Katherine Tourist Information
Katherine Tourist Information
Larrimah, Daly Waters & Dunmarra, Northern Territory
Gateway to The Top End, Larrimah is positioned half way between Darwin and Tennant Creek and is one of the NT's most historic towns, originating as a WWII staging camp, with more than 3,000 servicement stationed there. The Gorrie Air Strip was a major aircraft maintenance and repair depot during WWII and some ruins can still be seen at Gorrie.
Birdum was established in 1929 as the southern railhead of the North Australia Railway and dismantled and moved to Larrimah in 1951. Visit the railway/WWII museum which commemorates much of the local history. The museum is housed in the old telegraph building. The pub was an old WWII officers mess with extensions added using materials from the Birdum Hotel. It is an ideal stopover for browsers of memorabilia and history buffs. There is also a memorabilia display at the old police station, where meals and refreshments are served.
Daly Waters has the inlikely distinction of being Australia's first international airfield, when in the 1930s it was a refuelling stop for QANTAS. The original QANTAS Hangar and the air strip still exist between the Stuart Highway and the town. Daly Waters historic pub was built to service passengers and crew who utilised the airfield. The pub was first licensed in 1938. The Daly Waters Highway Inn is strategically located at the turnoff to Cape Crawford and Borroloola.
The Dunmarra Wayside Inn is located approximately 320km south of Katherine on the Stuart Highway. Camping and a caravan park facilities are available.
