Bonney Well Explained

Bonney Well, sometimes referred to as Bonny Well is a former stock well on the North South Stock Route. It is 90 km south of Tennant Creek, 8 km south of Karlu Karlu and is on the Lands of the Warumungu people.^{[1] [2]}

Bonney Well is one of only three wells remaining with its stone dumps intact. It is a popular tourist stop for people travelling through the Barkly Region along the Stuart Highway and it offers a carpark, picnic area and public toilet.^[3] It was listed on the Northern Territory Heritage Register on 22 August 1996.^{[4] [5]}

History

The waterhole that became Bonney Well was first used by John McDouall Stuart in 1860 - 1962 during his expeditions across Australia. He named it after Charles Bonney, the Commissioner of Crown Lands of South Australia back then.

The well was first dug in 1878 - 1897 by Arthur and Alfred Giles when they were overlanding 12,000 sheep to Springvale Station. It was then deepened by staff of the Australian Overland Telegraph Line in 1884 and a stone dump and whip system were added in 1892. The well's whip no longer remains.^[6]

The bore, windmill and tank were installed in the late 1930s and, some time later, a cement tank. These have been protected and they provide an example of the areas industrial heritage. In the 1930s there was interest in Bonney Well from a variety of mining companies but no major mining activity took place there.^{[7] [8]} In 1936 the death of a prospector, Charles Simmons, who collapsed in the intense heat on the road to Bonney Well was reported nationally.^{[9] [10] [11] [12]}

In the early 1930s missionary Annie Lock set up a mission at the nearby Yirrarji Rockhole (Boxer Creek), 35 km north of Bonney Well.^[13] During this period she was known as "The good missus of Bonny Well."^{[14] [15]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Bonney Well, Barkly Region, Northern Territory, Australia . 2024-07-09 . mindat.org.
2. Web site: Bell, Diane --- "Warumungu Land Claim: A Fight for Land" [1982] AboriginalLawB 58; (1982) 1(6) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 1 ]. 2024-07-10 . classic.austlii.edu.au.
3. Web site: Bonney Well . 2024-07-09 . northernterritory.com . en.
4. Web site: Bonney Well: site details . 2024-07-09 . Northern Territory Heritage Register.
5. Web site: Reed . Michael Anthony . 1996-08-22 . Declaration of heritage place: Bonney Well heritage place . 2024-07-09 . Northern Territory Heritage Register.
6. Web site: Bonney Well: significance . 2024-07-09 . Northern Territory Heritage Register.
7. News: 3 August 1935 . Bonney Well field . 10 July 2024 . . Queensland, Australia . 7 . National Library of Australia.
8. News: 13 June 1935 . Development of Bonney Well mine: English expert arrives with machinery . 10 July 2024 . . South Australia . 16 . National Library of Australia.
9. News: 6 February 1936 . Died from heat: Bonney Well miner . 10 July 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 4 . National Library of Australia . 20,225.
10. News: 7 February 1936 . Exhausted miner dies . 10 July 2024 . . Victoria, Australia . 5 . National Library of Australia . I . 542.
11. News: 6 February 1936 . Miner dies in Central Australia . 10 July 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 1 . National Library of Australia.
12. News: 7 February 1936 . Heat causes death of miner . 10 July 2024 . . New South Wales, Australia . 3 . National Library of Australia . XLVIII . 14,512.
13. Web site: McCarthy . Teresa . 2008 . The Faith Mission at Mer Ilpereny (Arden's Soak),1927 - 1928 . 2 July 2024 . Territory Stories . 10070/715094.
14. News: 5 November 1932 . The "GOOD MISSUS " of BONNY WELL . 3 July 2024 . . South Australia . 1 (Women's Section) . National Library of Australia . 21 . 1,067.
15. News: 12 October 1932 . Of Interest to Women . 3 July 2024 . . South Australia . 3 . National Library of Australia . XIX . 2,881.