Katherine is a town in the
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...
of Australia. It is situated on the
Katherine River
Katherine River is located in the Northern Territory, Australia. Its headwaters are in Nitmiluk National Park, it flows through the town of Katherine, and is a major tributary of the Daly River. The Katherine River drops around 384m over its 328 ...
, after which it is named, southeast of
Darwin. It is
the fourth largest settlement in the Territory and is known as the place where "The outback meets the tropics".
Katherine had an urban population of approximately 6,300 at the
2016 Census.
Katherine is also the closest major town to
RAAF Base Tindal
RAAF Base Tindal is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) military air base and civil aviation airfield located east southeast of the town of Katherine, Northern Territory in Australia. The base is currently home to No. 75 Squadron and a nu ...
, located southeast, and provides education, health, local government services and employment opportunities for the families of Defence personnel stationed there. In the , the base had a residential population of 857, with only around 20% of the workforce engaged in employment outside of defence,
the majority commuting to work in Katherine. Katherine is also the central hub of the great "
Savannah Way
The Savannah Way is a route of highways and major roads across the tropical savannahs of northern Australia, linking Cairns in Queensland with Broome in Western Australia. Promoted as a self-drive tourist route, it joins Cairns, Normanton, B ...
" which stretches from
Cairns
Cairns (, ) is a city in Queensland, Australia, on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland. The population in June 2019 was 153,952, having grown on average 1.02% annually over the preceding five years. The city is the 5th-most-p ...
in north Queensland to
Broome in the
Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Beginning as an outpost established with the
Australian Overland Telegraph Line on the north–south transport route between Darwin and
Adelaide
Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...
, Katherine has grown with the development of transport and local industries including mining – particularly
gold mining
Gold mining is the extraction of gold resources by mining. Historically, mining gold from alluvial deposits used manual separation processes, such as gold panning. However, with the expansion of gold mining to ores that are not on the surface ...
; a strategic military function with RAAF Base Tindal; also as a tourism gateway to the attractions of nearby
Nitmiluk National Park
Nitmiluk National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 244 km southeast of Darwin, and 23 km northeast of the town of Katherine, around a series of gorges on the Katherine River and Edith Falls. Previously named Katherine ...
, particularly Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge and its many ancient rock paintings. The region floods heavily during the wet season.
History
The first inhabitants of the area were
Indigenous Australian
Indigenous Australians or Australian First Nations are people with familial heritage from, and membership in, the ethnic groups that lived in Australia before British colonisation. They consist of two distinct groups: the Aboriginal peoples ...
s, specifically the Dagoman people,
Jawoyn people
The Jawoyn, also written Djauan, are an Australian Aboriginal people living in the Northern Territory of Australia. The Bagala clan are of the Jawoyn people.
Language
Jawoyn, known as Kumertuo, is a non- Pama–Nyungan language that belongs t ...
and
Wardaman people
The Wardaman people are a small group of Aboriginal Australians living about South-West of Katherine, on Menngen Aboriginal Land Trust in the Northern Territory of Australia.
Language
Wardaman is a non Pama-Nyungan language. Though close to ...
.
It was important meeting place for these tribes and remains a place of convergence.
Today the Walpiri People from the Victoria River District and Tanami Desert areas now have a dedicated community based at Katherine East.
Explorer
John McDouall Stuart passed through the area in 1862 on his successful third journey across the continent from north to south. On 4 July 1862, Stuart crossed the
Katherine River
Katherine River is located in the Northern Territory, Australia. Its headwaters are in Nitmiluk National Park, it flows through the town of Katherine, and is a major tributary of the Daly River. The Katherine River drops around 384m over its 328 ...
90 km upstream from the present town, 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
pastoralist James Chambers " There is some conjecture over Stuart's accuracy. Chambers's wife's name was Katherine but, according to most sources, his daughter's name was Catherine.
![John Gilruth 1](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/John_Gilruth_1.jpg)
Katherine Telegraph Station was established on 22 August 1872 and the completion of the Overland Telegraph Line later in 1872, and the town began with a small permanent population on the west side of the Katherine River. Katherine benefited from the proximity to nearby gold fields including
Pine Creek 90 kilometres to the north.
Gold was discovered 50 kilometres to the north in 1889 at Mount Todd.
The
North Australia Railway
The North Australia Railway was a narrow gauge railway in the Northern Territory of Australia which ran from the territory capital of Darwin, once known as Palmerston, to Birdum, just south of Larrimah. Initially its name was the ''Palmerst ...
was extended to Katherine with construction beginning in 1923 of the Katherine railway bridge. During construction of the railway, the town's centre was relocated to the eastern side of the river. The bridge was completed in 1926 and the first train crossed on 21 January 1926. On 15 July 1926, the town's present site was gazetted. 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
The Australian Overland Telegraph Line was a telegraphy system to send messages over long distances using cables and electric signals. It spanned between Darwin, in what is now the Northern Territory of Australia, and Adelaide, the capital o ...
station and a single room police station.
During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, the
Australian Army
The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia, a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army (Austral ...
set up two hospitals around Katherine, the 101st Australian General Hospital and 121st Australian General Hospital. The army also set up a Katherine Area Headquarters. 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.
Mining production has declined since the closure of the mine at Mount Todd (50 kilometres to the north) in 2000.
Construction began on a new rail line in July 2001. On 13 September 2003, the line was finished with a continuous track from
Adelaide
Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...
,
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
to Darwin.
