DISCOVER KATHERINE, Australia
Katherine is a town situated 320 km southeast of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is the third largest settlement in the territory after the capital Darwin and Alice Springs.
Today Katherine is a key regional centre supporting the cattle and tourism industries. Located at the junction of major tourism drives, the Savannah Way and the Explorers Way , Katherine is an important visitor gateway for the Northern Territory.
Set in promising grazing and future agricultural country, the town's main economic source has often been gold, but this has lessened after the closing of the mine at Mt Todd. There is increasing tourism and the RAAF Base Tindal 17 km southeast of town is also contributing to the economy. The town has several churches, sporting clubs, parks, a well kept golf course, and a showground.
The spectacular Katherine Gorge in the Nitmiluk National Park near the town has many ancient rock paintings. These often become flooded during "the wet season" as the river can rise 18 m in the narrow passage. In a particularly wet season, the paintings higher up can become flooded, damaging these ancient treasures.
The town was given its name after the daughter of one of the sponsors of John McDouall Stuart who first saw the area in 1862. The original inhabitants of the area belong to the Jawoyn, Dagoman and Wardaman language groups.
A narrow gauge railway south from Darwin to Katherine was completed in 1926. It fell into disuse. In 2003 the line was replaced with standard gauge as part of extending the line to Alice Springs north to Darwin. Katherine is now the only stop of The Ghan between Alice Springs and Darwin.
 BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Springvale Homestead, built in 1879, is the oldest original homestead in the Northern Territory. The homestead was originally managed by Alfred Giles, an ex-Overland Telegraph linesman, but is now open to visitors. The Old Katherine Railway Station is another historic attraction that served Vestey's Meatworks during their operation in Darwin and was a major hub of transport during World War II.
Another historic site is the O'Keeffe Residence. Originally built as a recreation hut in 1943 for army officers during the Second World War, it is a good example of local construction practice, using local materials like Cypress pine and corrugated iron.
Since the establishment of Nitmiluk National Park, Katherine has developed into a tourism destination. Katherine Gorge in Nitmiluk National Park attracts large numbers of visitors each year. The town is well-equipped with a shopping centre and other modern conveniences and services.
PARKS AND GARDENS
Katherine town and surrounds provide plenty of park and garden areas. Dakota Park, Giles Park, Jukes Park and O'Shea Park are in the town. Tourist attractions include Nitmiluk National Park and Katherine Hot Springs. Along Riverbank Drive on the Katherine River, Katherine Hot Springs provide swimming, shaded picnic tables and BBQ facilities.
EARLY CITY OF KATHERINE
The town has had several locations since its settlement by John McDouall Stuart and the present site was gazetted on 15 July 1926. The original post office and the Overland Telegraph station were set just above Knott's Crossing and next to the Sportsman's Arms Hotel that had quarters for the station master at the Overland Telegraph station and a single room police station.
The Katherine River, after which the town and the nearby gorge are named, was named by John McDouall Stuart when he passed through the area in 1862 on his sixth successful journey across the continent. On 4 July 1862 Stuart crossed the Katherine River and recorded in his diary: 'Came upon another large creek, having a running stream to the south of west and coming from the north of east. This I have named 'Katherine', in honour of the second daughter of James Chambers Esq.'
There is some conjecture over Stuart's accuracy. Chambers' wife's name was Katherine but, according to most sources, his daughter's name was Catherine. The next stage of development of Katherine was the establishment of the Katherine Telegraph Station on 22 August 1872 and the completion of the Overland Telegraph Line later in 1872. It wasn't until 1923 that construction began on the Katherine railway bridge and in 1926 the bridge was completed. All shops were then moved to the opposite side of the river, where the town of Katherine now sits. The first train crossed the bridge on 21 January 1926.
Construction began on a new rail line in July 2001. On 13 September 2003, the line was finished and there was a continuous track from Adelaide to Darwin. The Ghan passenger train commenced on 4 February 2004 and runs several times a week. It stops in Katherine on both the northbound and southbound journeys.
Dr Clyde Fenton of Katherine became one of the first Flying Doctors in Australia when he raised £500 to buy a plane for his medical run. He soon earned himself the name of 'Speed Gordon of the Territory Skies'. On 22 March 1942, Katherine sustained its only air raid during World War II. One man was killed when a Japanese aircraft bombed the town.
FLOODING IN KATHERINE
The town of Katherine has a history of flooding with documented accounts in 1957, 1974 and the 1998 Australia Day flood. The 1998 flood devastated the town and the area was declared a National Disaster. The flood was as a result of the 300-400 mm of rainwater brought by Cyclone Les that brought the already full Katherine River up an additional 21.3 metres. The floodwaters inundated the town and much of the surrounding region requiring the evacuation of many residents.
Katherine suffered another serious flood in April 2006 with the floodwaters peaking at 19 metres. Damage, however was not extensive and the town quickly recovered.
From Wikipedia
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