Established in 2020, the ‘Mates of the Murranji’ are a group of like-minded Australians who share a passion for neglected history, and who are driving the resurrection and preservation of the Newcastle Waters Historic Township in the Northern Territory.

The name ‘Mates of the Murranji’ was chosen to reference the Murranji Track, a 230km formidable stock route between Top Springs and Newcastle Waters which was situated at the crossroads of the Murranji, Birdum and Barkly Stock Routes.

Often referred to as the Death Track or Ghost Road of the Drovers, the loss of men, cattle and horses have been well-documented and confirm the harsh reality of the early droving days prior the construction of a series of Government Bores.

From around 1890 through to the mid 1960’s, Newcastle Waters grew to become the epicentre of the cattle-droving industry.

Whilst situated at the crossroads of a number of major stock routes, the emerging township also intersected with the Overland Telegraph Line – the all-important communication structure of its day that permitted communications from Southern Australia through to London.

Prior to the establishment of the Stuart Highway (formally the North South Road) in 1933/34, the only road access to Darwin from Port Augusta in South Australia was via the Overland Telegraph Line Maintenance Track.

Given its central location, Newcastle Waters soon became the centre for the ongoing servicing and repairs of water tanks and windmills of the all-important Government Water Bores situated along the various Stock Routes.

In 1926, such was the importance of Newcastle Waters that the Federal Government of Australia introduced and gazetted the Northern Australia Act which effectively split the Northern Territory into two. Central Australia with the Capital to be Alice Springs, and North Australia, with the capital gazetted to be Newcastle Waters (at the expense of Darwin). The Act was rescinded some 5 years later during the Great Depression.

A number of historic factors saw the progressive decline of the Township. With the advent of World War 11 and the Bombing of Darwin, it was decided to relocate the ‘new’ Stuart Highway 3km to the east due to annual flooding of the Newcastle Creek with the ultimate intention of sealing the ‘track’.

In July 1941, the Army staging camp known as No 8 Bore was renamed Elliott. Situated some 30km south-east of Newcastle Waters, over time saw a progressive relocation of services to the new Township.
Post-war, it was the expansion of the motorised Road Train industry coupled with the construction of devoted ‘Beef Roads’ throughout regional Australia in the 1960’s that saw a swift demise of the droving industry and, with sadness, diminished the importance of the Township. The famous watering hole, the Junction Hotel ceased normal operations in 1960 with its liquor license being transferred into the Township of Elliott.

Today, the heritage-listed (1994) Historic Township of Newcastle Waters is a virtual ghost town. It does however, have an operational school to service both the adjacent Newcastle Waters Cattle Station and the Marlinja Aboriginal Community.

The future of Newcastle Waters Historic Township

The Mates of the Murranji provide an unofficial voice to Government and continue to seek funding and sponsorship to preserve and restore the remaining Newcastle Waters Historic Township buildings.

Our priority is to establish a dynamic Interpretive Signage Strategy in the first instance.

The histories of the first Australians, the explorers, the development and completion of the Overland Telegraph Line and the establishment of Australia’s cattle industry all intersect at Newcastle Waters.
These stories should be told.

TourismNT have authored a Strategic Master Plan for the Township and the region which provides an exciting template for future possibilities and opportunities for Newcastle Waters, and the Mates will continue to push for these opportunities to be fulfilled.

More about the Mates

Established in 2020, the ‘Mates’ have grown to 380 members from around Australia, and an annual Muster is held at the Newcastle Waters Historic Township. Read more about these annual events here.

The Mates continue to forge ahead with advocating for funding to restore the Newcastle Waters Historic Township. 

Become a Mate

The Mates welcome and encourage you to add your voice by joining the Mates of the Murranji and help push this exciting opportunity to share the historical significance and remarkable stories that helped shape Australia.

Sign up for our free newsletter below to show your support and become a Mate.

Additionally in lieu of Mates of the Murranji membership fees, we strongly encourage Mates to become a member of the National Trust of the NT (Tennant Creek branch).

Sponsors

A big shout out to the amazing sponsors of the Mates of the Murranji: Carlton United Breweries, Redback Productions, Bronte Evans of Hardwickes Partners and Inspired Promotion.