The Ghan
''The Ghan'' is an experiential tourism oriented passenger train service that operates between the northern and southern coasts of Australia, through the cities of Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin on the Adelaide–Darwin rail corridor. O ...
passenger train service commenced on 4 February 2004 running several times a week and stopping on both the northbound and southbound journeys.
The river flooded the town in 1931, 1940, 1957, 1998 and 2006.
The 1998 floods were the worst on record. The river reached a height of 20.4 metres.
The April 2006 floods placed parts of the town under water (including about 50 houses), caused millions of dollars of damage, and resulted in the declaration of a state of emergency on 7 April. However, there were no reports of the flooding causing structural damage. Town residents were given warning that the river might flood on 5 April, and the town centre was underwater before noon the next day. The floodwaters reached a peak of nearly 19 metres at the Katherine River bridge. Dozens of homes were inundated with up to 2 m of water, with many residents having time to escape with little more than the clothes they were wearing. Over the weekend of 8–9 April, more than 1,100 people went to the evacuation centres in the town. The state of emergency was lifted on 9 April.
In recent decades, Katherine has developed as a regional centre supporting the cattle, horticulture, agriculture and tourism industries. Located at the junction of major tourism drives,
Central Arnhem Road
The Central Arnhem Road, also referred to as the Central Arnhem Highway or locally as "The Track", is a designated state route in the Northern Territory of Australia linking the Stuart Highway to the town of Nhulunbuy on the Gove Peninsula and ...
, the Savannah Way and the Explorers Way, Katherine is an important visitor gateway for the Northern Territory.
On
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and raising of the Union Flag by Arthur Phillip following days of exploration of Port Ja ...
in 1998 a major flood devastated the town, and the area was declared a national disaster. The flood resulted from the 300–400 mm of rainwater brought by
Cyclone Les that caused the already full Katherine River to peak at 20.4 metres. The floodwaters inundated the town and much of the surrounding region, requiring the evacuation of many residents. The flood covered an area of 1000 square kilometres, affected 1100 homes and cut off many roads in and out of Katherine. Three people drowned.
Population
According to the
2016 census of Population, there were 6,303 people in Katherine.
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 25.4% of the population.
* 66.2% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were Philippines 2.9%, New Zealand 1.8% and England 1.7%.
* 64.3% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Kriol at 3.5%.
* The most common response for religion was No Religion at 31.1%.
Geography and climate
Topography
![Edith-Falls-3007](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Edith-Falls-3007.jpg)
Katherine is located 320 km south of Darwin, and is situated on the banks of the
Katherine River
Katherine River is located in the Northern Territory, Australia. Its headwaters are in Nitmiluk National Park, it flows through the town of Katherine, and is a major tributary of the Daly River. The Katherine River drops around 384m over its 328 ...
, which is part of the Daly River system. The upper reaches rise into the
Arnhem Land
Arnhem Land is a historical region of the Northern Territory of Australia, with the term still in use. It is located in the north-eastern corner of the territory and is around from the territory capital, Darwin. In 1623, Dutch East India Compan ...
escarpment and
Kakadu, to the northeast.
The Victoria River (The Northern Territory's largest river system) is situated 189 km south-west of Katherine along the Victoria Highway.
Katherine is at the crossroads of the Outback due to its location between the Darwin region, Kakadu National Park, the Barkley Region, the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
![Flora River Nature Park](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/Flora_River_Nature_Park.jpg)
The topography of the region is predominantly dry tropical
savanna
A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to ...
woodlands and consists of plains, hills, rock outcrops.
To the east lies Koombolgie sandstone escarpments and spectacular gorges through Nitmiluk National Park.
The township itself is set among relatively flat plains along the Katherine River within the Tindall / Oolloo Aquifers, dotted with rugged Karst limestone formations, caves and jagged outcrops.
Numerous mesas (flat-topped hills or "Jump-ups") emerge south-west of Katherine on surrounding cattle stations.
Katherine is within an ecoregion classified as the
Kimberley tropical savanna
The Kimberley tropical savanna is a tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands ecoregion in northwestern Australia, covering portions of Western Australia and the Northern Territory south of the Timor Sea.
Geography
The ec ...
which covers a large portion of Australia's north-west through WA and the NT.
Climate
![Strikes over Nitmiluk](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Strikes_over_Nitmiluk.jpg)
Katherine experiences a dry
tropical savanna climate
Tropical savanna climate or tropical wet and dry climate is a tropical climate sub-type that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification categories ''Aw'' (for a dry winter) and ''As'' (for a dry summer). The driest month has less than of p ...
(
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
''Aw'') with distinct
wet and
dry season
The dry season is a yearly period of low rainfall, especially in the tropics. The weather in the tropics is dominated by the tropical rain belt, which moves from the northern to the southern tropics and back over the course of the year. The te ...
s. Daily temperatures in the wet season typically range from 30 °C to 37 °C, reaching over 40 °C from late September to late November. Very high humidity accompanies high temperatures during the build-up period to the wet season, when the region receives spectacular electrical storms. The wet season monsoon period is a dramatic time of year, from large
thunderstorms
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm or a lightning storm, is a storm characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere, known as thunder. Relatively weak thunderstorms are somet ...
and heavy downpours to the transitions of lush greenery appearing from the parched deciduous landscapes of the dry season. Katherine experiences around 50 thunderstorm days per year, most of which occur from November to April.
