Hamilton Downs Station

Hamilton Downs Station
Location in the Northern Territory

Coordinates: 23°38′58″S 133°29′52″E / 23.6494387°S 133.4977659°E / -23.6494387; 133.4977659 (Hamilton Downs Station) Hamilton Downs Station was a cattle station west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is now a youth camp.

Establishment

The old homestead on Hamilton Downs Station

Hamilton Downs was established in 1910 by hotel manager Sid Stanes Jr. and Ted Harris. Its 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]

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]

Queen Elizabeth II visited the station in February 1963, during her Australian tour.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Volling, Tom (10 May 2016). "NT's pastoral history brought back to life with restoration of meat house on Hamilton Downs Station". NT News.
  2. 1 2 "Old Hamilton Downs Station". NT Heritage Register. Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  3. ↑ "A MODERN STATION". Centralian Advocate. II, (97). Northern Territory, Australia. 8 April 1949. p. 1. Retrieved 13 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "IMPROVEMENTS CONTINUING AT HAMILTON DOWNS". Centralian Advocate. III, (127). Northern Territory, Australia. 4 November 1949. p. 8. Retrieved 13 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "EX-V.R.D. MANAGER BUYS CRITICISM". Centralian Advocate. VI, (309). Northern Territory, Australia. 8 May 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 13 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "The visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Hamilton Downs Station". Territory Stories. Northern Territory Library. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  7. ↑ "Home". Hamilton Downs Youth Camp. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  8. ↑ Lee, Nicole (13 May 2011). "100 years of Hamilton Downs". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC Alice Springs. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
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