Hamilton Downs Station
![Hamilton Downs Station is located in Northern Territory](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Australia_Northern_Territory_location_map_blank.svg/240px-Australia_Northern_Territory_location_map_blank.svg.png)
![Hamilton Downs Station Hamilton Downs Station](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/8px-Red_pog.svg.png)
Coordinates: 23°38′58″S 133°29′52″E / 23.6494387°S 133.4977659°E Hamilton Downs Station was a cattle station west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is now a youth camp.
Establishment[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/The_Homestead_on_Hamilton_Downs_Station.jpg/220px-The_Homestead_on_Hamilton_Downs_Station.jpg)
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.[2]
The station was managed for some time by pioneer Aboriginal woman Amelia Kunoth and her husband Harry.[3] By the 1940s, it was run by the Davis Brothers, Pat and John who invested in developing the water infrastructure of the property.[4][5] by the 1950s the property was turning of over 3000 head of cattle per year.[6]
Queen Elizabeth II visited the station in February 1963, during her Australian tour.[7]
Recent history[]
Hamilton Downs has also been the location of a youth camp since March 1978. It was run by Apex Club of Central Australia but is now managed by an independent committee.[8]
Significant restoration works were completed on the homesteads and stables in 1972. Five buildings on the property were heritage listed in 1993.[2] The station celebrated its 100th birthday in 2011.[9]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Volling, Tom (10 May 2016). "NT's pastoral history brought back to life with restoration of meat house on Hamilton Downs Station". NT News.
- ^ a b "Old Hamilton Downs Station". NT Heritage Register. Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ Wilkins, Peter W. "Amelia Kunoth". www.wilmap.com.au. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
- ^ "A Modern Station". Centralian Advocate. Vol. II, no. 97. Northern Territory, Australia. 8 April 1949. p. 1. Retrieved 13 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Improvements Continuing at Hamilton Downs". Centralian Advocate. Vol. III, no. 127. Northern Territory, Australia. 4 November 1949. p. 8. Retrieved 13 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "EX-V.R.D. Manager Buys Criticism". Centralian Advocate. Vol. VI, no. 309. Northern Territory, Australia. 8 May 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 13 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Hamilton Downs Station". Territory Stories. Northern Territory Library. 26 February 1963. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ "Home". Hamilton Downs Youth Camp. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- ^ Lee, Nicole (13 May 2011). "100 years of Hamilton Downs". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC Alice Springs. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- Pastoral leases in the Northern Territory