In the dry, the nights can get quite cool, regularly dropping to 7 °C overnight around June and July. Humidity levels are much lower from June to August and hence this has become the most popular time for visitors who wish to explore the region. Most parks and roads are accessible during the dry season, whereas the wet season often causes accessibility restrictions.
Low elevation relative to surrounding areas, as well as the town's situation on the banks of a river, means that the area is prone to
flood
A flood is an overflow of water ( or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are an area of study of the discipline hydrol ...
ing. A flood on
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia. Observed annually on 26 January, it marks the 1788 landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and raising of the Union Flag by Arthur Phillip following days of exploration of Port Ja ...
in 1998 was particularly destructive. Ex-
Tropical Cyclone Les
Tropical Cyclone Les was a Category 2 storm in the 1997–98 Australian region cyclone season, which affected the Northern Territory of Australia in January 1998.
Meteorological history
On 19 January 1998, an area of low pressure developed ...
produced between 300 and 400 millimetres of rainfall during a 48-hour period, causing the Katherine River to rise to 21.3 metres and claim the lives of three people.
Districts
The central business district of Katherine is set 350 metres from the banks of the Katherine River. The township services the regional centres of
Pine Creek,
Mataranka,
Borooloola,
Daly River and
Timber Creek.
The
RAAF
"Through Adversity to the Stars"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...
Tindal Base is located 17 km from Katherine and plays a significant role in the local economy. Tindal Airbase officially opened on 1 October 1988.
Katherine is quite a large city by its land area, despite the low combined population of around 10,000 people.
The Katherine Town Council (municipality) Zone extends from Flora River Junction in the West to Maranboy in the East and from the Fergusson River in the North to the Sturt Plateau in the South.
Other shire zones in the Katherine Region are the Victoria Daly and the Roper Gulf shires.
Traditional lands of the area include the Wardaman, Jawoyn and Dagoman aboriginal land trusts.
The township itself is a convergence zone of these traditional lands.
Wardaman country occupies areas to the west of Katherine, from Manbulloo (around Limestone Creek) to eastern parts of the Victoria River District.
Jawoyn country occupies areas to the east of Katherine from Lansdowne to the southern edge of Kakadu National Park, including Nitmiluk National Park,
Barunga,
Beswick and south-western Arnhem Land.
Dagoman country occupies areas to the south of Katherine, from Leach Lagoon, the Upper King River, the Dry River and across to the Warlock Ponds near Mataranka.
Built environment
![Springvale Homestead, Katherine, Northern Territory P6220058](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Springvale_Homestead%2C_Katherine%2C_Northern_Territory_P6220058.JPG)
Springvale Homestead, built in 1879, is the oldest original homestead in the
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...
. The homestead was originally managed by
Alfred Giles, an ex-
Overland Telegraph
The Australian Overland Telegraph Line was a telegraphy system to send messages over long distances using cables and electric signals. It spanned between Darwin, in what is now the Northern Territory of Australia, and Adelaide, the capital o ...
linesman. 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
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.
Another historic site is the O’Keeffe Residence. Originally built as a recreation hut in 1943 for army officers during World War II, the structure serves as a good example of local construction practice, using local materials like Cypress pine and corrugated iron.
The Gallon Licence Store is another historical gem of the Old Katherine Settlement, built by Bernard Murphy in 1891. Located near Knotts Crossing, it is surrounded by large Boab Trees and Bauhinia near the banks of the Katherine River.
The Gallon Licence Store was also featured in the crocodile horror film ''
Rogue''.
Since the establishment of
Nitmiluk National Park
Nitmiluk National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 244 km southeast of Darwin, and 23 km northeast of the town of Katherine, around a series of gorges on the Katherine River and Edith Falls. Previously named Katherine ...
, Katherine has developed into a tourism destination.
Katherine Gorge
Nitmiluk National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 244 km southeast of Darwin, and 23 km northeast of the town of Katherine, around a series of gorges on the Katherine River and Edith Falls. Previously named Katherine ...
in Nitmiluk National Park attracts large numbers of visitors each year (232,000 in 2004–05).
[Tourism NT](_blank)
'Tourism NT (www.tourismnt.com.au)''
Parks and gardens
Katherine town and surrounds provide plenty of
park
A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are urban green space, green spaces set aside for recreation inside t ...
and
garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the cultivation, display, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The single feature identifying even the wildest wild garden is ''control''. The garden can incorporate bot ...
areas. Dakota Park, Giles Park, Styles Park Jurassic Cycad Gardens, Jukes Park and O’Shea Park are in the town. Tourist attractions include
Nitmiluk National Park
Nitmiluk National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 244 km southeast of Darwin, and 23 km northeast of the town of Katherine, around a series of gorges on the Katherine River and Edith Falls. Previously named Katherine ...
and
Cutta Cutta Caves Nature Park, Kintore Caves Nature Park with its populations of endangered
cycad
Cycads are seed plants that typically have a stout and woody (ligneous) trunk (botany), trunk with a crown (botany), crown of large, hard, stiff, evergreen and (usually) pinnate leaves. The species are dioecious, that is, individual plants o ...
s, Low Level Nature Park, Springvale Homestead and Katherine Hot Springs.
Other significant parks of the region include
Elsey National Park
Elsey is a national park in the Northern Territory of Australia, extending from 2 km to 19 km east of Mataranka and 378 km southeast of Darwin.
Features of the park include Mataranka Falls, and the “Mataranka Thermal Pools” ...
,
Gregory National Park
Judbarra National Park, formerly Gregory National Park, is a national park in the Northern Territory of Australia, 359 km south of Darwin.
