[3][4] They include numerous Silurian marine fossils[5] and the calcite formations, sometimes pure white, are noted for their beauty.

[8] The Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve is the most westerly of the eight protected areas within the World Heritage Site.

The reserve forms part of the Great Dividing Range and was listed on the (now defunct) Register of the National Estate in 1978.

An alternative (although highly unlikely) meaning comes from the name "J E Nolan" that was found smoked by a candle on the roof of a cave.

The area holds significance to the Gundungurra and Wiradjuri peoples, who knew it as Binomil or Bin-oo-mur, and a variety of similar names.

[1] A Dreamtime creation story of the Gundungurra people describes how the countryside came into being, and involves a struggle between two ancestral creator spirits – one a giant eel-like creature, Gurangatch, and the other, Mirrigan, a large native cat or quoll.

[13][14] Though most accounts were written some decades after the initial discovery, and differ somewhat in the details, it is generally accepted that in 1838 (or possibly 1841), James Whalan was in pursuit of an ex-convict and active local thief named McKeown, who had stolen livestock, tools, clothing and a flour grinder, was tracked to the area.

The caves were open to tourism early, but there was little protection from visitors damaging formations until the collection of souvenirs and the writing of graffiti was banned in 1872.

In April 1884, William Marshall Cooper, Surveyor of Public Parks for the State Government, was assigned the job, and worked out a horse-and-carriage track in a 10-day trek from Katoomba to the Caves.

By 1885, Parliament had approved A£2,500 for the construction of Cooper's bridle track, with the work starting at the most difficult area, the Megalong Cleft, where a zig-zag had to be cut, partly in solid rock, to reduce the grade to 1:5.5.

[19] The first recorded passage of the completed bridle track from Katoomba to Jenolan was by the Governor, Lord Carrington, in September 1887.

In 1968, the Orient Cave became the first in the world to be cleaned, due to contamination by mud from the previous access route and a nearby coal boiler.

The caves attract over 250,000 visitors a year, making it one of the most popular tourist locations in rural New South Wales,[citation needed] and has won numerous tourism awards.

Concerts also take place in the Grand Arch, including the annual 'Carols in the Caves', which raises money for charity.

The reasons given only reveal part of the problems with the care, control and management of the Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve.

To cater for the expectations of the well-to-do, Vernon included a ballroom and grand dining room, now Chisolm's Restaurant.

As at 15 June 2004, Jenolan Caves Reserve is of state significance for its historical, aesthetic, research and rarity values.

The Jenolan Caves area is widely used as a research and teaching site for studying the geomorphology and processes involved in karst formation.

The area includes one of the largest and most beautiful interconnected cave systems in Australia and is an outstanding site of geological and speleological interest.

The Jenolan River, Blue Lake and a system of intimate valleys and watercourses provide a magnificent setting for a distinctive range of native vegetation and fauna.

[29][10] Jenolan Caves was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 25 June 2004 having satisfied the following criteria.

Jenolan Caves Reserve is of state significance for its ability to demonstrate the significant historical activity of identifying and conserving the natural resources of NSW - in this case, the caves and karst landscapes that have developed as important scientific and tourist destinations throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries.

The caves hamlet illustrates the significant human activity of providing accommodation for travellers and tourists since the 1890s in romantic buildings especially designed for this purpose by the Government Architect (HO).

Although only the first or 1897 wing was built during his tenure, his plans were respected and adapted by subsequent government architects so that the original style and setting for the building has been largely maintained to the present day (HO).

[10] The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

[10] The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

[10] The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.