Tennant Creek
Tennant Creek NT 0860 (Pop 3 600)
Pic: by Tourism NT
Tennant Creek is an important Red Centre administration centre for the huge Barkly Tableland. Located near the junction of the Barkly and Stuart Hwys, it is 978 km south of Darwin and 504 north of Alice Springs. Early gold and copper deposits helped establish the settlement after the Overland Telegraph was completed. Mining is still a major industry here and is also still carried out at Warrego (50 km west) where bismuth is mined.
Tourist Attractions & Info:
Church of Christ the King, Windley St first church built between Alice Springs and Katherine and originally located at Pine Creek and then transferred over a period of time which resulted in it becoming known as ‘The Longest Church in Australia’. This Roman Catholic church was constructed of corrugated iron, masonite and recycled telegraph poles. National Trust Museum, Schmidt St known as Tuxworth Fullwood House, a 1942 Second World War army hospital, it has displays of an 1930s police cell, miner’s camp, steam engine and many interesting historical artifacts & photographs. Open (2pm-4pm) May-Sept. Purkiss Reserve, Ambrose St pleasant picnic spot with a nearby swimming pool.
Nearby:
Bill Allen Lookout (1.5 km east) affords sweeping panoramic district views and interpretive local site plaques. Mary Ann Dam (5 km north) artificial dam ideal for swimming, fishing and picnics. Phillip Creek Settlement (43 km north) remnants of a former Aboriginal settlement (1945-56) depicts the harsh conditions they were forced to live under. Attack Creek Memorial (73 km north) marks the meeting place of John McDouall Stuart and local Aboriginal tribes. From the nearby creek, the old Stuart Hwy can be seen. Churchill's Head (300 m from Attack Creek Memorial) unusual rock formation named by WWII soldiers and requiring travelling on a part of the old Stuart Hwy. Overland Telegraph Station (11 km north) (1872). The station closed in 1979 and is today a museum portraying the isolated lives led by the telegraph operators. Guided tours can be arranged through the Parks and Wildlife Commission (08) 8962 2793 during the dry season. The Pebbles (17 km n-w) large granite boulders (a small version of the Devils Marbles) which are sacred to the women of the Warumungu tribe.
Accommodation: Tennant Creek has 3 motel/lodges, two hotels and 3 caravan parks. Visitor Information Centre: Battery Hill Regional Centre, Peko Rd. Tel (08) 8962 3388.
Airport:
Tennant Creek Airport (TCA), Irvine St. Tel (08) 8962 2894. (1.6 km north).
Hospital:
Tennant Creek Hospital, Schmidt St. Tel (08) 8962 4399.
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