The park is the second largest national park in the Northern Territory, after Kakadu National Park, ...
and Giwining/Flora River Nature Park.
Along Riverbank Drive on the Katherine River, Katherine Hot Springs provides swimming, shaded picnic tables and barbecue facilities set amongst tall paperpark trees and ghost gums, with an abundant array of birds and wildlife. A paved pathway loops around and along the Katherine River and mountain bike trails weave on and off a paved pathway down to the river. A popup cafe and bike hire are situated at the Hot Springs Carpark in the dry season (May to October).
![Boab - Katherine River](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Boab_-_Katherine_River.jpg)
Fishing for
Barramundi
The barramundi (''Lates calcarifer'') or Asian sea bass, is a species of catadromous fish in the family Latidae of the order Perciformes. The species is widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, spanning the waters of the Middle East, Sout ...
,
Tarpon
Tarpons are fish of the genus ''Megalops''. They are the only members of the family Megalopidae. Of the two species, one (''M. atlanticus'') is native to the Atlantic, and the other (''M. cyprinoides'') to the Indo-Pacific Oceans.
Species a ...
(Ox-eye Herring) and
Sooty Grunter
The sooty grunter (''Hephaestus fuliginosus''), also known by the name black bream, blubberlips, Northern grunter or purple grunter, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a grunter from the family Terapontidae. It inhabits coastal and inland ...
, locally known as "Black Bream", is also popular along the Katherine River. The river hosts a diverse variety of fish species.
The low level Nature Reserve the hot springs and Nitmiluk National Park are regularly checked for crocodiles and are regarded reasonably safe for swimming during the dry season months.
Popular fishing spots:
Donkey Camp, the Old King River Crossing, Knott's Crossing and Edith River are good fishing spots. The Flora River 90 minutes southwest of town also offers excellent barramundi fishing either by casting from the bank or by small boat. The Flora is inhabited by saltwater crocodiles year-round and swimming is not permitted.
Both freshwater crocodiles (''Crocodylus johnstoni'') and saltwater crocodiles (''Crocodylus porosus'') inhabit river systems in the Katherine Region.
Government
The
seat of local government
The seat of government is (as defined by ''Brewer's Politics'') "the building, complex of buildings or the city from which a government exercises its authority".
In most countries, the nation’s capital is also seat of its government, thus that ...
for the
Town of Katherine
The Katherine Town Council is a local government area in the Northern Territory, established on 3 March 1978. It is situated south of Darwin, and covers an area of .
The Town of Katherine is an established residential township with a commerc ...
is located in Katherine. The council consists of five aldermen, a mayor, and a deputy mayor. The town's current mayor is Elisabeth Clark.
At Territory level, the
electoral division of Katherine
Katherine is an electoral division of the Legislative Assembly in Australia's Northern Territory. The electorate was first created in 1987, replacing the abolished Elsey seat, and derives its name from the Katherine River. Katherine encompasses ...
covers the town and its suburbs and elects one member to the
Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory is the unicameral legislature of the Northern Territory of Australia. The Legislative Assembly has 25 members, each elected in single-member electorates for four-year terms. The voting method fo ...
.
Jo Hersey
Jo Hersey (born 9 March 1967) is an Australian politician. She is a member for electoral division of Katherine in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly.
Hersey was born in Adelaide, but moved to the Northern Territory when she was yo ...
won the election in 2020 for the CLP, ousting Labor party member Sandra Nelson . Many
Northern Territory Government
The Government of the Northern Territory of Australia, also referred to as the Northern Territory Government, is the Australian territorial democratic administrative authority of the Northern Territory. The Government of Northern Territory wa ...
departments have offices in Katherine with most of these housed in the Government Centre building in First Street, which allows the community to access services such as motor vehicle registration and public health clinics, family and community services and public housing. There is also a courthouse located next door which regularly hears matters before the Northern Territory Magistrates Court within the chambers.
In the
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the upper house being the Senate. Its composition and powers are established in Chapter I of the Constitution of Australia.
The term of members of the ...
, Katherine is part of the
Division of Lingiari
The Division of Lingiari is an Australian electoral division in the Northern Territory that covers the entirety of the territory outside of the Division of Solomon, which covers Darwin and surrounding areas. The division also includes the C ...
, which includes all of the Territory outside the Darwin/Palmerston area. Lingiari is currently held by Labor member
Warren Snowdon
Warren Edward Snowdon (born 20 March 1950) is an Australian former politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives from July 1987 to March 1996, and again from October 1998 until May 2022. Initially representing the Division of ...
. The
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the Bicameralism, bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives (Australia), House of Representatives. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Chapter ...
has two representatives from the Northern Territory - Senator
Sam McMahon
Samantha Jane McMahon (born 11 December 1967) is a former Australian politician who was a Senator for the Northern Territory between the 2019 federal election and the 2022 federal election. McMahon is a member of the Liberal Democratic Part ...
representing the
Country Liberal Party
The Country Liberal Party of the Northern Territory (CLP) is a centre-right political party in Australia's Northern Territory. In local politics it operates in a two-party system with the Australian Labor Party (ALP). It also contests federal ...
and Senator Malarndirri McCarthy. Katherine is a solid base for the centre-right Country Liberal Party.
Federal Government services including
Centrelink
The Centrelink Master Program, or more commonly known as Centrelink, is a Services Australia master program of the Australian Government. It delivers a range of government payments and services for retirees, the Unemployment, unemployed, f ...
are also accessible through offices in Katherine.
