ASF Publications - Caves Australia

Australian Speleological Federation Newsletter / Journal

The Australian Speleological Federation Inc. (ASF) is the national organisation that presently represents the interests of 26 caving clubs with over 950 members. The inaugural ASF Meeting was held at Parnanga National Fitness Council Camp, Adelaide, S.A., 27-28^th December 1956, where 14 caving clubs from around Australia were represented. The purpose of the Federation is to bring Australian cavers together with the aim of improving communication and coordinating speleological activities across the country. Members' interests include conservation and management, exploration and documentation, research of the many branches of sciences, rescue and cave diving.

The ASF started producing a periodical publication in June 1957 with the very first ASF Newsletter - which consisted of a whole 2 pages (and even that was generous for the time). With issue No.7 in 1959, a more concerted effort was being made at producing a regular (quarterly) publication which reported on ASF business and described the activities of the member clubs. The first proper cover and cover design appeared in March 1964, with a hand-drawn image (sketched from a photo) of the entrance doline of Kestrel Cavern 1 in the Nullarbor.

The Newsletter slowly grew until 1985 and No.106, whereupon it became - with very little fanfare - "Australian Caver" with issue No.107. Something odd happened to issue No.100 - which ended up as a 2-page insert in Australian Caver No.132.

"Australian Caver" continued until 2004 (No.123) when the publication changed its name to the current title of "Caves Australia". The last paper copy was March No.219 2022, after which distribution became wholly electronic.

Newsletter (No. 1 to 106: 1957-1985)

ASF Newsletter 1957 No.1 Jun
ASF Newsletter 1957 No.2 Sep
ASF Newsletter 1958 No.3 Apr
ASF Newsletter 1958 No.4 Jul
ASF Newsletter 1958 No.5 Nov
ASF Newsletter 1959 No.6 Nov
ASF Newsletter 1960 No.7 Mar
ASF Newsletter 1960 No.8 Jun
ASF Newsletter 1960 No.9 Sep
ASF Newsletter 1960 No.10 Dec
ASF Newsletter 1961 No.11 Mar
ASF Newsletter 1961 No.12 Jun
ASF Newsletter 1961 No.13 Sep
ASF Newsletter 1961 No.14 Dec
ASF Newsletter 1962 No.15 Mar
ASF Newsletter 1962 No.16 Jun
ASF Newsletter 1962 No.17 Sep
ASF Newsletter 1962 No.18 Dec
ASF Newsletter 1963 No.19 Mar
ASF Newsletter 1963 No.20 Jul
ASF Newsletter 1963 No.21 Sep
ASF Newsletter 1963 No.22 Dec
ASF Newsletter 1964 No.23 Mar
ASF Newsletter 1964 No.24 Jun
ASF Newsletter 1964 No.25 Sep
ASF Newsletter 1964 No.26 Dec
ASF Newsletter 1965 No.27 Mar
ASF Newsletter 1965 No.28 Jun
ASF Newsletter 1965 No.29 Sep
ASF Newsletter 1965 No.30 Dec
ASF Newsletter 1966 No.31 Mar
ASF Newsletter 1966 No.32 Jun
ASF Newsletter 1966 No.33 Sep
ASF Newsletter 1966 No.34 Dec
ASF Newsletter 1967 No.35 Mar
ASF Newsletter 1967 No.36 Jun
ASF Newsletter 1967 No.37 Sep
ASF Newsletter 1967 No.38 Dec
ASF Newsletter 1968 No.39 Mar
ASF Newsletter 1968 No.40 Jun
ASF Newsletter 1968 No.41 Sep
ASF Newsletter 1968 No.42 Dec
ASF Newsletter 1969 No.43 Mar
ASF Newsletter 1969 No.44 Jun
ASF Newsletter 1969 No.45 Sep
ASF Newsletter 1969 No.46 Dec
ASF Newsletter 1970 No.47 Mar
ASF Newsletter 1970 No.48 Jun
ASF Newsletter 1970 No.49 Sep
ASF Newsletter 1970 No.50 Dec
ASF Newsletter 1971 No.51 Mar
ASF Newsletter 1971 No.52 Jun
ASF Newsletter 1971 No.53 Sep
ASF Newsletter 1971 No.54 Dec
ASF Newsletter 1972 No.55 Mar
ASF Newsletter 1972 No.56 Jun
ASF Newsletter 1972 No.57 Sep
ASF Newsletter 1972 No.58 Dec
ASF Newsletter 1973 No.59 Mar
ASF Newsletter 1973 No.60 Jun
ASF Newsletter 1973 No.61 Sep
ASF Newsletter 1973 No.62 Dec
ASF Newsletter 1974 No.63 Autumn
ASF Newsletter 1974 No.64 Winter
ASF Newsletter 1974 No.65 Spring
ASF Newsletter 1974 No.66 Summer
ASF Newsletter 1975 No.67 Mar
ASF Newsletter 1975 No.68 Winter
ASF Newsletter 1975 No.69 Spring
ASF Newsletter 1975-76 No.70 Summer
ASF Newsletter 1976 No.71 Autumn
ASF Newsletter 1976 No.72 Winter
ASF Newsletter 1976 No.73 Spring
ASF Newsletter 1976 No.74 Summer
ASF Newsletter 1977 No.75 Autumn
ASF Newsletter 1977 No.76 Winter
ASF Newsletter 1977 No.77 Spring
ASF Newsletter 1977 No.78 Summer
ASF Newsletter 1978 No.79 Autumn
ASF Newsletter 1978 No.80 Winter
ASF Newsletter 1978 No.81 Spring
ASF Newsletter 1979 No.82 Summer
ASF Newsletter 1979 No.83 Autumn
ASF Newsletter 1979 No.84 Winter
ASF Newsletter 1979 No.85 Autumn
ASF Newsletter 1979 No.86 Summer
ASF Newsletter 1980 No.87 Summer
ASF Newsletter 1980 No.88 Winter
ASF Newsletter 1980 No.89 Spring
ASF Newsletter 1980-81 No.90 Summer
ASF Newsletter 1981 No.91 Autumn
ASF Newsletter 1981 No.92 Winter
ASF Newsletter 1981 No.93 Spring
ASF Newsletter 1981 No.94 Summer
ASF Newsletter 1982 No.95 Autumn
ASF Newsletter 1982 No.96 Winter
ASF Newsletter 1982 No.97 Spring
ASF Newsletter 1982 No.98 Summer
ASF Newsletter 1983 No.99 Autumn
ASF Newsletter 1983 No.100
ASF Newsletter 1983 No.101 Spring
ASF Newsletter 1983 No.102 Summer
ASF Newsletter 1984 No.103 Autumn
ASF Newsletter 1984 No.104
ASF Newsletter 1984 No.105
ASF Newsletter 1985 No.106

Australian Caver (No. 107 to 122: 1985-2004)

Caves Australia (No. 123 onward: 2004 ->)