Hamilton Downs Station Explained

-23.6494°N 133.4978°WHamilton Downs Station was a cattle station west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is now a youth camp.

History

Hamilton Downs was established in 1910 by hotel manager Sid Stanes Jr. and Ted Harris. It is named after a spring near Jay Creek which was named by John McDouall Stuart in 1860, after his supporter George Hamilton.[1] The first substantial homestead was built in 1913.

The station was managed for some time by pioneer Aboriginal woman Amelia Kunoth and her husband Harry.[2] By the 1940s, it was run by the Davis Brothers, Pat and John who invested in developing the water infrastructure of the property.[3] [4] by the 1950s the property was turning of over 3000 head of cattle per year.[5]

Gwoja Tjungurrayi worked on the station at some point in the 1940s or 1950s.[6]

Queen Elizabeth II visited the station in February 1963, during her Australian tour.[7]

Heritage listing

Significant restoration works were completed on the homesteads and stables in 1972. Five buildings on the property were heritage listed in 1993.[8] The station celebrated its 100th birthday in 2011.[9]

Youth camp

Hamilton Downs has also been the location of a youth camp since March 1978. It was initially run by Apex Club of Central Australia, but was being managed by an independent committee.[10]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Volling. Tom. NT’s pastoral history brought back to life with restoration of meat house on Hamilton Downs Station. NT News. 10 May 2016.
  2. Web site: Amelia Kunoth . Peter W. . Wilkins . www.wilmap.com.au. 24 May 2021 .
  3. News: A Modern Station . . II . 97 . Northern Territory, Australia . 8 April 1949 . 13 November 2016 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: Improvements Continuing at Hamilton Downs . . III . 127 . Northern Territory, Australia . 4 November 1949 . 13 November 2016 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: EX-V.R.D. Manager Buys Criticism . . VI . 309 . Northern Territory, Australia . 8 May 1953 . 13 November 2016 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  6. Web site: Knowles . Rachael . The remarkable life of the Warlpiri-Anmatyerre man on the $2 coin . NITV. . 5 April 2023 . 5 April 2023.
  7. The visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Hamilton Downs Station. Territory Stories. Northern Territory Library. 13 November 2016. 26 February 1963.
  8. Web site: Old Hamilton Downs Station. NT Heritage Register. Northern Territory Government. 13 November 2016.
  9. News: Lee. Nicole. 100 years of Hamilton Downs. 12 November 2016. ABC Alice Springs. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 May 2011.
  10. Web site: Home. Hamilton Downs Youth Camp. 12 November 2016.

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