From Wiki

Having lived most of childhood life in Katherine and found this page empty, thought I could contribute my understanding and what it was like plus latest developments.

Katherine Northern Territory - Population 2002 (6.900) Location

Katherine Location Map

Set on the banks of the Katherine River, the town is nested on seasonal weather, (Wet and Dry) April to November is known as Dry Season with months of December till March being Wet Season.

My family, first arrived into the town back in the early 1970's, Katherine was a growing community with a population of around 3,500 people in (1972). Main activity back then was the support of local Cattle Stations, the Meatworks, School Of The Air and Tourist who visited the well known Katherine George. Being a small town we all knew each other, a friendly place and not a lot goes by without others knowning the results, much like the famous Outback Australia saying (Bush Telegraph)

Katherine was a well know Bush Telegraph Out-Post, early pictures include this in the archives

Bush Telegraph Station Katherine

Other tourist destinations included (We of the Never Never) (16 Mile Caves) (Springvale Homestead) (Mataranka Springs) (Edith River) to name just a few. A movie was made at the Katherine George, Jedda, this picture is the only one known back then of Jedda's Rock location.

Jedda's Rock - Katherine George

Cattle / Beef industry grew till the late 1980's when the meatworks closed, the local RAAF base called Tindal also had a vast reduction of personal, thus the town stayed static for a number of years. Unemployment grew as local businesses found it hard to keep their doors open.

In the early 1990's the town gatherd life, tourist to the renowned local Katherine George and day tips to other tourist locations made the town grow with local businesses employing more.

More to follow