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Birdum Historic Township
Permanent Declaration
Place
Birdum Township was effectively established in 1929 when Tim O'Shea built the Birdum Hotel at the terminus of the railway, when the Commonwealth made the decision not to proceed with the extension of the railway to link it with Alice Springs. As a result of this decision a small but thriving township developed consisting of a Hotel, a number of stores, Post Office and railway infrastructure.

This township was the southernmost point reached by the railway and in physical terms was as close as the long-dreamed of 'Transcontinental Railway' ever came to achievement. As a railway terminus Birdum was an important transport hub for Territory road, rail and air transport in the 1930s. No other location in the Northern Territory served these three functions.

In the early 1940s Birdum was briefly the location of the American Air Force headquarters before the camp moved to the No. 2 Bore after the highway bypassed the township of Birdum in favour of Larrimah.

The structural remains at this site provide the basis for interpretation of a way of life in a small and isolated inland community during the pre-war and War period. It is highly valued for its social associations as a small isolated inland community with strong links with the activities of the American and Australian forces during World War 2. It is also held to be socially important as being the terminus and meeting place of the three major forms of transport in the Northern Territory from the 1930s; that of rail, road and air.
20/01/2000
24/03/2000
07/12/2000
Comment sought
22/03/2013
27/05/2013
21/09/2013
03/07/2013
HAC2001/279
Historic
Roper Gulf Shire
The declaration process was held up for many years due to Land Claim 73 that was over the land in question. This was resolved in 2009 and the NT Land Corporation provided support for the heritage listing in 2012.
Photo
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewMVC-288F.JPGBirdum remnants - 327/MAY/13
ViewMVC-283F.JPGBirdum remnants27/MAY/13
ViewMVC-284F.JPGBirdum remnants - 227/MAY/13
ViewMVC-282F.JPGRemnants of Birdum Historic Township - 200127/MAY/13
1 - 4
Scan
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewSigned Instrument Birdum May 2013.pdfInstrument04/JUN/13
1 - 1
Further Information
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewBirdum Historic Township.pdfBackground Historical Information09/JUL/13
1 - 1
Approximate Location
   
LAIS KeyStreet NumberStreet NameSuburbLocation CodeLot NumberLTO PlanPartTenure
000 04663 537STUARTLARRIMAH0004663 - - 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