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Site Details
   
Remnants of the former 1872 settlement site known as "The Shackle"
Permanent Declaration
Place
Former settlement site, established 1872, in the Yam and Pine Creek region.
The former Shackle settlement site located on the Mount Bonnie Road is of historical significance as the location of the first telegraph station and settlement in the early Yam and Pine Creek gold mining district, and as the region’s administrative and service centre from 1872 to 1886. Subsequently the site played an important telegraphic communication role for the miners contacting their southern Directors, the Mining Warden, the Police, business owners and travellers in the region.

The remnants are located on the original alignment of the Overland Telegraph Line linking Port Darwin to Port Augusta, the construction of which was an integral section of the international telegraph line that linked Australia to London. This technical achievement helped to open up much of the Northern Territory and accelerated the growth of exploration, pastoral and mining industries and gave rise to localised settlements.

The remnants at The Shackle demonstrate the principal characteristics of a class of cultural environments where Indigenous, European and Chinese men and women lived and worked. The remnants of knapped glass and associated artefacts at the site clearly identify the place as a contact site where Indigenous people interacted with the early settlers. However, not all encounters were peaceful and the 1878 murder of teamster James Ellis near The Shackle by Aborigines and the subsequent punitive reprisal which reportedly saw seventeen Aborigines shot is indicative of increasing tension in the relations between Aborigines, miners and pastoralists across this region.

The site is considered rare as it contains abundant materials and archaeological evidence which is extensive and varied in character and presents abundant fragmentary surface evidence which constitutes a site of considerable archaeological potential.

Two prominent residents at The Shackle were John George Knight and Ellen Ryan.

John George Knight held numerous government administrative positions and later became the Territory’s sixth Government Resident. He was also responsible for the design of Palmerston’s (now Darwin) more substantial buildings, including: the Police Station and Courthouse, part of Fannie Bay Goal, Browns Mart, the Town Hall, Government House and his own residence known as Knight’s Folly.

Ellen Ryan leased, owned and built numerous hotels in and around the goldfields and in the town of Palmerston. She then built the ‘grand lady’ of Territory hotels, the North Australian Hotel, whose name would later be changed to the Victoria Hotel. Ellen Ryan played an essential role in the social life of people the Top End and also in the region’s economic development.
30/03/2014
06/06/2014
16/11/2014
05/09/2014
No further action
Heritage Council:
(a) agreed that The Shackle meets heritage assessment (a), (b), (c), (d), (f) and (h) and is of heritage significance; subject to modification to the Statement of Heritage Value.
(b) noted that in accordance with section 25 of the Heritage Act, the Chairman will write to the Minister, providing a copy of the Statement of Heritage Value;
(c) agreed in accordance with section 26 of the Heritage Act, to invite submissions as soon as practicable on the heritage significance of The Shackle; and
(d) noted that in accordance with section 37 of the Heritage Act, that within 7 days after the Council has invited submissions, that the Minister will, by Gazette notice, provisionally declare The Shackle to be a heritage place.
04/07/2018
08/08/2018
15/08/2018
HE2014/0006
Historic & Indigenous
The Cemetery at The Shackle has yet to be located.
Photo
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewIMGP1059.JPGStone lined well No.216/JUL/15
ViewIMGP1035.JPGRemnant OTL cypress pine pole16/JUL/15
ViewIMGP1062.JPGOld curry-comb16/JUL/15
ViewIMGP1001.JPGRow of bottles at former building site.16/JUL/15
ViewIMGP1032.JPGStone lined well No. 116/JUL/15
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Scan
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewPermanent Declaration - The Shackle..pdfPermanent Declaration - The Shackle17/AUG/18
ViewNT Government Gazette No.G33, 15-8-2018.pdfNT Government Gazette No. G3317/AUG/18
ViewSigned Instrument - Provisional Declaration.pdfProvisional Heritage Declaration16/JUL/15
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Further Information
   
no data found
Approximate Location
   
LAIS KeyStreet NumberStreet NameSuburbLocation CodeLot NumberLTO PlanPartTenure
000 07122 3377STUARTDOUGLAS-DALY0007122 - - PPL
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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