The Northern Territory played a big role in the defence of Australia in World War Two. American bombers were operating out of Batchelor, and the Australian Navy significantly increased its presence in the area. Both American and Allied forces were deployed from the NT to Indonesian and the forces were responsible for the sinking of the Japanese submarine north of Darwin in 1941.
This military presence is evident when you visit the cemetery at Adelaide River 112 Km south of Darwin. There are 434 Military burials, including 9 postal workers who were killed in the bombing of Darwin in February of 1942. I believe that a visit to the Cemetery whilst travelling though the area is a respectful way to remember those that we have lost in defence of this wonderful country that we get to call home.
Another place to stop in Adelaide River is the Adelaide River Inn. Here you can meet Charlie the water buffalo. Charlie is a very special part of the Inn as he is in fact the water buffalo that Mike Dundee in the movie “Crocodile Dundee” hypnotised. Apparently, Charlie was an orphaned calf who was raised in a zoo. After the movie he was purchased by the Inn owners where he had a wallowing hole and lots of company from fans who came to visit.
When Charlie got sick and had to be put down his owner had his stuffed and he’s now pride of place in the bar where he continues to be admired from those who stop on their way through.
If you head west for 110km to the Daly River, it’s all about Barramundi fishing. A good place to visit is the Daly River Barra Resort. A visit here is all about fishing, relaxing, taking a dip in the pool, bush walking or just relaxing by one of the three billabongs. The Resort is a family run business and they offer camping and accommodation facilities along with fishing charters. https://www.dalyriverbarra.com.au/index.html
Another place to visit whilst in the area is Merrapen Art Gallery. A tropical garden is used to display the artworks and cultural items. The knowledge centre is where historical records that have been translated to English so they can be forever remembered for future generations. Proceeds from the sales go to sustainability of the corporation. You will find paintings, weaving, fabrics, ceramics, silk painting and prints.
The Stars is an artwork by Kieran. The stars are one of his totems. When he was little the stars and his mother made him feel safe. When he visits the city, he can’t see the stars. When people are hunting, they see the stars telling the time by them – the stars are guides. https://merrepenarts.com.au/
Unfortunately, the Douglas Hot Springs are closed at the moment so the next stop on the route south is Pine Creek.
Pine Creek was established in the 1800s because of the Gold Rush and the town is full of historic stories from the days of settlement. Gold was first discovered in the area when the workers were putting through the overland telegraph line. The Railway station has been preserved as a museum that tells the story of the town. You will find a passenger carriage that was built in 1925 in Port Augusta along with examples of first and second class passenger carriages. The station played a big role in WWII with 147 services a week going through the area.
The Pine Creek area was significant to the native indigenous population for mining. They quarried the area to make tools, and the area is recognised at the largest quarry rock source in the Territory. Pine Creek is a town that has seen boom and bust quite a few times since it was first settled. From Gold to where prospectors arrived in droves including 2000 Chinese, then the railway station when it became significant during war time efforts. However, the war also saw most of the residents of the area evacuated and they took up new residency elsewhere.
The hope was that the Railway would connect Darwin to Adelaide and help Pine Creek to reestablish itself, however when the railway finally finished construction in 2004, Pine Creek was bypassed.
Iron Ore and uranium were discovered close by, and the town had a small insurgence as a supply town. In the 1980s the old gold mine was re-opened, and Pine Creek made it to the world markets, but this only lasted for 8 years. The mine pit has now been filled with water and is a scenic attraction on the outskirts of town. The towns focal point now is in tourism.
After a visit to the railway museum visitors can find a large collection of old mining equipment that you can wonder around and have a good look at. Imagine what the people who worked with this equipment looked like, what they did, the stories that they had to tell. There are many heritage listed buildings scattered around the town to look at, including the old bakery. Apparently, the ovens were made from dirt collected from ant hills that were located in the area.
A good place to stop in Pine Creek is the Lazy Lizard. This tavern offers a great place for a meal, accommodation in the form of cabins and a caravan park. The Tavern is located on 4 acres and offers a pool for a dip after a hot day of travelling. Make sure that you visit the Shed while you are there. Only $5 entry to see am amazing collection of cars and Harleys. The Entry fee is donated to the Melanoma Institute of Australia. https://lazylizardpinecreek.com.au/
This is just a small snippet of what to see and do in the area. I’ll write more about some of the amazing water falls that are a must see next time I write about the area.
