Barrow Creek

Barrow Creek NT 0872 (Pop about 12)

Barrow Creek is a Red Centre settlement on the Stuart Hwy 1 198 km south of Darwin. Today it is little more than a pub and service stop for travelers but originally it served as an important telegraph station and drovers' rest. Like Alice Springs, the town was established with the arrival of the Overland Telegraph in 1872 and named after SA’s Treasurer of the time. Due to a serious lack of water, the settlement did not grow.The Barrow Creek Hotel was built in 1926 and still has the original bar, cellar and tin ceilings. There is also an interesting historic cemetery. Two Aboriginal communities live nearby - Tara (12 km n-e) with about 80 people and Pmatajunata (35 km away) with 120 people.

Visitor Information Centre: Barrow Creek Hotel. Tel (08) 8956 9753.

Airport:
Tennant Creek Airport (TCA), Irvine St. Tel (08) 8962 2894. (222 km north).

Hospital:
Tennant Creek Hospital, Schmidt St. Tel (08) 8962 4399.