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"The Wormhole"  contrary to a recent newspaper story describing it as a "converted bomb shelter", was originally built in 1981 as a large underground rainwater reservoir that was rarely called upon for it's intended purpose.
Internal dimensions: 12m length 4m width and 3m depth .
The advantages to researchers are simply that the Wormhole can be kept in 24hour darkness thus facilitating the observation of bioluminescent organisms at any time of day or night.
It is also humidity adjustable and retains a relatively stable temperature.

inside view of part of one side of the Wormhole

After discovering that a small colony of glow worms had taken up residence in the reservoir in 1996 they were re-located externally during modifications and it was converted into a walk-in underground controlled environment research and study area initially for glow worms.
It is currently used for the study of  bioluminescent organisms.
The original study of glow worms was done in 1998/9 using transplanted specimens and all observations were recorded. 

The Wormhole is currently being utilised for an ongoing study of the four different types of luminous fungi that are indigenous to this area.

Mycena lampadis  luminous mushroom mycelium grown in 24 hour darkness

12 metre by 0.5 metre bed of luminous forest leaf litter grown in total darkness for 7 years.

Innoculated logs in 24 hour darkness to compare fruiting time with innoculated logs externally.

Three of the four different species of luminous fungi are currently being propagated as part of a long term study

G.Maguire
Springbrook Research Centre