KATHERINE

Welcome to the Low Level Caravan Park that we will be calling home till the Scout is repaired. At least it’s green and shaded because it’s around 36 degrees now.

Springvale Homestead is the oldest original homestead in the Northern Territory being established  in 1878

 

 

Alfred Giles was the manager of Springvale and planted these South American Raintrees  for each of his four children -making these trees well over 100 years old.

Knotts Crossing, over the Katherine River, was the first location of Katherine. The town was later moved to the north side of the river and named Emungalan.

 

In 1926  the township of  Katherine was moved to its present position when the Railway Bridge was completed. The new area was presumed to be less flood prone.

The new Ghan Railway was completed in 2004 when the service  was connected between Alice Springs and Darwin.

There were 33 carriages on this train extending about 800 metres down the platform.

 

 

 

This is the Katherine Icon – a magnificent one and half times life size bronze statue – a memorial erected in 2002 (Australia’s Year of the Outback). The model is Sabu Peter Sing who represents the pioneers.

O’Keefe house was originally built out of bush materials by soldiers during WWII. It was later the home of Sister Olive O’Keefe who flew with Doctor Clive Fenton providing the first Flying Doctor service.