Annas Reservoir Conservation Reserve
Overview
The first European person to discover, name and describe Anna's Reservoir was explorer John McDouall Stuart in April 1860. Naming the rockhole after the youngest daughter of one of his sponsors, Mr James Chambers, he visited it on each of his three attempts to reach the northern coast of Australia. Early travellers and the Overland Telegraph Construction team also relied on the Reservoir for water.
Anna's Reservoir played an important part in the epic overland journey from 1879/80 by Alfred Giles, who took 8000 sheep and 4000 cattle to establish Springvale near Katherine. Giles took advantage of Stuart's description of the waterhole and forced the stock from Colyer Creek north to Anna's Reservoir, a distance of about 175 kilometres. In that dry year this was the only reliable source of water between Colyer Creek and Tea Tree Well.
The homestead ruins situated within the Reserve are highly significant due to their association with the Barrow Creek Pastoral Company venture, the most ambitious enterprise of its kind in Central Australia. Billy Benstead, manager of the venture, early in 1884 chose Anna's Reservoir as the site of the station homestead for their vast station (51,800 square kilometres) and built a three roomed stone house and blacksmith's hut.
In August 1884 with only Harry Figg (head stockman) and Thomas Coombes (cook) present at the homestead, the Anmatjere people attacked, spearing Coombes and setting fire to the homestead. A new homestead for the Barrow Creek Pastoral Company was built at Stirling and the Anna's Reservoir homestead was abandoned following the 1884 attack.
How to Get There
Anna's Reserve is around 160 km from Alice Springs, via the Stuart Highway and a private station road. Permission from Aileron Station is required before using this road. Sections of the unsealed track are unstable so 4WD is recommended.
What to See and Do
The Reserve offers visitors recreational activities including bushwalking, nature appreciation and photography, and an opportunity for European history appreciation.
Visitor Facilties
There are no facilities provided, however camping is permitted. Please do not camp near the waterhole or the historical ruins.
Please Remember
Vehicles are requested to stop before the historical ruins area and not to drive down into the creek or camp near the waterhole. The waterhole area is a scared site and a watering point for native animals.
Fact Sheet
Recreational Activities
- 4 x 4 Driving
- Camping Permitted
- Walking Tracks
