Southport, Northern Territory
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Southport Darwin, Northern Territory |
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 Southport
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| Coordinates | 12°43′20″S 130°56′57″E / 12.72222°S 130.94917°ECoordinates: 12°43′20″S 130°56′57″E / 12.72222°S 130.94917°E | ||||||||||||
| Population | 355 (2006 census) | ||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 0822 | ||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Litchfield Municipality | ||||||||||||
| Territory electorate(s) | Goyder | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Lingiari | ||||||||||||
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Southport is an outer rural locality in Darwin. It is based on the site of the abandoned Town of Southport, a thriving river port during the Pine Creek gold rush of the 1870s. It is located at the junction of the Blackmore and Darwin Rivers.
During an expedition beginning in 1868 led by Surveyor-General of South Australia, George Goyder, four towns were surveyed in 1870 - Daly, Palmerston, (now Darwin), Southport and Virginia. Goyder's initial plans were for a town that would occupy some 500 acres, including 335 half acre blocks for development. Streets were laid out and named after members of the surveyor's party.
Between 1870 and 1872, the construction of the Overland Telegraph encouraged development in Southport. The new town was used as a depot for construction teams working on this significant infrastructure project. A telegraph office opened in 1874 following the completion of the line. The river trade to Darwin was served by a government jetty (initially only useful when the tide was at its highest) with a privately built landing alongside.
The discovery of gold near Pine Creek during Telegraph construction saw Southport rapidly develop into an important regional centre. Local businessman John Lewis began using the town to land provisions in support of the gold mines to the south in 1872. In 1873 he constructed a second jetty and powder store to facilitate unloading of supplies and explosives. Other mining companies were encouraged to set up support operations in the town.
For around twenty years Southport was a thriving town serving road and river traffic between Port Darwin and the flourishing gold mines in the Pine Creek area. It incorporated at least two hotels (the best-known being those of Emil Marker and Samuel Brown), a post office and numerous businesses including blacksmith's, wheelwright's and saddler's shops, telegraph and police station, gunpowder magazine, bond store, general stores and even a cordial factory. The steam launch Palmerston was commissioned between Port Darwin and Southport in 1877, which improved the service and reduced the trip to one of 3 hours.
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Wikipedia