Economy
The
pastoral industry, mining, defence (RAAF Tindal) and tourism contribute to the economy of Katherine. In 2003–04, the estimated total value of agriculture production from the
Katherine Region
The Katherine Region, known as "Big River Country", is one of five major regions in the Northern Territory, Australia. It is situated just below the tropical Top End.
The Katherine region covers an area of , and has a population of 18,646, mak ...
was $75M: $52M from cattle, $16.5M from fruit and vegetables and $7M from hay and other field crops. Production from mining in the region was estimated at $201M in 2003–04, or 13% of NT mining and energy production. Major commodities included lead, zinc, barites, limestone and gravel.
[NT Government](_blank)
''NT Government (www.nt.gov.au)''
In support of the pastoral and agriculture industries, the Northern Territory Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries maintains the Katherine Research Station, employing up to 40 staff in laboratories, greenhouses, coolrooms and animal-handling facilities, with open lands for cropping and grazing activities. The facility comprises of land on a site located off the
Stuart Highway
Stuart Highway is a major Australian highway. It runs from Darwin, in the Northern Territory, via Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, to Port Augusta in South Australia; a distance of . Its northern and southern extremities are segments of Aus ...
east of Katherine. The research conducted at the station assists local farmers to align land-management to climate and environment, and to address pests and diseases.
Mango
A mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree ''Mangifera indica''. It is believed to have originated in the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' has been cultivated in South a ...
es, including the
Kensington Pride
The 'Kensington Pride' mango is a named commercial mango cultivar that originated in Australia. It is sometimes called the KP, Bowen or Bowen special. It is Australia's most popular mango, accounting for over 80% of the country's annual commercia ...
, are a major primary industry in the territory. In summer, the Katherine region is one of Australia's major mango-producing areas. The Northern Territory in general produces early-season (September–November) mangoes, avoiding the potentially damaging wet season.
The town's principal retail facility, the Katherine Oasis Shopping Centre of is owned by
Vicinity Centres
Vicinity Centres , previously known as Federation Centres and Centro Properties Group, is an Australian Real Estate Investment Trust specialising in ownership and management of Australian shopping centres. As at December 2021, it had stakes i ...
and includes a
Woolworths supermarket, a
K Hub store (replaced
Target Country in early 2021) and speciality stores.
Transport
Rail
Katherine was originally connected to Darwin via the
North Australia Railway
The North Australia Railway was a narrow gauge railway in the Northern Territory of Australia which ran from the territory capital of Darwin, once known as Palmerston, to Birdum, just south of Larrimah. Initially its name was the ''Palmerst ...
, a
narrow gauge railway
A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than standard . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and .
Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves, smaller structur ...
which reached the town in 1926. The line fell into disuse and was closed in May 1976, after damage caused by
Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy was a tropical cyclone that devastated the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from 24 to 26 December 1974. The small, developing easterly storm had been observed passing clear of the city initially, but then turned t ...
led to the cessation of the shipment of
iron ore
Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, or deep purple to rusty red. The iron is usually found in the fo ...
from the Frances Creek mine. In 2003, the line was replaced by the
standard gauge line from
Alice Springs
Alice Springs ( aer, Mparntwe) is the third-largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Known as Stuart until 31 August 1933, the name Alice Springs was given by surveyor William Whitfield Mills after Alice, Lady Todd (''née'' Al ...
to Darwin.
The Ghan
''The Ghan'' is an experiential tourism oriented passenger train service that operates between the northern and southern coasts of Australia, through the cities of Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin on the Adelaide–Darwin rail corridor. O ...
, run by
Journey Beyond
Journey Beyond is the business name (together with more than a dozen other related names) of Experience Australia Group Pty Ltd, a private equity-owned company known mainly for operating Australian interstate experiential tourism trains ('' Th ...
, operates on the standard gauge line between
Adelaide
Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...
and Darwin. It runs once a week in each direction, with some exceptions.
A new Katherine Logistics and Agribusiness Hub is being planned. The proposed new passenger terminal and associated access road, carpark and rail platform will be constructed on a new rail line loop.
Air
Katherine airport is approximately 15 km south of the town centre. Air North flies to Katherine 3 times a week from Darwin and Alice Springs. Charter flights can also be arranged.
The current airport shares facilities with RAAF Base Tindal, replacing the original
Katherine Airfield
Katherine Airfield was an airfield in the town of Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia that closed in 1978 when civil operations moved to RAAF Base Tindal, south of Katherine. The site of the airfield is now home to the Katherine Museum.
H ...
which operated from 1930 - 1978, which was notable as the base from which Dr
Clyde Fenton
Clyde Cornwall Fenton OBE (16 May 1901 – 28 February 1982) was the Northern Territory's first flying doctor. Unlike the other doctors with the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, Fenton was also his own pilot. Fenton was a self- ...
established the Northern Territory Aerial Medical Service.
The airport and town received an extended description in the book "Beyond the Blue Horizon" by Alexander Frater, written in the 1980s and describing a journey by local air services from
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
to
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...
, retracing the route of the pioneer airline operations of the 1930s.
Road
Katherine is at the crossroads of the Savannah Way that runs east–west from Cairns to Broome and the Explorer's Way that runs north–south from Darwin to Adelaide through Alice Springs. Savannah Way runs along the Victoria Highway at Katherine and Explorers Way runs along Stuart Highway. The town is a three-hour drive from Darwin.
