Heritage Register
Search>Results>Site Details
Site Details
   
Tennant Creek Telegraph Station
Permanent Declaration
Place
The Tennant Creek Telegraph Station is highly significant, not only to the Territory but also to Australia, since the building of the Overland Telegraph Line from Port Augusta to Darwin in the early 1870's not only provided an international communication link, but the station also became an extremely important base for numerous exploration and prospecting expeditions and a focal point for pastoral and mining development in the Barkly Region.
Commencing in 1874, the previous temporary structures were replaced with substantive iron-roofed stone buildings purpose built for their primary function of operating the Overland Telegraph Line. In 1935 the station reverted to a Depot and place of accommodation for Government employees. From 1955 the building became a station 'homestead' with modifications and additions made to suit their new purpose. Some of these transitions are still evident in the buildings today.

The Overland Telegraph Station at Tennant Creek is situated on land that traditionally belongs to the Warumungu people and is near a very significant sacred site called "Jurnkurakurr" which is where a Dreamtime being "Jalawala" (the black-nosed python) lives. When the Telegraph Station was established it became an important place of contact between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people with some people being employed there throughout history.
05/08/1994
29/09/1994
01/03/1995
Comment sought
13/06/2001
04/07/2001
H2001/105
Historic & Indigenous
Barkly Shire
Further Reading
Clune, F. (1955) Overland Telegraph. Angus and Robertson: Sydney.
Giles, A. (1995) Exploring in the Seventies and the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line. WK Thomas & Co: Adelaide/Friends of the State Library of SA: Adelaide.

Powell, A. (1988) Far Country: a short history of the Northern Territory. Melbourne University Press: Carlton.

Taylor, P. (1980) An End to Silence: the building of the Overland Telegraph Line from Adelaide to Darwin. Metheun of Australia: Sydney.

NT Portion 4072 & 4771 (A)
11km North of Tennant Creek
Photo
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewRIMG0528.JPGMachinery Shed09/JAN/13
ViewRIMG1965.JPGTelegraph Station09/JAN/13
ViewDSC00635.JPGButcher shop and quarters06/DEC/13
ViewIMG_3781.JPGTelegraph Station complex06/DEC/13
ViewPICT0001-17-8-0601.JPGCellar/store building06/DEC/13
ViewTCTelegraphStn10_LR.jpgInternal10/JUN/16
ViewTCTelegraphStn04_LR.jpgTelegraph Station building10/JUN/16
ViewTCTelegraphStn08_LR.jpgView from distance10/JUN/16
1 - 8
Scan
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewInstrument.pdf - 11/FEB/09
1 - 1
Further Information
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewP&W Tennant Creek telegraph station.pdfFactsheet16/DEC/11
1 - 1
Approximate Location
   
LAIS KeyStreet NumberStreet NameSuburbLocation CodeLot NumberLTO PlanPartTenure
000 04072 23993STUARTWARUMUNGU0004072 - - Freehold
1 - 1
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