Site Details

Name

NA1 Steam Locomotive known as Sandfly

Status

Permanent Declaration

Type

Object

Description

Small shunting steam locomotive. Movable Heritage Object.

Statement Of
Heritage Value

The Sandfly is historically significant to the Northern Territory as the first and longest serving locomotive to operate on the North Australia Railway (NAR). The Sandfly operated on the NAR between 1887 and 1950 and was instrumental in its construction. The NAR became a vital infrastructure link which directly facilitated the expansion of the mining and pastoral industry in the Northern Territory and defence of northern Australia during the Second World War.

The Sandfly was the only locomotive of its class to operate along the NAR. It is one of three remaining steam locomotives associated with the NAR left in the Northern Territory. Following retirement of the Sandfly in the locomotive was relocated to South Australia in 1959 for restoration and display. In 2005 the Sandfly was returned to the Northern Territory as a gift to commemorate the completion of the Alice Springs to Darwin Railway.

The Sandfly is a symbol of the early pioneering and frontier Territory spirit that built the NAR. To Territorians the Sandfly is also a political reflection about the century of political manoeuvring required to complete the transcontinental railway from north to south and fulfil the 1911 contract between the Commonwealth, South Australia and Northern Territory. The return of the Sandfly from the south to the north has imbued the locomotive with another layer of social and historical significance to the Northern Territory community.

Nominated

08/06/2007

Nomination Refused

Nomination Accepted

08/06/2007

Provisional Declaration

Assessment Report
Considered

08/06/2007

Report Action

Comment sought

Report Comments

Recommended

31/03/2008

Not Recommended

Refused By Minister

Referred Back

Signed By Minister

01/05/2008

Publish notice of
declaration

Gazetted

21/05/2008

Revoked

Destroyed

File No

HAC2007/0012

Value

Historic

Conservation Policy

LGA

Comments

Photo

	Name	Description	Date Added
View	IMG_1887.jpg	Sandfly steam locomotive	23/MAY/08

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Scan

no data found

Further Information

	Name	Description	Date Added
View	Instrument and Gazettal.pdf	Instrument and Gazettal	04/FEB/09
View	Sandfly - Background Historical Info.pdf	Background Historical Information	21/MAR/11

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Approximate Location

LAIS Key	Street Number	Street Name	Suburb	Location Code	Lot Number	LTO Plan	Part	Tenure
200 05601	22	MACDONALD	PARAP	200	5601	-	-	Freehold

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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