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North Australia Railway remnants, Pine Creek
Permanent Declaration
Place
Remnants of the former North Australia Australia (NAR) including:
A section of the original 1889 railway corridor north to the Stuart Highway;
The railway bridge;
Railway reservoir, sluice gate and overflow;
The Ransomes and Rapier water column;
25,000 gallon elevated water tank;
Ash pit;
Four lane railway yard and turning triangle;
Southern signal tower.
The first section of the 1914-17 railway extension south to Emungalan; and
The second section of the 1914-17 railway extension to Emungalan.
The NAR remnants, built 1886-89 by the South Australian Railways (SAR), and located at Pine Creek, are historically significant to the Northern Territory for their association with the 19th century railway transport system that helped to develop early settlement and the expansion of the Territory's mining and cattle industries. The locomotive turning triangle, cast iron water column and ash pit are quite possibly the only 19th century ones of their type in situ within the Top End.

The railway remnants exhibit a high degree of construction achievement. The SAR bridge and elevated water tank, which were prefabricated thousands of kilometres from their final assembly place, exhibit a high degree of technical achievement through their skilled design and manufacture. All of the remaining SAR remnants, including the railway reservoir, were vital for the operation of steam powered locomotives and railway rolling stock, and help to explain how the railway functioned. The remnants also help to chart the changes which have occurred in railway infrastructure over more than a century.

This initial section of the NAR was constructed by C and E Millar of Melbourne, whose workforce for the project consisted of 369 Europeans, 2,970 Chinese and Cingalese, Tamils and Indians. The company had extensive experience in railway construction and had previously built three in Victoria. The start of NAR construction was slow, so in May 1887 Charles Millar, the principle owner of the company, arrived in Palmerston (now Darwin) and immediately assessed the situation. Examples of his dynamism soon became apparent. Charles Millar spent twenty months in the Territory managing and supervising this major infrastructure initiative, which was delivered on time and within budget.

The 1914-17 railway corridor, formed earth embankment and signal tower south of Pine Creek, mark the beginning of the extension of the line to Emungalan (now Katherine). The railway extension was carried out by the Commonwealth Government after it formally took control of the Territory in 1911. The extended line helped to further develop the capacity of the railway and played a vital transport role for the military during World War Two.
06/06/2012
22/06/2012
07/12/2012
No further action
Resolution 2.2 -Assessment Report, North Australia Railway Remnants, Pine Creek. Council
(a) agreed that the following remnants should not be proposed for heritage listing:

Boiler, water pump and 6" cast iron pipe;
Coal stage;
Locomotive shed;
Site of the 1914-17 construction siding and stacking yard and fettlers cottages;
and
The third section of the 1914-17 railway extension to Emungalan.

(b) agreed that the following remnants should be proposed for heritage listing:
A section of the original 1889 railway corridor north to the Stuart Highway;
The railway bridge;
Railway reservoir, sluice gate and overflow;
The Ransomes and Rapier water column;
25,000 gallon elevated water tank;
Ash pit;
Four lane railway yard and turning triangle;
Southern signal tower.
The first section of the 1914-17 railway extension south to Emungalan;
The second section of the 1914-17 railway extension to Emungalan;
23/09/2013
13/11/2013
07/12/2013
20/11/2013
HAC2012/0004
Historic
Victoria - Daly Shire
Photo
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewAsh Pit at Pine Creek.JPGLocomotive ash pit31/JAN/13
ViewFour lane siding.jpgFour lane siding31/JAN/13
ViewRailway Reservoir.jpgRailway reservoir31/JAN/13
ViewRansomes Rapier water column.jpgRansomes and Rapier water column31/JAN/13
ViewElevated water tank.jpgElevated water tank31/JAN/13
ViewNAR line to the Stuart Highway.jpgNAR north to the Stuart Hwy31/JAN/13
ViewPine Creek Railway Bridge.jpgRailway bridge31/JAN/13
ViewSouthern signal tower.jpgSouthern signal tower31/JAN/13
1 - 8
Scan
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewInstrument and Gazettal.pdfInstrument & Gazettal25/NOV/13
1 - 1
Further Information
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewNAR Remnants at Pine Creek assessment..pdfHeritage Assessment Report31/AUG/20
1 - 1
Approximate Location
   
LAIS KeyStreet NumberStreet NameSuburbLocation CodeLot NumberLTO PlanPartTenure
620 00230 94MAINPINE CREEK620230 - - V
620 00263 10ENTERPRISEPINE CREEK620263 - - G
620 00284 37MOULEPINE CREEK620284 - - V
620 00288 20PARSONSPINE CREEK620288 - - V
620 00294 138MAINPINE CREEK620294 - - V
620 00295 0 PINE CREEK620295 - - V
620 00296 70MAINPINE CREEK620296 - - V
620 00303 152MAINPINE CREEK620303 - - G
1 - 8
Status Explanations
   

Nomination Period - a nomination has been accepted by Heritage Branch, but has not yet been accepted by the Heritage Council; OR a nomination has been accepted by the Heritage Council but the place/object has not yet been subject to a heritage assessment.

Assessment Period - a nomination has been accepted by the Heritage Council and the place/object is in the process of being assessed.

Consultation Period - Heritage assessment has been completed and s24 of the Act has been instigated, ie comment has been sought on a proposal to declare the place/object.

Recommendation Period - the Heritage Council has made a recommendation to declare the place/object and the Minister's final decision is awaited.

Not Recommended - a decision has been made by the Heritage Council not to recommend to the Minister that a place/object be declared

Declared - the Minister has made a decision to declare the place/object

Refused - the Minister has refused to declare the place/object