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From its rugged droving and
gold mining days, Tennant Creek has blossomed into an exciting
regional centre. The town has a population of 4,000 and
is the main service centre for the Barkly Tablelands, situated
507 kilometres north of Alice Springs and 1,015 kilometres
south of Darwin on the Stuart Highway (Explorer’s Way).
The site of Australia’s last
major gold rush in the 1930s, Tennant Creek’s rich mining
history can be explored in the Battery Hill Mining Centre.
Tennant Creek is a small
township of about 3500 people, located 500 kilometres north
of Alice Springs and 1000 kilometres south of Darwin. It's
a place shaped by Aboriginal culture, gold mining and pastoralism.
The surrounding area is called the Barkly Tablelands, a
region characterised by wide grassy plains, endless blue
sky and massive cattle stations.
Tennant Creek is also known
as the 'Golden Heart of the Northern Territory' - a name
that refers to the warm personalities of its people and
because it is the site of Australia's last major gold rush
in the 1930s. People initially looked for gold in quartz,
but it wasn't until the 1930s that they discovered that
the gold was still in the ironstone.
The town's goldmining history
remains, and is captured at sites around the town such as
the Battery Hill Mining Centre. In fact, it's thought that
there is still plenty of gold to be found, and mining for
this and other valuable minerals, like manganese and copper,
remains a vital economic contributor for the region. Until
the 1930s gold rush era, the repeater station, built in
1872 for the Overland Telegraph Line, was the only building
that stood in this area, alongside the creek.
The Telegraph Station is
located 11 kilometres north of the town, and travellers
can explore the buildings and grounds to get a feel for
life here 130 years ago. Explore Tennant Creek & surrounds
Tennant Creek the township South of Tennant North of Tennant
Barkly Tablelands Experience Culture and heritage Nature
Adventure
The Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and
Culture Centre is an award winning museum and gallery showcasing
the culture of the traditional Aboriginal owners of the
area, the Warumungu people. Travellers can stop at a character
filled outback pub or roadhouse for an insight into a unique
lifestyle shaped by isolation. Enjoy a swim in Lake Mary
Ann, explore the historic Overland Telegraph Line, built
in 1872, and spend a couple of star filled nights in Tennant
Creek area for a truly unique Territory experience. The
mysterious rock spheres of the nearby Devils Marbles Conservation
Reserve, located 100 kilometres south of Tennant Creek,
are one of the Outback’s iconic attractions. (Copyright
& Courtesy of Toursim NT)
Lake Mary Ann - Five
kilometres from Tennant Creek, is a great place for a swim
and a picnic. The lake can be reached from the township
by a walking and cycling track or by road via the Stuart
Highway. Barbeque facilities, safe swimming areas, bushwalking
tracks and wildlife watching areas are all available.
Tennant Creek Telegraph
Station - Built in 1872, the Tennant Creek Telegraph
Station is a collection of historic stone buildings that
functioned as an important part of the Overland Telegraph
Line that linked Australia with the outside world. The Station,
11 kilometres from town, has a self-guided walk with interpretative
signage on the region's telegraph communications and pastoral
history.
The Nyinkka Nyunyu Art
and Culture Centre in Tennant Creek - Features an award-winning
interpretive museum and art gallery that provides visitors
with insights about the life and culture of the local Warumungu
people. Art from the Barkly region is showcased through
a program of changing exhibitions, which can be purchased
through the museum's store.
Pink Palace - Originally
built as a hostel for stockmen and their families, today
the Pink Palace is home of the Julalikari Arts and Crafts
program, acting as a meeting place where Aboriginal women
gather to paint traditional and contemporary artwork. Located
on the northern outskirts of Tennant Creek, the centre welcomes
travellers who can purchase artworks direct from artists.
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