7. CLIEFDEN CAVES WARM SPRING The Belubula River at the warm spring site After the first crossing of the Blue Mountains in 1813, Surveyor George Evans was given the responsibility of exploring the country around the site of Bathurst. The outcrop of Cliefden Caves Limestone at the junction of Limestone Creek and the Belubula River was discovered during the explorations of George Evans on 24 May 1815 (2 years after the crossing of the Blue Mountains). Limestone was an essential material then as now, being used to make quicklime (calcium oxide) by heating it strongly and then slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) by adding water. These were required for making mortar and c ement for building. In the early days shells were collected for burning around Sydney, but the supply was always inadequate. Evans' discovery showed that limestone could be found in the newly discovered country. See also my blog on the Limekilns area near Bathurst. Surveyor General John Oxley report...