Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia

Shops on the Main Street of Katherine, Northern Territory
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Main-Street-Katherine4888.jpg
Author: TourismNT

Katherine is a town in the Northern Territory, Australia. Located 320 km (200 mi) southeast of Darwin, it has a population of just 6,000 people (2012 estimate). Yet it is the fourth biggest town in the Northern Territory behind Darwin, Palmerston and Alice Springs.

The town of Katherine was first established by John McDouall Stuart. It was relocated a number of times before settling at its present site on 15 July, 1926. Over time, civic infrastructure was improved. An overland telegraph station and a post office offer telecommunication with the outside world.

Katherine was named after the Katherine River, which according to Stuart, was named after the daughter of one James Chambers Esq. However there is some misunderstanding, as Katherine was the name of Chamber's wife; his daughter's name was Catherine.

Camping at Katherine Gorge
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Katherine-Gorge6118.jpg
Author: TourismNT

The economy of Katherine was based on pastoral and mining. The mining industry was dependent of price of minerals. Gold mining was once an important economic source until the mine at Mount Todd closed. In the recent decade, Katherine has increasingly turned to tourism to support its economy. The town is the base for visiting the ancient rock paintings of Katherine Gorge. It has tourist facilities such as sports clubs and golf courses.

Katherine experiences a tropical savanna climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. Average temperatures are quite uniform though January tend to be the hottest month, with average high temperatures of 34.7°C (94.5°F). July is the coldest month, when average low temperature drops to 12.8°C (55.0°F). The wet season is from December to March while the dry season from May to September.

Visiting Katherine

To visit Katherine, take a flight to Darwin, then rent a car to drive to Katherine. The distance is 300 km, covered in 3 hours or so on National Route 1 (Stuart Highway).

Places of Interest in Katherine

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