Cave Clan
Encyclopedia
The Cave Clan is a primarily Australia
n group dedicated to urban exploration
.
), 1986 by three Melbourne teenagers, Woody, Dougo and Sloth. The trio had started exploring together during the summer of 1985-1986.
Alf Sadlier, a worker for the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW), is often cited as an inspiration to the Cave Clan's founders. During construction on Melbourne’s drains in the 1940s and 1950s, Sadlier would leave his name and the date in tar paint before the last section of tunnel was put in place. After Sadlier was mentioned in an article in Melbourne’s The Herald Sun his sister wrote to the Cave Clan explaining that her brother was in fact a "builder of drains", and not an explorer.
Cave Clan members explore natural or artificial tunnels and caves, along with rooftops and abandoned buildings. Their most frequent activities involve exploring underground stormwater
drains
, bunkers tunnels and forts. Each chapter of the Cave Clan has its favorite locations with each city having a different history and therefore different types of locations to explore. For example in Sydney, sites the Cave Clan explore include an underground ex-naval oil reservoir in Sydney.
Members of the Cave Clan come from various backgrounds including tradesmen, computer geeks, shop owners, teachers, government workers, writers, students, scientists, and mechanics with the Cave Clan acting as a uniting group for people who are interested in urban exploration in Australia. Amongst other things, members are attracted by the appeal of getting into places that no one else gets into.
-related topics, by entering into locations or drains without permission, the members of the Cave Clan can be described as "recreational trespassers". In 2005 it was revealed that the NSW State Government had asked for the Cave Clan's help in finding tunnels that could become terrorist targets.
Coroner Hugh Dillon investigating the death of two graffiti artists in a Sydney stormwater drain in 2008 has recommended police investigate a group known as the Sydney Cave Clan. Delivering his findings into the deaths deputy state coroner Hugh Dillon said he was concerned about the counter-cultural message by the group, which he said consisted of "shadowy characters".
Mr Dillon said he would recommend to police that they investigate the group and shut the website down after it was revealed that it publicised the drain and encouraged risk-taking activity. Mr Malinowsky, the sole survivor of the trio, alleged at the inquest that he was encouraged by a website from the so-called 'Cave Clan' - a group which he alleged dared people to explore urban underground spaces.
The Cave Clan has long officially distances itself from graffiti
, despite the historical practice of discrete tagging as a historical documentation practice. Drain tagging is discouraged, especially in historically significant areas. There are clear examples, however, of the Cave Clan name, logo and other specific material related to the Cave Clan and/or their members, being used in graffiti, by unknown sources. The group also accepts leaving details of an expedition in a plain section of the drain, tunnel or cavity to mark the place and time. They also put up stickers, mostly above ground for promotional purposes.
album Spin! Spin! Spin!.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n group dedicated to urban exploration
Urban exploration
Urban exploration is the examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts of urban areas or industrial facilities. Urban exploration is also commonly referred to as infiltration, although some people consider infiltration to be more closely associated with the exploration of active or...
.
History
The Cave Clan was founded on 26 January (Australia DayAustralia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
), 1986 by three Melbourne teenagers, Woody, Dougo and Sloth. The trio had started exploring together during the summer of 1985-1986.
Alf Sadlier, a worker for the Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW), is often cited as an inspiration to the Cave Clan's founders. During construction on Melbourne’s drains in the 1940s and 1950s, Sadlier would leave his name and the date in tar paint before the last section of tunnel was put in place. After Sadlier was mentioned in an article in Melbourne’s The Herald Sun his sister wrote to the Cave Clan explaining that her brother was in fact a "builder of drains", and not an explorer.
Membership and activities
Stormwater
Stormwater is water that originates during precipitation events. It may also be used to apply to water that originates with snowmelt that enters the stormwater system...
drains
Storm drain
A storm drain, storm sewer , stormwater drain or drainage well system or simply a drain or drain system is designed to drain excess rain and ground water from paved streets, parking lots, sidewalks, and roofs. Storm drains vary in design from small residential dry wells to large municipal systems...
, bunkers tunnels and forts. Each chapter of the Cave Clan has its favorite locations with each city having a different history and therefore different types of locations to explore. For example in Sydney, sites the Cave Clan explore include an underground ex-naval oil reservoir in Sydney.
Members of the Cave Clan come from various backgrounds including tradesmen, computer geeks, shop owners, teachers, government workers, writers, students, scientists, and mechanics with the Cave Clan acting as a uniting group for people who are interested in urban exploration in Australia. Amongst other things, members are attracted by the appeal of getting into places that no one else gets into.
Safety issues
The Cave Clan does not advocate going into drains when it is raining, exploring alone, or removing a manhole from beneath if the above location is unknown. This is due to the potential hazard of the exit being on a road and thus has the risk of being struck by a vehicle. The golden rule of the Cave Clan is, "When it rains, no drains!".Controversy
As with urban explorationUrban exploration
Urban exploration is the examination of the normally unseen or off-limits parts of urban areas or industrial facilities. Urban exploration is also commonly referred to as infiltration, although some people consider infiltration to be more closely associated with the exploration of active or...
-related topics, by entering into locations or drains without permission, the members of the Cave Clan can be described as "recreational trespassers". In 2005 it was revealed that the NSW State Government had asked for the Cave Clan's help in finding tunnels that could become terrorist targets.
Coroner Hugh Dillon investigating the death of two graffiti artists in a Sydney stormwater drain in 2008 has recommended police investigate a group known as the Sydney Cave Clan. Delivering his findings into the deaths deputy state coroner Hugh Dillon said he was concerned about the counter-cultural message by the group, which he said consisted of "shadowy characters".
Mr Dillon said he would recommend to police that they investigate the group and shut the website down after it was revealed that it publicised the drain and encouraged risk-taking activity. Mr Malinowsky, the sole survivor of the trio, alleged at the inquest that he was encouraged by a website from the so-called 'Cave Clan' - a group which he alleged dared people to explore urban underground spaces.
Graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
, despite the historical practice of discrete tagging as a historical documentation practice. Drain tagging is discouraged, especially in historically significant areas. There are clear examples, however, of the Cave Clan name, logo and other specific material related to the Cave Clan and/or their members, being used in graffiti, by unknown sources. The group also accepts leaving details of an expedition in a plain section of the drain, tunnel or cavity to mark the place and time. They also put up stickers, mostly above ground for promotional purposes.
Cultural references
The Cave Clan is the subject and title of a song released on the Mick ThomasMick Thomas
Michael James Thomas is an Australian singer-songwriter.Mick Thomas was born in Yallourn, 7 February 1960, the middle child of three. His father, Brian Thomas, was an electrical engineer with the old State Electricity Commission. His father's family were from Tasmania and his mother, Margaret, was...
album Spin! Spin! Spin!.