Springvale Homestead (circa 1879).
Springvale Homestead, Katherine NT Australia.
Springvale was founded by Alfred Giles following his successful 14 month journey in 1879 overlanding of cattle and 12,000 sheep from SA. Giles in company with Woods, commenced looking for a homestead site on the banks of the Katherine River between the OT Station and King River junction.
They "ultimately selected a spot on the Katherine River about 8 miles below the Telegraph Station and on the north side. At this spot, and almost on the bank of the river, was a very fine mound spring with abundance of water and half a mile west of it was another mound spring with a running stream of beautiful fresh water and between these two springs was a valley terminating in a fine permanent billabong covered with the beautiful red lily.
Thought the name Springvale would be the most appropriate one for the station and as such it is known to the present day."
Giles went on to construct a managers house and store from local stone using Fred Stone, one of his overlanders and a practical stone mason, and develop a garden using water from the spring.
The above is taken from Alfred Giles The First Pastoral Settlement In the Northern Territory and explains the establishment of the first genuine attempt at pastoral settlement in the Top End of the Northern Territory.
Springvale Homestead (circa 1879).
Springvale Homestead, Katherine NT Australia.
Springvale was founded by Alfred Giles following his successful 14 month journey in 1879 overlanding of cattle and 12,000 sheep from SA. Giles in company with Woods, commenced looking for a homestead site on the banks of the Katherine River between the OT Station and King River junction.
They "ultimately selected a spot on the Katherine River about 8 miles below the Telegraph Station and on the north side. At this spot, and almost on the bank of the river, was a very fine mound spring with abundance of water and half a mile west of it was another mound spring with a running stream of beautiful fresh water and between these two springs was a valley terminating in a fine permanent billabong covered with the beautiful red lily.
Thought the name Springvale would be the most appropriate one for the station and as such it is known to the present day."
Giles went on to construct a managers house and store from local stone using Fred Stone, one of his overlanders and a practical stone mason, and develop a garden using water from the spring.
The above is taken from Alfred Giles The First Pastoral Settlement In the Northern Territory and explains the establishment of the first genuine attempt at pastoral settlement in the Top End of the Northern Territory.