Katherine, Northern Territory

Katherine ({{coor dm|14|28|S|132|16|E|region:AU-NT_type:city(7500)}}) is a town with a population of around 7,500 situated 320 km south east of the city of Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. The town is named after the river.

Related Topics:
Darwin - Northern Territory - Australia

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Set in promising grazing and future agricultural country, the town's main economic source is currently gold from the minings at Mt Todd, with increasing tourism and the RAAF Base Tindal 27 km south east of town also adding to the economy.

Related Topics:
Gold - RAAF Base Tindal

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The Katherine River runs through the north of the town which has a church, several parks, a fine golf course and several sporting clubs and a showground.

Related Topics:
Katherine River - Golf

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The spectacular Katherine Gorge in the Nitmiluk National Park near the town has many caves full of ancient rock paintings. These caves often become flooded during "the wet" as the river can rise 18 m in the narrow passage. In a particularly wet season, the caves higher up can become flooded, damaging these ancient treasures forever.

Related Topics:
Katherine Gorge - Nitmiluk National Park

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The town was given its name after the daughter of one of the sponsors of John McDouall Stuart who first saw the area in 1862.

Related Topics:
John McDouall Stuart - 1862

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