Katherine

Katherine is a town in the Northern Territory located where the Stuart Highway meets the Victoria Highway. The settlement spreads along the Katherine River and forms a community with residential areas, commercial zones and public facilities.

A telegraph station appeared here in the 1870s when the Overland Telegraph Line passed through the area. The railway bridge across the river was completed in the 1920s and led to official recognition as a town.

The name comes from Catherine Barney Stuart, daughter of a colonial expedition leader, though spelling changed over time. The town serves as a meeting and supply point for several indigenous language groups who live across this part of the Northern Territory.

The town sits roughly halfway between Darwin and Alice Springs and offers accommodation, fuel stations and supermarkets for travelers. Visitors can walk to facilities in the town center, while more distant destinations require a vehicle.

Hot springs in the surrounding area maintain constant temperature throughout the year and attract visitors looking to relax after long drives. The nearby national park shows deep gorges carved through red rock layers by thousands of years of water erosion.

Location: Northern Territory

Location: Town of Katherine

Inception: 1926

Elevation above the sea: 108 m

Part of: Top End

Shares border with: Lansdowne, Katherine South, Cossack, Katherine East, Emungalan

Website: http://katherine.nt.gov.au

GPS coordinates: -14.46667,132.26667

Latest update: December 13, 2025 18:52