Timber Creek, Northern Territory

Pre-European settlement and exploration

The Ngaliwurru and Nungali Aboriginal people are the original inhabitants and traditional owners of the lands surrounding the town. Their way of life remained unchanged for thousands of years until first contact with Europeans in the 19th century. The traditional name for the locality is "Makalamayi".

In September 1855, Sir Augustus Charles Gregory and a party of 19 men reached the mouth of the Victoria River. The party's schooner, Tom Tough, proceeded along the river, landing near the present town of Timber Creek and a base camp for the expedition was established. Gregory named a nearby stream "Timber Creek" on 24 November while seeking timber to make repairs to the boat. Gregory inscribed of the dates of this expedition on a large boab tree near the original campsite, located approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the present town; the tree, and the inscription, can still be seen today.

20th century

A police station was constructed in 1898, and substantially upgraded in 1908 as river traffic grew to service pastoral properties being established in the area. In 1911, a depot was established to service the river trade. Historical records from the late 19th and early 20th century indicate there were ongoing tensions, and isolated incidents of violence between pastoralist and Aboriginal residents in the area at during this time.

During World War II growing concerns over a Japanese invasion of northern Australia led to the formation of the 2/1st North Australia Observer Unit, a highly mobile reconnaissance unit led by local Aboriginal guides who knew the local landscape. The role of this unit was to report any enemy landings on isolated areas of the coastline. The unit was active in the Timber Creek and Victoria River areas, recognised in 1998 with a memorial to the "Nackeroos" – the nickname for those who served with this unique unit – being constructed near the town.

Traffic passing through Timber Creek increased following the completion of the Ord River Diversion Dam at Kununurra, Western Australia in 1963 and subsequent construction of the road bridge in 1970 across the Victoria River, 82 kilometres (51 mi) east of the town, and sealing of the Victoria Highway in 1974. Timber Creek was proclaimed a town on 20 June 1975.

In 1996, the Department of Defence purchased Bradshaw Station, a large cattle property in the vicinity of Timber Creek. This land subsequently became Bradshaw Field Training Area, an 8700 km² live fire training facility. In 2002, the 270m long Bradshaw Bridge opened, providing road access to the training area from the Victoria Highway at Timber Creek.

Griffiths decision

Ngaliwurru and Nungali lands surrounding Timber Creek were the subject of the landmark Griffiths decision in the High Court of Australia. The case (Griffiths v Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment) involved an appeal by the traditional owners, represented by Alan Griffiths and William Gulwin, against the Northern Territory Government's attempted sale in 1997 of vacant Crown land for the purposes of commercial development. In the course of doing so, the native title would be compulsorily acquired under the Lands Acquisition Act 1989 (NT) from the traditional owners by a government Minister, for the commercial benefit of a private third party. Due to a change in government following the 2001 Northern Territory elections, the development did not proceed and the native title was not acquired, but the case proceeded in the courts.

The final decision handed down in 2008 found that the provisions under the Lands Acquisition Act meant the Minister could legitimately acquire land for any purpose, extinguishing native title and interests in the land granted under the Native Title Act (1993). By the time of the decision the Northern Territory Government had already changed the legislation to prevent this or future compulsory acquisition of lands subject to native title.

Climate

Timber Creek is a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw) with distinct wet and dry seasons. The annual rainfall is 979mm with the heaviest falls occurring during the wet season months November – April. High humidity and overnight temperatures as well as large thunderstorms characterise this season. The Victoria River is prone to flooding during these months. The dry season months, May–October, see minimal rainfall, blue skies, less humidity and cooler overnight temperatures.

Demographics

There were 229 persons resident in Timber Creek as of the 2006 census. This was a decrease of 32.7% from the 296 residents reported at the 2001 census. The population was 124 males (54%) and 105 females (46%). 135 persons (59%) identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders. The average age of residents was 30 years. 78.2% of the population was born in Australia and 80.3% were Australian citizens. The most common languages spoken in the town were English and Ngaliwurru. 25.8% were Pentecostal, while the next largest group were affiliated with traditional Aboriginal beliefs (17%). 0% of the population aged over 15 years reported being unemployed.

Economy, infrastructure, and public services

Timber Creek has a clinic, the Timber Creek Health Centre, run by the Katherine West Health Board. The clinic is staffed Monday–Friday by a GP and four nurses. Specialist services are available through semi-regular visits to the clinic, which can dispense medications.

The Timber Creek School, the only school in the town, is a public primary and middle school catering for students from Transition to Year 9. As of August 2010, there were 59 students. The school employs five full-time teaching staff, as well as a support staff member; 96 per cent of the students are Aboriginal.

Timber Creek has an automated power station capable of generating 1MW for the community. The generator was installed in 2005 and is owned and operated by Power and Water Corporation.

Amenities in the present town include a roadhouse including a general store, petrol outlet and auto mechanic, a hotel, caravan park, tourist information and shire offices for the Victoria Daly Shire Council. There is also a police station, a primary school for children from pre-school to middle years (Year 9), health clinic and an airstrip. The town is bordered to the north by the Bradshaw Training Area, and to the west by Gregory National Park.

Timber Creek is a rest stop for interstate coach services on routes between Darwin and Perth or Broome. Buses stop at the roadhouse on the Victoria Highway. There is an airstrip a few kilometres to the west of town, Timber Creek Airport. The single dirt runway provides a landing ground for medical evacuation and charter flights. During the wet season, flooding of the river can close the airport.

Attractions

Judbarra / Gregory National Park encompasses 13,000 km² of wilderness, covering tropical and semi-arid landscapes. It is significant for the natural beauty and traces of Aboriginal culture throughout the park. It is open all year round for fishing, camping and four-wheel drive activities. The park was formerly known as Gregory National Park, but on 21 October 2011, it was announced that under a joint management plan with the traditional owners, the park would be dual-named "Judbarra / Gregory" for ten years. The plan aims to preserve the unique cultural heritage found at this place. In 2021, it will officially be known only as Judbarra National Park.

The "Gregory Tree" is a large boab tree on which explorer A.C. Gregory's party inscribed the arrival and departure dates of the 1855–56 expedition to explore the Victoria River and surrounds. The tree is located at the northernmost point of the Gregory National Park at the expedition's original campsite by the river bank and is a short drive from the Victoria Highway and is well signposted. The site itself has boardwalks and information signs detailing its history. The tree is registered both as a heritage place and an Aboriginal sacred site.

The 1908 police station building in the town is heritage listed and serves as a museum with local history and law enforcement exhibits. The main building was restored in the 1980s. The museum precinct includes outbuildings and grave sites. The buildings are maintained by the National Trust of Australia.