Umpherston Sinkhole / Balumbul — Attraction in Mount Gambier

Very beautiful sinkhole Welcome • • • to Umpherston Sinkhole This Park is the remnant of a late 19th century garden of which the sinkhole was the focal point. The garden was developed by James Umpherston on part of his property known as The Caves. The original Victorian residence was located at the rear of the park but was demolished in 1964. The garden was laid out in Victorian English tradition with entrance gates on the main highway. The long driveway to the house was bordered with oaks and elms, and box hedges separated lawns from the vegetable garden, orchard and olive grove. The sinkhole was developed with the same formality. The park has been developed by the City of Mount Gambier in accordance with Umpherston's original intention to establish the sinkhole for the enjoyment of visitors and the townspeople : of Mount Gambier. Umpherston Sinkhole, present day. Mr and Mrs James Umpherston and friends, 1900. This block of limestone has fallen from the rock formation above, which is known as the Gambier Limestone. This limestone is continuous throughout the Mount Gambier region and is up to 300 metres thick. It was formed 15 to 40 million years ago when the area was covered by a shallow sea. The rock is extremely porous with up to 50% pore space. The high porosity combined with other factors makes the rock a very good water bearing layer and it carries major underground water resources. The limestone commonly consists almost entirely of fragments of various marine animals including bryozoa, bivalves and echinoids weakly cemented together by calcite. Shells of these animals are shown in the sketches. Mobile cutting saw, Mount Gambier Limestone Quarry. Gambier Lim one, being very soft, can de sawn for use as a building stone Major quarries are located : 10 kilometres west of Mount Gambier. Bryozoa Sinkholes are important as they provide the best exposures of Gambier Limestone for study. Umpherston Sinkhole is recognised as a Geological Monument, because of its significance for scientific...

An amazing place to visit that really has to be seen to be believed. Visiting in the Summertime when all the flowers are in bloom it almost feels like you are in the garden of a fairy-tale. As previous reviewers have said, the steps down are steep and only semi-enclosed and I have seen quite a few young children find this very intimidating. My mother has arthritis in both knees and found the climb to definitely be challenging but she said the experience was worth it. Lots of awesome photo opportunities down in the sinkhole and in the surrounds. Dogs are welcome on-leash in the surrounds (not down in the sinkhole itself) and my two girls always have a great time sniffing around the many plants and trees. Good toilet block, 2 swing sets and bbq facilities available. The gift shop is absolutely sensational and sells local and Aus-themed souvenirs, knick knacks and stuffed toys for bargain prices. Food and drink available to purchase as well. The lady working there on our last visit (8/12/21) was so friendly, welcoming and appreciative of our purchases which can be a rare find these days. Overall Umpherston is a great place to visit but just remember to keep the steep steps in mind if you have very young children or a condition of an arthritic nature. Even if you are unable to manage the steps though you can still get a pretty decent view from the several viewing points in the beautiful...

During our stay in Mount Gambier, we made sure to visit Umpherston Sinkhole, also known as Balumbul, and it really lived up to the reputation of being one of the best free attractions in town. Located just off Jubilee Highway on the edge of Mount Gambier, it’s easy to access with plenty of parking available nearby. Entry is free, and while the gardens close at dusk, you can return in the evening to see the resident possums, which are friendly and often come down looking for food.

Walking down the steps into the sinkhole, you’re greeted with a beautifully maintained sunken garden. The terraces are lined with flowers, hydrangeas, lush ferns, and trailing vines that make the entire place feel almost magical. The garden dates back to 1886, when James Umpherston first transformed the limestone cavity into a peaceful retreat. Today, it’s still well kept and offers plenty of great photo opportunities.

Around the site you’ll also find toilets, a kiosk and picnic areas, making it a lovely place to spend a relaxing hour. Do note, there are a lot of bees in one corner of the sinkhole—harmless if left alone, but worth being mindful of if you’re allergic.

An absolute must-visit when in...