Society and culture
Grey Nomad Culture
Katherine's population swells immensely during the Dry Season. Each year elderly people (termed 'Grey Nomads') from the colder parts of Australia pack caravans and head north to Katherine and other locations throughout the Northern Territory.
Education
As a major regional centre, the town provides primary, secondary and tertiary education options, as well as facilitating students with special needs and disabilities.
There are four public primary schools located in the town catering to students in from transition to year 7: Katherine South Public School, Clyde Fenton School, Macfarlane Primary School an
Casuarina Street School Each of these schools also has a pre-school attached.Kintore Street Special school caters for children with additional needs from 3.6 to 18 years.
Katherine High School is the only public secondary and middle years school (years 7 – 12) in the town and supports academic,
sporting, and scientific learning opportunities for its students. The school has a well resourced library has a wide range of written and electronic media. Katherine High also boasts a large, airconditioned gymnasium allowing year round sporting activities and indoor activities. According to the Department of Education, Employment and Training, there are currently 586 students enrolled at the school. The current principal is Anne White. Due to the vast area and sparse population serviced by the Katherine Region, many students have to travel significant distances from their home to attend school. Callistemon House located nearby, while independent of Katherine High School provides accommodation for up to 40 high school students from remote areas so they may attend classes regularly at the school.
Saint Joseph's Catholic College provides an alternative to the public schools in Katherine, catering for students from pre-school to year 12. The school began offering year 11 studies in 2013 and year 12 studies in 2014. As of 2012, there were 330 students enrolled at the college.
Charles Darwin University
Charles Darwin University (CDU) is an Australian public university with a main campus in Darwin and eight satellite campuses in some metropolitan and regional areas. It was established in 2003 after the merger of Northern Territory University ...
maintains a campus in Katherine which is split between two locations. The Rural College is located on the Stuart Highway north of Katherine on the Stuart Highway and provides residential accommodation for students studying vocational courses or undertaking apprenticeships and traineeships in agriculture and rural production. The town offices are located within the
CBD and offer vocational courses in other disciplines including studies of business, computing, childcare and community services.
Kintore Street School provides specialised education for students with special needs from across the Katherine region.
Katherine School of the Air was established in 1966 to provide distance education to students in remote locations and isolated communities. The school originally conducted classes via
HF radio
High frequency (HF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves (radio waves) between 3 and 30 megahertz (MHz). It is also known as the decameter band or decameter wave as its wavelengths range from one to te ...
broadcasts, however with the advent of technologies such as satellite communications and the internet this system is no longer used. The school caters for approximately 250 students up to year 9 over an area of . The school also promotes itself as a tourist attraction, boasting the "World's Largest Classroom".
Health
Katherine District Hospital
Katherine District Hospital is a district public hospital servicing the Katherine Region in the Northern Territory, Australia. It is located from the centre of town on the banks of the Katherine River, overlooking Knott's Crossing. It services ...
is located in the town and provides emergency medical and surgical facilities as well as
maternity
]
A mother is the female parent of a child. A woman may be considered a mother by virtue of having given birth, by raising a child who may or may not be her biological offspring, or by supplying her ovum for fertilisation in the case of gesta ...
,
radiography
Radiography is an imaging technique using X-rays, gamma rays, or similar ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation to view the internal form of an object. Applications of radiography include medical radiography ("diagnostic" and "therapeu ...
and
renal dialysis
Kidney dialysis (from Greek , , 'dissolution'; from , , 'through', and , , 'loosening or splitting') is the process of removing excess water, solutes, and toxins from the blood in people whose kidneys can no longer perform these functions natura ...
units and specialist services.
GP appointments are available at Gorge Health. The Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Service offers
culturally sensitive
Cultural sensitivity, also referred to as cross-cultural sensitivity or cultural awareness, is the knowledge, awareness, and acceptance of other cultures and others' cultural identities. It is related to cultural competence (the skills needed fo ...
treatment for
Indigenous
Indigenous may refer to:
*Indigenous peoples
*Indigenous (ecology), presence in a region as the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention
*Indigenous (band), an American blues-rock band
*Indigenous (horse), a Hong Kong racehorse ...
patients.
Leisure and entertainment
![KatherineGorge6596](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/KatherineGorge6596.jpg)
Leisure and entertainment activities in Katherine are often nature-based.
Katherine Hot Springs,
Mataranka Hot Springs
Elsey is a national park in the Northern Territory of Australia, extending from 2 km to 19 km east of Mataranka and 378 km southeast of Darwin.
Features of the park include Mataranka Falls, and the “Mataranka Thermal Pools” ...
, canoeing in
Nitmiluk Gorge on the Katherine River, hunting, bushwalking, caving, camping and fishing on the Victoria, Daly, Roper or Katherine Rivers are all popular leisure activities.
Although attempts are made to safely relocate saltwater crocodiles from areas of the river popular to tourists, these crocodiles do inhabit most of these river systems.
Within the town itself is a three-screen cinema complex which opened in 1998. There are two clubs in the town: The Katherine Club (
Returned and Services League of Australia
The Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) is a support organisation for people who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force.
Mission
The RSL's mission is to ensure that programs are in place for the well-being, care ...
sub-branch), located in the
Central Business District
A central business district (CBD) is the commercial and business centre of a city. It contains commercial space and offices, and in larger cities will often be described as a financial district. Geographically, it often coincides with the "city ...
and Katherine Country Club in Katherine South. There are several restaurants and hotels (or resorts) that do offer lunch or dinner options.
