Batchelor, with a population around 600, is located along the Litchfield Park Road, off the Stuart Highway north of Adelaide River. It was named in 1912 after a South Australian politician by the name of Egerton Batchelor. Batchelor was originally a trading post on a stock route.

In the late 1870s a hotel was built in the area and was named the 'Rum Jungle'. There is (as is often the case in the Northern Territory) a humorous story in relation to the establishment of this particular property.

It appears that there was a wagon carrying supplies from the south, and it came to what we now know as the Batchelor area. The going was rough, and the cart broke down, releasing a barrel of rum onto the ground. The teamsters then abandoned the cart, drank the barrel of rum, and sank unconscious into their jungle-like surrounds !

The first signs of settlement in the area took place towards the end of the nineteenth century when strips of land for agriculture were created. At this time tobacco, rubber and coffee were all grown, but none were terribly successful. In 1911 an experimental farm was established in the area, to identify which crops could be best grown in the tropical climates of the north.

During the years of World War II, an airstrip was built near Batchelor and the town was used as a military air base. Today, traces of the war-time buildings can still be seen in the area.

The town itself did not develop until after the war, when the need arose to service the miners of the Rum Jungle Mine in the 1950s. Uranium had been discovered back in 1949 by Jack White and the town came into being in 1952.

A lot of thought went into the planning of the town, and the environmental impact was kept to a minimum. Today the results can be clearly seen in the woodlands surrounding the town, and the patches of lush greenness throughout. There is an abundance of wild birdlife in the town, and the galahs and cockatoos are particularly prevalent.

Today the Rum Jungle mine is no longer in existence, and instead the town has become the gateway to the Litchfield National Park, bringing droves of tourists annually.



General Attractions

The site of the old Rum Jungle Mine can be visited on organised tours. Contact the manager of the Caravillage for details. The mines ceased operation in 1963, but fossicking in the area is still an on-going operation for locals and visitors alike.

Karlstein Castle is a replica of a Czech castle, built to perfect miniature proportions. It sits in front of the Police Station, and is definitely worth a photo.

Pearces Paradise is a mini circus, and it is performed when demand arises throughout the season. The circus includes performing ponies and camels, and is run by Ron Pearce, and ex-rodeo rider. Ron also conducts horseback tours along the Finniss River, taking in some breathtaking sites along the way. Contact Pearce's Paradise for further information.

Natural Attractions

Litchfield National Park is the most popular tourist attraction in the area. The Park has dense rainforest, waterfalls and rivers plus 4WD tracks and camping facilities.

Rum Jungle Lake (also known as Batchelor Recreation Lake) is a popular boating, sailing and swimming spot. Picnics are also popular here on the grassy verges.

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