postage

Contents:
Society Meetings
Colong Caves
Trip Reports
Cave Areas of N.S.W. (numerous references)
Colony Spiders at Jenolan Caves
Cave Photography
Australian Caves
SSS Gradings of Cave Surveys
Orange Speleological Society Supplement.

COMMUNICATIONS OCCASIONAL PAPER NO 1
SSS Occasional Paper No. 1 (Out of print)
Communications Occasional Paper # 1

Editor: R Ellis et al.

Published:
October 1965. 21 Quarto pages. Soft Cover. 1 B&W Photograph on cover; 3 figures; 5 maps (2 fold outs).

Contents:
Radio Direction Finding in Caves
New Caledonia Exploration
Some Cave Fauna from New Caledonia
Memories of Magnetometer Pothole (England)

COMMUNICATIONS OCCASIONAL PAPER NO 2
SSS Occasional Paper No. 2 (Out of print)
Communications Occasional Paper # 2

Editor: R Ellis et al.

Published:
January 1969. Soft cover. 9 B&W photographs, 8 figures, 4 maps, (1 fold out).

Contents:
An Historical Background to Colong Caves
A Review of Wire Ladder Construction
The Caves of the Poral Ranges between the Chimu River and Chivave in the Chimbu District of the Eastern Central Highlands of New Guinea

HISTORY OF CAVE SCIENCE - THE EXPLORATION AND STUDY OF LIMESTONE CAVES TO 1900
Reprint Series No. 1
History of Caves Science

Author: Trevor R Shaw.

Published:
March 1993. Soft cover edition. Hard cover with dust jacket.338 Pages 19x27cm. Sketch and photograph covers. 88 figures (3 photographs, 4 fold out), 6 diagrams, 26 maps (2 of which are coloured), 17 Appendices, 1100 References, Detailed Index. 47 Chapters.

Price: Soft cover - $A 50.00 plus postage, Hard cover (Out of print)

Contents:
Introduction; Cave Exploration; Speleogensis; Speleothems; Overall Development of Speleology; Introduction; Cave Exploration; (Development; Prehistoric to Renaissance; 15th - 16th centuries; 17th Century; 18th century 1880 - 1878; 1879 - 1900); E.A Martel; America; Elsewhere in the World; Karst Hydrology; (Hydrology; Underground River Courses; Origin of Karst Springs; Water Table); Speleogensis; (How Caves are Formed; Made by Man; Tectonic Origin; Drains; Gas Bubbles; Erosion; Solution; Corrosion; Origin of Dolines); Speleothems; (History; Vegetation Growth; Solidification; Vapours; Lapidifying Juice; Deposition; Helictites; Cave Pearls; Other : Mondmilch; Gypsum; Rate of Growth; Medicinal Uses) Overall Development of Speleology; (Man and Animals in Caves; Development; Expansion; Development Since 1900); Appendices; (Significant Events; Caving Campaigns of E.A. Martel; Stream Tracing; Theories; Theories of Speleogenesis; Speleothems in Collections; rate of Speleothem Growth; Key Dates in Speleology; Speleological Societies of the 19th Century;); 1115 References.

INDEX TO REFERENCES TO CAVES IN THREE NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS 1870-1919
SSS Occasional Paper No. 9 (Out of print)
Index to References to Caves in Three NSW Govt Publications

compiled by: G J Middleton

Published:
September 1988. Soft cover A4 Format. 22 pages.
Reprinted October 1988.
Reprinted August 1995.

Contents:
List of Articles Indexed from Annual Reports of the Department of Mines (130)
Records of the Geological Survey of NSW (9)
Index of References to Caves.

OLIVER TRICKETT - DOYEN OF AUSTRALIA'S CAVE SURVEYORS 1847-1934
SSS Occasional Paper No. 10
Oliver Trickett

Author: Gregory J Middleton.

Published:
November 1993. 156 A4 pages Soft Cover. 40 B&W photos, 38 Cave maps (3 coloured and fold out), 35 area maps (2 coloured), 16 figures and sketches, 2 tables, 101 References, 2 Appendix, detailed Index, Colophon.

Price: $A 35.00 plus postage

Contents:
Introduction
Origins
Mines Department
Cave Guidebooks
Other Work
Surveying Techniques
Cave and Mine Models
Post Retirement
References
2 Appendix (125 Item Bibliography)
Index.

