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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