Mataranka, Northern Territory
Encyclopedia
Mataranka is a community of about 400, in the Top End
region of Australia
's Northern Territory
. The town is located about 420 km (260 mi.) southeast of the territorial capital, Darwin
, and 107 km (66 mi.) south of Katherine
. At the 2001 census
, Mataranka had a population of 461.
The town is located near Roper River
and Mataranka Hot Springs. This area is the setting for Jeannie Gunn
's autobiographical account of the year 1902, We of the Never Never
. The homestead, which she shared with her husband, Aeneas Gunn, until his death, has been reconstructed near to the hot springs.
The Mataranka Station is part of the Katherine Rural College of Charles Darwin University
.
set up No. 42 Australian Camp Hospital near Mataranka. The 10th Australian Advanced Ordnance workshops camped in buildings made from paper bark trees and serviced wrecked and damaged vehicles. An ammunition depot was also in the locality. These depots were served by railway sidings off the main line.
The headwaters of the Roper River inside Elsey National Park (where crocodiles are managed) are popular for bushwalking, birdwatching, canoeing, swimming and fishing.
Bitter Springs Thermal Pools is on the north east side of Mataranka township at the end of Martin Road. These pools flow at a constant 32 degrees C. and are still very much in their natural state. Swimmers can glide with the current downstream to view the beautiful riparian vegetation and birdlife along the way. With a mask and snorkel, small fish and turtles can be seen as the water is fantastically clear.
Rainbow Springs or Mataranka Thermal Pools as it is also known has been accessible to the public for much longer than the other areas of Elsey National Park and hence has been enhanced over time through the installation of concrete walls, staircases, boardwalks and paved areas. Rainbow Springs is about 9 km south east of Mataranka at the end of Homestead Road. The water here flows at a constant 34 degrees C. and is also beautiful and clear, superb for swimming.
Top End
The Top End of northern Australia is the second northernmost point on the continent. It covers a rather vaguely-defined area of perhaps 400,000 square kilometres behind the northern coast from the Northern Territory capital of Darwin across to Arnhem Land with the Indian Ocean on the west, the...
region of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
. The town is located about 420 km (260 mi.) southeast of the territorial capital, Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, and 107 km (66 mi.) south of Katherine
Katherine, Northern Territory
Katherine is a town situated southeast of Darwin in the "Top End" of Australia in the Northern Territory. It is the fourth largest settlement in the Territory after the capital Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs...
. At the 2001 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Mataranka had a population of 461.
The town is located near Roper River
Roper River
The Roper River is one of the largest rivers in the Northern Territory, Australia, extending east for over 500 km to meet the sea in Limmen Bight on the Gulf of Carpentaria. It is navigable for about 145 km, until the tidal limit at Roper Bar, and forms the southern boundary of the region...
and Mataranka Hot Springs. This area is the setting for Jeannie Gunn
Jeannie Gunn
Jeannie Gunn OBE was an Australian novelist, teacher and Returned and Services League of Australia volunteer.- Life :...
's autobiographical account of the year 1902, We of the Never Never
We of the Never Never
We of the Never Never is an autobiographical novel by Jeannie Gunn. Although published as a novel, it is an account of the author's experiences in 1902 at Elsey Station near Mataranka, Northern Territory in which she changed the names of people to obscure their identities. She published this book...
. The homestead, which she shared with her husband, Aeneas Gunn, until his death, has been reconstructed near to the hot springs.
The Mataranka Station is part of the Katherine Rural College of Charles Darwin University
Charles Darwin University
Charles Darwin University is an Australian public university with about 20,000 students in 2007.The University offers a wide range of Higher Education degrees and Vocational Education and Training courses with flexible study options, including part-time, external and online.CDU has campuses in the...
.
World War II
The Australian ArmyAustralian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
set up No. 42 Australian Camp Hospital near Mataranka. The 10th Australian Advanced Ordnance workshops camped in buildings made from paper bark trees and serviced wrecked and damaged vehicles. An ammunition depot was also in the locality. These depots were served by railway sidings off the main line.
Attractions
The main attraction in the Mataranka region is the Elsey National Park which contains the beautiful Roper River and two great Thermal Pools: Bitter Springs and Rainbow Springs.The headwaters of the Roper River inside Elsey National Park (where crocodiles are managed) are popular for bushwalking, birdwatching, canoeing, swimming and fishing.
Bitter Springs Thermal Pools is on the north east side of Mataranka township at the end of Martin Road. These pools flow at a constant 32 degrees C. and are still very much in their natural state. Swimmers can glide with the current downstream to view the beautiful riparian vegetation and birdlife along the way. With a mask and snorkel, small fish and turtles can be seen as the water is fantastically clear.
Rainbow Springs or Mataranka Thermal Pools as it is also known has been accessible to the public for much longer than the other areas of Elsey National Park and hence has been enhanced over time through the installation of concrete walls, staircases, boardwalks and paved areas. Rainbow Springs is about 9 km south east of Mataranka at the end of Homestead Road. The water here flows at a constant 34 degrees C. and is also beautiful and clear, superb for swimming.
Railways
Mataranka was served by the original narrow gauge railway that closed in 1976 after cyclone damage. The new standard gauge railway opened in 2000 passes about 20km to the west of the town.External links
- http://www.auinfo.com/mataranka-Northern-Territory.html
- http://www.smh.com.au/news/Northern-Territory/Mataranka/2005/02/17/1108500201643.html
- http://www.wilmap.com.au/nt/mataranka.html
- 360 degree photograph of Mataranka Hot Springs
- MSN Map
- Street-directory.com Map