SINGLE ROPE TECHNIQUES - A GUIDE FOR VERTICAL CAVERS
SSS Occasional Paper No. 7
Single Rope Techniques

Author: Neil Montgomery.

Published:
November 1977. 1st Edition- Soft cover.
September 1978. 2nd Revised Edition.
September 1981. 3rd Edition- Hard cover.
November 1982. 4th Edition- Soft cover.
March 1985. 5th Edition.
August 1987. 6th Edition.
October 1991. 7th Edition.
January 1994. 8th Edition.
March 1997. 9th Edition.
123 Quarto pages.11 B&W photographs, 163 figures (14 of which are photographs), sketch cover.

Price: $A 30.00 plus postage

Contents:
Ropes for Abseiling and Prusiking
Basic Rope Knots
Anchors
Rigging
Harnesses
Carabiners and Helmets
Abseiling
Prusiking
Vertical Caving Efficiency
Self Rescue
Some Manufacturers and Suppliers of SRT Equipment
152 References
Index.

OVER 8,000 COPIES IN PRINT !

THE HISTORY OF THE SYDNEY SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY 1954 – 1994
SSS Occasional Paper No. 12
The History of SSS

Author: Erik Halbert and John Bonwick

Published:
November 1994. A4. Soft cover (silvered) Xii + 132 pages. 160 B&W photographs, 3 appendices, 548 references.

Price: $A 30.00 plus postage

THE JOURNAL OF THE SYDNEY SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
The Journal of the Sydney Speleological Society

Present Editor: Ross Ellis

Publication:
May 1957. Monthly to present. A4 pages. 26-30 pages per month. 51 Volumes, 1957-2007. 613 Issues (March 2007).

Price: Current issue $A 5.00. 12 Issue subscription-$A 45.00.
For complete details and pricing on the JSSS please click here

Earlier names:
The Sydney Speleological Society News Bulletin. May 1957-July 1959.
Communications. August 1959-November 1962.
Stop Press. May 1962-December 1969.
Journal of the Sydney Speleological Society. January 1970-present
 

THE SOUTH-EAST KARST OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA. A BIBLIOGRAPHY
Regional Bibliography Series No. 2
The South - East Karst of South Australia

Edited: Elery Hamilton-Smith and Andy Spate.
Series Editor: G J Middleton

Published:
July 1996. iv + 34 A4 pages.

Price: $A 10.00 plus postage

Contents:
15 Subject classifications and listings, author indexed ( 7 pages) to almost 700 author entries and 594 references ( 27 pages).The earliest reference is BURR, T., 1845. Account of Governor G. Grey's Exploratory Journey Along the South Eastern Seaboard of South Australia, while the latest is May, 1994. The three most referenced subjects are Cave Exploration / Descriptions (including cave diving), with 136 references, Hydrology, with 92 references and Land Use / Resource Management, with 85 references, while the least referenced are Travel and Description, with 17 references and Physiography with only twelve.

TIMOR CAVES
SSS Occasional Paper No. 6 (Out of print)
Timor Caves

Auther: by Julia James et al.

Published:
1976. 50 Quarto pages. Soft Cover 30 B&W photographs, 17 maps, 1 table.

Contents:
Location
History
Geology
Geomorphology
Descriptions (29 caves)
Flora and Fauna
Tourism
49 Item bibliography.

WALKING THE VALLEY - An Oral Record of Caving and Bushwalking in The Burragorang and Beyond, during the 1930's.
SSS Occasional Paper No. 11
Walking The Valley

Edited: Sonja den Hertog

Published:
November 1994. Soft cover. 21x15cm. 62 pages. 15 B&W Photographs. Colour cover back and front. 9 fifs and maps, 2 Appendix Index and 7 item bibliography

Price: $A 18.00 plus postage

WOMBEYAN CAVES
SSS Occasional Paper No. 8
Wombeyan Caves

Editors: H Jane Dyson et al.

Published:
1982. Hard cover and dust jacket. viii + 240 Pages, 20.5 x 26 cm. 47 colour and 131 B&W photographs. Colour dust jacket (2 photographs) 12 maps, 16 tables, 21 figures.

Price: $A 38.00 plus postage

Contents:
History
The Show Caves
Development of Landscape
Surface and Underground water
Origin of Caves
Mineral decoration
Climate
Fossils
Flora
Cave Fauna
Birds
Wild Cave Descriptions (233 caves)
Detailed Index.



© Copyright Sydney Speleological Society Inc.
1996-2023