Knott’s Crossing
Knott’s Crossing is the site of the original township of Katherine. Established in the early 1870's, the original township consisted of a shanty pub and the Overland Telegraph Line Repeater Station. By 1888 the township had grown to include a Hotel, General Store and Police Station as well as the OT Line Repeater Station.
In 1916 under the Government policy of restricting the supply of liquor in the NT, the Hotel at Knott’s Crossing lost it’s licence. The General Store was given a Gallon Licence. The Gallon Licence Store operated until 1942 when the township of Katherine was bombed during WW2. A bomb fell in the vicinity of the site and the crater remains today.
The Crossing was named after Frederick George Knott and his wife Kate who were the first people to farm the north side of the river. They ran the Gallon Licence Store jointly from 1927 until 1935. After George Knott’s death Kate ran the store from 1935 until 1948. The alignment of the original road is still visible along with remains which demonstrate the activities of everyday life of the period such as the Wheel Pit in the yard area.
In addition, there are three boab trees which are over 100 years old. They were planted by Tom Pearce from seeds obtained from Bradshaw’s Run.
Knott’s Crossing and the associated physical elements contribute to make this place of major social significance to the Katherine region and the NT.
Gazetted: March 1997
Produced: May 1997
