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All Australia Mount Gambier Umpherston Sinkhole

Umpherston Sinkhole

An incredible garden taking over the interior of a massive sinkhole.

Mount Gambier, Australia

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Rhiannon
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The sunken garden.   Alpha/Flickr
  Alpha/Flickr
  denisbin/Flickr
  mrandyjryan / Atlas Obscura User
  mrandyjryan / Atlas Obscura User
Umpherston Sinkhole Gardens   michael7 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

While sinkholes are generally regarded as a disastrous natural phenomenon, Australia's Umpherston Sinkhole has been transformed into a wondrous fantasy garden.

Otherwise known as the "Sunken Garden," the verdant sinkhole was formed when the ceiling of a large subterranean cave collapsed into itself, leaving a giant pockmark in the Earth. The hole began its transformation in 1886 when local James Umpherston began planting a garden in the huge shaft.

Today the sunken garden is an almost otherworldly green space with rows and terraces of perfectly manicured greenery covering the floor of the sinkhole. Visitors can visit the public park and walk among the flowers and fountains while gazing up to the surface. At night, floodlights come on and the sinkhole becomes a popular possum gathering point. 

Related Tags

Gardens Sinkhole Natural Wonders Geological Oddities Geology Nature Plants

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Plenty of parking available out the front

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Added By

rhiannonk

Edited By

Martin, Blindcolour, michael7, Allison...

  • Martin
  • Blindcolour
  • michael7
  • Allison
  • EricGrundhauser
  • mrandyjryan

Published

September 11, 2012

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  • http://www.mountgambierpoint.com.au/attractions/umpherston-sinkhole/
  • http://www.southaustralia.com/info.aspx?id=9000800&rs=b%7cAU%7cAU
  • http://www.mountgambiertourism.com.au/visit_see_detail.asp?subcat=4&id=1
  • http://www.mountgambierpoint.com.au/attractions/umpherston-sinkhole/
Umpherston Sinkhole
Jubilee Highway East
Mount Gambier, 5290
Australia
-37.838836, 140.808486
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