Renner Springs, Northern Territory
Encyclopedia
Renner Springs is a location in the Northern Territory
of Australia. It is in the heart of the Barkly Tablelands cattle country. In fact, the town promotes itself as "The Heart of the Beef Country."
The tiny settlement is on the Stuart Highway
, north of the intersection of the Barkly Highway
and Tennant Creek. It is 662 kilometers from Alice Springs, the largest town in the Outback
, and 820 km from Darwin
.
Renner Springs is usually regarded as the border between the tropical Top End
and the temperate Red Centre regions.
. It was named after Dr. Frederick Renner, who was dispensing medical advice to the team working on the Telegraph Line when they passed through the springs in 1872. In 1877, Dr. Renner saw a flock of birds while working on the Telegraph Line and found that the birds were drawn to this particular area by the natural springs, which was later named Mud Springs. These freshwater springs, which bubble up from underground, helped the area surrounding Renner Springs achieve its importance because they provided water to the area. Lake Woods is just north of the town, near Elliott
and Newcastle Waters, Northern Territory
.
The roadhouse building is an old army hut relocated after World War II from the army’s staging camp 50 km at Banka Banka Station
, which dates from 1885.
. In order to make the image more persuasive, someone has stuck a piece of piping where the mouth should be so that the profile appears to be smoking a rather large cigar.
, on his first attempt to cross Australia, was repulsed by hostile Aborigines
. It became appropriately known as Attack Creek.
Renner Springs has warm winter temperatures. The winter high temperature is approximately 20°C. The winter low temperature is approximately 15°C.
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...
of Australia. It is in the heart of the Barkly Tablelands cattle country. In fact, the town promotes itself as "The Heart of the Beef Country."
The tiny settlement is on the Stuart Highway
Stuart Highway
The Stuart Highway is one of Australia's major highways. It is a segment of Australia's Highway 1 extending from Darwin, Northern Territory, in the north, via Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, to Port Augusta, South Australia, in the south—a distance of...
, north of the intersection of the Barkly Highway
Barkly Highway
The Barkly Highway is a national highway of both Queensland and the Northern Territory.-Description:It runs westward from Cloncurry and the junctions of the Flinders and Landsborough highways to the junction with the Stuart Highway north of Tennant Creek...
and Tennant Creek. It is 662 kilometers from Alice Springs, the largest town in the Outback
Outback
The Outback is the vast, remote, arid area of Australia, term colloquially can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named "the bush".-Overview:The outback is home to a...
, and 820 km from 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...
.
Renner Springs is usually regarded as the border between the tropical Top End
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...
and the temperate Red Centre regions.
History
Like so many places along the Stuart Highway, it owes its origins to the Australian Overland Telegraph LineAustralian Overland Telegraph Line
The Australian Overland Telegraph Line was a 3200 km telegraph line that connected Darwin with Port Augusta in South Australia. Completed in 1872 the Overland Telegraph Line allowed fast communication between Australia and the rest of the world. An additional section was added in 1877 with the...
. It was named after Dr. Frederick Renner, who was dispensing medical advice to the team working on the Telegraph Line when they passed through the springs in 1872. In 1877, Dr. Renner saw a flock of birds while working on the Telegraph Line and found that the birds were drawn to this particular area by the natural springs, which was later named Mud Springs. These freshwater springs, which bubble up from underground, helped the area surrounding Renner Springs achieve its importance because they provided water to the area. Lake Woods is just north of the town, near Elliott
Elliott, Northern Territory
Elliott is a town in Northern Territory, Australia. It is located almost halfway between Darwin and Alice Springs on the Stuart Highway. The town is in the Yapurkulangu ward of the Barkly Shire. The area is the home of the Jingili people and the traditional name of the town is Kulumindini...
and Newcastle Waters, Northern Territory
Newcastle Waters, Northern Territory
Newcastle Waters is a small settlement off the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory. Newcastle is virtually uninhabited. The nearest petrol station and accommodation is found south at Elliott. It is inside Newcastle Waters station, a large cattle station with over 40,000 head of...
.
Roadhouse
Established in the 1950s, the Renner Springs Desert Hotel/Motel also has gas, a bar and restaurant, game room and limited Internet access. A caravan park and shaded camp sites are also available.The roadhouse building is an old army hut relocated after World War II from the army’s staging camp 50 km at Banka Banka Station
Banka Banka Station
Banka Banka Station is a location in the Northern Territory of Australia, 100 kilometres north of Tennant Creek along the Stuart Highway. The historic cattle station was the first operational pastoral lease in this region, and a supply camp during World War II, providing meat, eggs, fruits and...
, which dates from 1885.
Churchill's Head Rock
Churchill's Head Rock, considered one of Australia's most crass tourist attractions, is on the old Stuart Highway 78 km south of Renner Springs. The rock, on the east of the old highway, looks vaguely like a profile of Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
. In order to make the image more persuasive, someone has stuck a piece of piping where the mouth should be so that the profile appears to be smoking a rather large cigar.
Attack Creek
Another 11 km south of Renner Springs is a monument marking the place where on 25 June 1860, John McDouall StuartJohn McDouall Stuart
John McDouall Stuart was one of the most accomplished and famous of all Australia's inland explorers. Stuart led the first successful expedition to traverse the Australian mainland from south to north and return, and the first to do so from a starting point in South Australia, achieving this...
, on his first attempt to cross Australia, was repulsed by hostile Aborigines
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
. It became appropriately known as Attack Creek.
Lubra's Lookout
A small plateau formation along the roadside where tribal women are said to watch the approach of tribes from a considerable distance.Easter Rodeo
Each Easter, Renner Springs has a local rodeo and race meeting that attracts stockmen and punters from all over the Northern Territory. Being such a small community, the annual get-together, known as the Renner Springs Races, is actually held in Tennant Creek.Temperatures
Renner Springs has hot summer temperatures. The summer high temperature is approximately 35°C. The summer low temperature is approximately 21°C.Renner Springs has warm winter temperatures. The winter high temperature is approximately 20°C. The winter low temperature is approximately 15°C.