Also in town, on the first floor of the Randazzo Centre, on Katherine Terrace is the Katherine Public Library. The library is a free community service which offers memberships to all residents of the Katherine region and temporary memberships are available for visitors to the region. In addition to their borrowable collection of books, multimedia, audiobooks and e-resources the library is also home to the Northern Territory Collection; a special, not-for-loan collection that collects material relating specifically about or written by authors from the Northern Territory and the Katherine Region more specifically.
A large facility owned by the
YMCA
YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It was founded on 6 June 1844 by George Williams in London, originally ...
, the Henry Scott Recreation Centre is located at the Katherine Sports Ground Complex and contains a roller skating rink and gymnasium and hosts regular recreational activities aimed at youth in the town such as dance classes. The venue also offers after school childcare and creche facilities. In addition, the YMCA hosts other activities such as Aqua Aerobics classes at the Katherine Aquatic Centre located adjacent to the Recreation Centre.
Literature and film
The Katherine Region was popularised by the novel ''
We of the Never Never'' (1908) by Jeannie Gunn, the wife of a pioneering pastoralist in the late 1800s. A
film version
A film adaptation is the transfer of a work or story, in whole or in part, to a feature film. Although often considered a type of derivative work, film adaptation has been conceptualized recently by academic scholars such as Robert Stam as a dia ...
of the book was released in 1982. The feature film ''
Jedda
''Jedda'', released in the UK as ''Jedda the Uncivilized'', is a 1955 Australian film written, produced and directed by Charles Chauvel. His last film, it is notable for being the first to star two Aboriginal actors, Robert Tudawali and Ngarl ...
'' (1955) was partially filmed at Katherine Gorge; however, the last roll of negatives was destroyed in a plane crash on its way for developing in England and the scenes were re-shot at
Kanangra Falls in the Blue Mountains. The Australian horror film ''
Rogue'', released in 2007, was partly filmed in Katherine Gorge. Katherine is also briefly mentioned in the 1986 film ''
"Crocodile" Dundee
''Crocodile Dundee'' (stylized as ''"Crocodile" Dundee'' in the U.S.) is a 1986 action comedy film set in the Australian Outback and in New York City. It stars Paul Hogan as the weathered Mick Dundee, and American actress Linda Kozlowski as rep ...
''. Katherine features heavily in ''Generation'', a novel by Andrew MacAllan (a pseudonym of
James Leasor
James Leasor (20 December 1923 – 10 September 2007) was a prolific British author, who wrote historical books and thrillers. A number of Leasor's works were made into films, including his 1978 book, ''Boarding Party'', about an incident from ...
).
Music
![Katherine-Gorge6118](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/Katherine-Gorge6118.jpg)
The Katherine Country Music Muster Association was formed after the Katherine 1998 floods to raise money for the
Katherine Historical Society Inc. Over the years, the Muster has hosted emerging local and national country music
artists, such as
Kasey Chambers
Kasey Chambers (born 4 June 1976) is an Australian country singer-songwriter and musician born in Mount Gambier. She is the daughter of fellow musicians, Diane and Bill Chambers, and the younger sister of musician and producer, Nash Chambers. ...
.
Katherine Country Music Muster
''Katherine Country Music Muster (www.kcmm.com.au)''
Unique Indigenous music and dances are also important to the region.
Sport
The Katherine Sports Ground Complex, run by Katherine Town Council, is the main sporting facility and houses the Katherine Aquatic Centre including an olympic swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, paddling pool, or simply pool, is a structure designed to hold water to enable Human swimming, swimming or other leisure activities. Pools can be built into the ground (in-ground pools) or built ...
, tennis
Tennis is a racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent ( singles) or between two teams of two players each ( doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball ...
club, four ovals (one with a pitch used for cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...
and Australian rules football
Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...
),a BMX track, a basketball court
In basketball, the basketball court is the playing surface, consisting of a rectangular floor, with baskets at each end. Indoor basketball courts are almost always made of polished wood, usually maple, with -high rims on each basket. Outdoor sur ...
and rugby league
Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...
and soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
fields. The complex also hosts equestrian sports and the Katherine and District Show Society. The town is also home to a nine-hole golf course, a fully equipped baseball diamond and a softball field.
Australian rules football is popular in the region with several local clubs, Katherine, Katherine South, Eastside and Tindal football clubs competing in the Big Rivers Australian Football League
The Big Rivers Australian Football League (formerly the Katherine District Football League) is an Australian rules football competition in the Northern Territory, Australia based in the Katherine region.
Current clubs
Previous clubs
Premie ...
(formerly the Katherine District Football League). Locally produced players include Andrew Mcleod
Andrew Luke McLeod (born 4 August 1976) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is the games record holder for Adelaide, having played 340 games.
...
, Brad Ottens
Brad Ottens (born 25 January 1980) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club and Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
AFL career Richmond: 1998–2004
Selec ...
, Keidean Coleman, Jed Anderson (AFL
AFL may refer to:
Sports
* American Football League (AFL), a name shared by several separate and unrelated professional American football leagues:
** American Football League (1926) (a.k.a. "AFL I"), first rival of the National Football Leagu ...
) and Alicia Janz (AFLW
AFL Women's (AFLW) is Australia's national semi-professional Australian rules football league for female players. The first season of the league in February and March 2017 had eight teams; the league expanded to 10 teams in the 2019 season, 1 ...
).
