THE TERRITORIES ‘HEART OF GOLD’

Just 500 kilometres north of Alice Springs, and twice that south of Darwin, Tennant Creek is a friendly gold mining town, packed with history and entertainment! The town is surrounded by the Barkly Tablelands, characterised by wide grassy plains, endless blue sky, and massive cattle stations.

Australia’s last gold rush took place in this little town in the 1930s. Before which, Tennant Creek’s residents were workers on the Overland Telegraph Line, which established communication between Australia and the rest of the world. The Station was built in 1872, and this historical collection of stone buildings can be explored today.

Aboriginal culture is ever present in Tennant Creek. The traditional land owners are the aboriginal Warumungu people, who recognise a number of sacred sites in the area, including the region’s most famous landmark – the Devils Marbles. It is believed that these are the eggs of the Rainbow Serpent – a creature of a Dreamtime story. 

What to see:

• Battery Hill Mining Centre: relive Tennant Creek’s gold mining past. See the gold stamp battery, the native plant walk, minerals museum and an underground mine tunnel.
• Lake Mary Ann: five kilometres from town, is a great place for a swim and a picnic. Barbeque facilities, safe swimming areas, bushwalking tracks and wildlife watching areas are available.
• Tennant Creek Telegraph Station: 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, is 11 kilometres from town.
• Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre: award-winning interpretive museum and art gallery that provides insights about the life and culture of the local Warumungu people. 
• Pink Palace: originally a hostel for stockmen and their families, the Pink Palace is home of the Julalikari Arts and Crafts program, a meeting place where Aboriginal women gather to paint traditional and contemporary artwork.