Welcome to Tennant Creek

Welcome to the Barkly Region and to the town of Tennant Creek

Located between Alice Springs and Katherine with Tennant Creek its Golden Heart, the Barkly is synonymous with the cattle industry. The rich grassland of the Barkly Tableland has seen the rise of many of Australia’s premier cattle stations,and the characters that work them are an integral part of the Barkly community.

The Aboriginal culture, cattle stations, lack of water, harsh remote living and tough mining shaped the people and lives of those that reside in the Barkly, and it’s the people that will make your journey such a memorable one. Stay a while and discover the local’s passion for this special place.

Indigenous Culture

The traditional owners of the area surrounding Tennant Creek are the Warumungu people and their culture is very much alive and well.  Their stories are showcased in one of Australia's finest cultural centres, Nyinkka Nyunyu, situated in Tennant Creek. www.ausaboriginalart.com.au   The centre is located in the main street on the Alice Springs side of the CBD  This is very likely to be your best aboriginal experience and direct contact during your visit to the region or to Australia.

Mining

  Mining is another large contributor to what makes this area unique. It all started in the 1930’s when gold was discovered, setting off Australia’s last gold rush. The history of this area remains and is encaptured at the Battery Hill Mining Centre. Exploration continues and all indications are there is still gold and a host of other minerals to be recovered.  With a history of hard rock mining the current concentration is on viable extraction methodology. With these issues resolved, mining will once again become a vital part of the region’s economy.

To get a real feel of the type of mining that took place within the region you can take an underground tour at the Battery Hill Mining Centre.  The knowledgeable guides answer many questions and working equipment gives an excellent idea of the working conditions underground.

ABOUT TENNANT CREEK

Tennant Creek is located deep in Australia’s inland outback.  It may seem remote but at the junction of the Stuart Highway, the Territory’s north-south main road and the east coast link along the Barkly Highway, it is an ideal spot to spend a day or two.

With all modern services and facilities needed for a comfortable rest, it combines the traditional friendliness of a small town with attractions aplenty in this pioneer environment.  Driving distances are1000 kilometres south from Darwin and 500 kilometres north of Alice Springs and 460 kilometres west of the Queensland border. With a population of 3,500 the town is the major hub for the surrounding Barkly Region

Read more general information about the town and surrounds