Nt
lArrimAh is A history-rich destiNAtioN & A ‘ must see ’ for those trAvelliNg the stuArt highwAy .
The hub of Larrimah is the iconic Larrimah Hotel , boasting the “ highest bar in the N . T ” and is the home of the pink panther . The hotel was voted one of 10 of the best bush pubs in Australia . Aside from the warm hospitality , it features Critterz Wildlife Park complete with crocodiles , birds , emus , wallabies , snakes , lizards , squirrel gliders and more .
For those wishing to stay awhile , it has air-conditioned rooms , both ensuited and budget accommodation . The caravan park has powered and unpowered sites , camp kitchen and lots of room for those who prefer to pitch a tent . A spa pool compliments the rooms and is always popular with guests .
The Larrimah Museum is a short walk from the hotel and houses artefacts from WW11 when the area was one of the largest staging camps in northern Australia . The museum building was the direct communications centre for the military and displays some of the original equipment . It also features memorabilia from the railway era .
Larrimah was a strategic railhead for the region up until the late 1970 ’ s , and a thriving community . Nearby Gorrie Airfield , home to one of our spitfire squadrons during the war , is accessible by a dirt road and is worth exploring .
Larrimah | Your nt Meeting place
When travelling along the Stuart Highway you will want to stop at the historic township of Larrimah , a couple hours drive south of Katherine . Its traditional owners are the Yangaman Aboriginal people , whose descendants live today in the nearby community of Wubuluwan and in other communities around the region .
John McDouall Stuart explored this area in the late 1800 ’ s but the township of Larrimah didn ’ t spring up until 1940 , when Gorrie Airfield was constructed to service the war effort . Larrimah means ‘ meeting place ’ in the Yangaman language and the town enjoyed a brief post war boom as a railhead and service provider to surrounding cattle stations .
A stop in Larrimah demands a visit to the local hotel that was built using materials from the dismantled Birdum Hotel , which was located in the now lost town of Birdum just south of Larrimah . It houses the highest bar in the Northern Territory and is immediately recognisable thanks to the Pink Panther sitting outside . Budget hotel rooms , caravan sites and camping sites , meals and beverages are available . For traditional country fare , drop in to Fran ’ s Devonshire Teahouse after exploring the Old Police Station Museum .
NT Four wheel Driving , inset : Campervan Roadtrip . All photos by Steve Strike courtesy of Tourism NT .
68 touring australia magazine • summer 2017