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Battery Hill Battery Hill, Tennant Creek, is being developed as one of Australia's premier working industrial archaeological sites and mining museums. The project managers, the Tennant Creek Regional Tourist Association, with the support from corporate and government sponsors, aim to establish a world class mining complex that celebrates the mining history of the area and in future also the achievements of the Australia Mining Industry. The complex provides an educational resource centre as well as a tourist destination for the Barkly Area with economic benefits and employment opportunities for "Australia's Last Goldrush Town", Tennant Creek, Northern Territory. Situation And Description The complex comprises the Battery Hill Regional Centre, the Gold Stamp Battery, the Battery Hill Mine, a mining museum, a nature walk and a number of historic buildings and machines. It is ideally situated 1.5 kms from the centre of Tennant Creek, on a hill with picturesque views of the town and the MacDouall (Honeymoon) Ranges. The complex covers 65 hectares. The Battery Hill Regional Centre, completed in November 1996, houses the Information Centre, a theatrette and displays, and an outdoor picnic / entertainment area. The Gold Stamp Battery is one of only three remaining working ten head stamp batteries in Australia. On the tour the process of extracting gold from gold ore is demonstrated and explained.
History - The Gold Rush The Tennant Creek Gold Rush took place in the early 1930's. Because of the Depression, Prospectors and other hopefuls travelled by any means across dirt tracks or rough bush from Mt Isa, the Kimberley and other parts of Australia to try their fortune. Some struck it rich on mines such as the "Eldorado", the "Burnt Shirt", and the "Rising Sun", but many struggled against the rough elements to eke out a living. Hundreds of mines sprung up in the ranges, and by 1935 600 people lived in the town. A blind man, William Weaber, and his one-eyed partner, Jack Noble pegged four leases, one of which "Noble's Nob" was to be the beginnings of one of Australia's great gold mining companies, Normandy Gold. Originally "Australian Development N.L.", the company purchased Nobles Nob Mine in August of 1947 and has been mining gold in the area continuously ever since. More than $2.5 billion worth of gold (current prices) has been produced from the area. Another great Australian mining company, Peko Mines, now Norths, began operation in Tennant Creek in the 1930's when they purchased the "Peko" copper mine. Site History During the time when the field was predominately mined by prospectors and small companies, a number of private concerns and later the government constructed stamp batteries throughout the field to enable miners to crush their ore rather than shipping it to Peterborough in South Australia. The battery constructed on this site was the No.3 Government Stamp Battery, originally erected in 1939. During the war all of the gold mines except the "Eldorado" closed down, and after the war the No 3 Battery's foundations began to crumble. It was moved 30 metres to the present site and re-opened in 1958. Some parts of the present battery are over 100 years old. Ore was treated for small miners on "Battery Hill" until 1987. Many believed that the battery would never operate again. In 1993 the then Minister for Mines and Energy, Barry Coulter, handed the Battery to the Tennant Creek Regional Tourist Association to rehabilitate the site, and develop it as a tourism complex. The Tourist Association with corporate, government and community support, managed the repair and re-starting of the Battery; the rehabilitation and re-planting of the site with native vegetation; training of tour guides and commencement of regular tours; re-furbishment of the museum; construction of the Regional Centre; and construction and equipping of the underground mine. Major Sponsors The Tennant Creek Regional Tourist Association would like to thank its major sponsors Normandy Gold, the Office of National tourism, the N.T Government, the N.T Tourist Commission, Macmahon Constructions Pty Limited. Individuals, community groups and businesses are also acknowledged for their contribution. Tours Clothes and shoes suitable for walking should be worn for all tours. Tours depart from the picnic area at Battery Hill.
More Information Battery Hill Regional Centre
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