Further sporting amenities are provided at the Katherine Showgrounds: a Rodeo arena, a polocrosse
Polocrosse is a team sport that is a combination of polo and lacrosse. It is played outside, on a field (the pitch), on horseback. Each rider uses a cane or fibreglass stick to which is attached a racquet head with a loose, thread net, in whi ...
playing field, an oval with grandstand facilities often used for football matches as well as the Jim Jackson Racecourse, home of the Katherine Turf Club, and the annual Katherine Cup race meeting, which draws competitors and punters from across the Northern Territory.
The local rugby league competition is the Katherine Rugby League, and sanctions both Junior and Senior Rugby League matches. The season usually kicks off around March/April and runs through to Late August.
Notable people
Notable people from or who have lived in Katherine include:
* Mick Dodson
Michael James Dodson (born 10 April 1950) is an Aboriginal Australian barrister, academic, and member of the Yawuru people in the Broome area of the southern Kimberley region of Western Australia.
His brother is Pat Dodson, also a noted Abor ...
, Indigenous Australian advocate and Australian of the Year (born in Katherine 1950)
* Cadel Evans
Cadel Lee Evans (; born 14 February 1977) is an Australian former professional racing cyclist, who competed professionally in both mountain biking and road bicycle racing. A four-time Olympian, Evans is one of three non-Europeans – along wi ...
, former professional racing cyclist
Cycle sport is Competition, competitive physical activity using bicycles. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, and cycle speedway. Non-racing ...
and mountainbiker who won the Tour de France
The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. Like the other Grand Tours (the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España), it consists ...
in 2011
File:2011 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: a protester partaking in Occupy Wall Street heralds the beginning of the Occupy movement; protests against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed that October; a young man celebrate ...
(born in Katherine 1977)
* Clyde Fenton
Clyde Cornwall Fenton OBE (16 May 1901 – 28 February 1982) was the Northern Territory's first flying doctor. Unlike the other doctors with the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, Fenton was also his own pilot. Fenton was a self- ...
, the first Flying Doctor with the moniker "Speed Gordon of the Territory Skies" (lived and operated in Katherine between 1934 and 1942)
* Leisel Jones
Leisel Marie Jones, OAM (born 30 August 1985) is an Australian former competition swimmer and Olympic gold medallist. A participant in the 2000 Summer Olympics – at just 15 years old – and 2004 Summer Olympics, she was part of gold-medal ...
, Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer (born in Katherine 1985)
* Luke Kelly
Luke Kelly (17 November 1940 – 30 January 1984) was an Irish singer, folk musician and actor from Dublin, Ireland. Born into a working-class household in Dublin city, Kelly moved to England in his late teens and by his early 20s had become i ...
, professional rugby league
Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...
footballer (born in Katherine 1989)
* Bruce Litchfield, architect who designed and built early Katherine buildings
* Andrew McLeod
Andrew Luke McLeod (born 4 August 1976) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is the games record holder for Adelaide, having played 340 games.
...
, professional Australian rules footballer (grew up in Katherine in the 1980s)
* Malarndirri McCarthy
Malarndirri Barbara McCarthy (born 19 April 1970) is an Australian politician and former journalist who has been a Senator for the Northern Territory since 2016. She is an Assistant Minister in the Albanese Government, and previously served i ...
, Indigenous Australian politician (born in Katherine 1970)
* Sam McMahon
Samantha Jane McMahon (born 11 December 1967) is a former Australian politician who was a Senator for the Northern Territory between the 2019 federal election and the 2022 federal election. McMahon is a member of the Liberal Democratic Part ...
, an Australian politician for the Country Liberal Party
The Country Liberal Party of the Northern Territory (CLP) is a centre-right political party in Australia's Northern Territory. In local politics it operates in a two-party system with the Australian Labor Party (ALP). It also contests federal ...
and a Senator
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
for the Northern Territory
The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...
in the Parliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia (officially the Federal Parliament, also called the Commonwealth Parliament) is the legislature, legislative branch of the government of Australia. It consists of three elements: the monarch (represented by the ...
in 2019
* James McManus
}
James "Jim" McManus (born March 22, 1951) is an American teacher, writer and poker player living in Kenilworth, Illinois. He is a professor in the Master of Fine Arts program for writers at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Poker and ''Positi ...
, professional rugby league
Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...
footballer (grew up in Katherine in the 1990s)
* D'Arcy Short
D'Arcy John Matthew Short (born 9 August 1990) is an Australian international cricketer, who plays One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for the Australian national team. At the domestic level, he plays for Wester ...
, professional cricketer
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...
(born in Katherine 1990)
* Mathew Sinclair
Mathew Stuart Sinclair (born 9 November 1975) is an Australian-born New Zealand cricketer. He is a right-handed middle order batsman who has also opened the innings. He holds the equal world record for the highest Test score (214) by a number t ...
, New Zealand Cricketer
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...
(born in Katherine 1975)
* C. W. Stoneking, Australian blues musician (born in Katherine 1974)
* Stephanie Talbot, Australian basketball player (born in Katherine 1994)
* Jim Zimin, pioneering farmer and inventor (lived in Katherine 1930–1934, 1936–1974)
References
External links
Katherine Town Council
National Library of Australia
a collection of photographs of Katherine in 1996.
Official Tourism Information Site
NT's Own Webpage
Street-directory.com Map – new rail line 3km to southwest of town
{{authority control
Towns in the Northern Territory
1926 establishments in Australia
Populated places established in 1926