Pine Creek Water Gardens Windmill - Pine Creek, Northern Territory, Australia - Windmills on Waymarking.com

This impressive windmill was moved here in 1991 from the small settlement of Wauchope 800 kilometres (500 miles) to the south. The area near the new location for the windmill was once the cutting for the Darwin to Larrimah railway.

When the windmill was moved here the idea for the Water Gardens began. Most of the railway cutting was filled in to create five ponds, hundreds of trees were planted, and grass was sown.

In 2005 an irrigation system was installed to bring water from the disused Enterprise Mine pit to water the town's parks and gardens.

The ponds are now home to many birds, goannas, and even the odd Freshwater Crocodile. At the right time of year you can also see large numbers of impressive pink water lilys in the ponds.

The Pine Creek Museum is located on the far side of the Water Gardens in the Heritage Listed Repeater Station.

Pine Creek is a small town in the Katherine region of the Northern Territory, Australia, located just off the Stuart Highway (the road from the south to Darwin) and is still a notable tourist stop. A number of events are held each year to promote the town in the region. These include the annual Goldrush Festival, featuring the NT Gold Panning championships and Didgeridoo Jam, the Pine Creek Rodeo and Pine Creek Races. In 2005 a prominent resident of Pine Creek, Edward Ah Toy, was recognised as the Northern Territorian Of The Year.

During construction of the Overland Telegraph line from Adelaide to Darwin in 1870, workers first crossed a creek that was notable for the pine trees that grew on its banks. In 1871 workers digging holes for the telegraph line found gold in the soil, triggering another Australian gold rush. The town grew rapidly with the influx of miners, many of whom were Chinese immigrants brought in to the Territory as a source of cheap labour.

By 1873, a telegraph repeater station and police camp had been established. By 1875 there were two hotels, The Royal Mail and The Standard, competing for business. A public school opened in the town in 1899. By the 1890s, up to 15 mines were operating in the area, and the town's population exceeded 3000 people. The Territory's first tin mine commenced operations near Pine Creek in 1878, but was soon eclipsed by the deposits at Maranboy.

Purpose: Water Pumping Open to the public: yes Is This Windmill Functional?: Yes! Windmill Farm: no Cost: 0.00 (listed in local currency) Museum on Site: yes Date of Manufacture: Not listed

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