Pine Creek is situated at the junction of the Stuart and Kakadu Highways. The history of the town goes back to the last century when its mining days began. Indeed, today it is where the largest open cut gold mines in the Territory are to be found.

In 1871 the construction party involved in with the Overland Telegraph Line came across the gold. Three years later a telegraph office was opened and by 1889 the railway line linking the town to Palmerston was completed. The area attracted large numbers of Chinese because of the gold mining possibilities.

Interestingly, in 1888 it was decided to prevent the entry of any more Chinese people into the Territory. This actually led to a decline in the extraction of gold, as the industry had become quite dependent on the Chinese as a source of labour.

In 1905, the town was little more than a small splattering of buildings. The period of time between the two World Wars was a relatively quiet one. Some of these buildings can still be seen in the town today.

Pine Creek has a supermarket and general store, a hotel, a medical centre, a post office, a police station and a church. Accommodation is available, and fuel a minor mechanical repairs can be taken care of during the day. There are takeaway food outlets, and a bistro in the hotel.

Museums

The Pine Creek National Trust Museum is located in the Repeater Station. The building was pre-fabricated in England, was originally built in nearby Burrundie in 1888. It was reconstructed in Pine Creek in 1910. The history covered in the museum spans Chinese and Aboriginal areas of interest plus there are displays of gems and gold. It is open from 10 am until 5 pm, and a small entrance fee applies..

The Pine Creek Railway Station Museum dates back to 1888 and was in fact the communications centre until the 1970s. Today it has many artefacts reflecting the town's mining, Aboriginal and Chinese history. Other buildings in the Railway area include old employee houses, a goods shed, a weighbridge and a water tank.

Adjacent to the Station is Miners Park. the park was the town's bicentennial project and it tells the tale of mining in the town with a detailed history plus photographs and displays of some of the machinery. It is open seven days a week for visitors to come along and browse through the exhibits.

The Playford Club Hotel, while not being a museum, is of historical significance. The hotel was opened in 1889, and it is a fine example of the early Northern Territory galvanised iron hotels - and it is one of the few still in existence. The hotel gained a certain celebrity status when it was used for a stopover in 1902 by the central characters in the autobiographical book 'We of the Never Never', written by Aeneas Gunn.

Natural Attractions

The Butterfly Gorge Nature Park is north of Pine Creek via the Douglas Hot Springs turnoff. Further along this road are the Douglas Hot Springs themselves with their thermal pools. Further out along this road again is Oolloo Crossing which has camping facilities and is a well known area for its fishing. The Umbrawarra Gorge Nature Park is south west of the town some 42 kilometres and its beautiful pools are well worth a visit.

The Copperfield Recreation Reserve with its lake is ideal for swimming and spending a relaxing afternoon in its shady environs enjoying a picnic. It is 6 kilometres from Pine Creek.

Another very enjoyable place to pass the time of day, perhaps enjoying a picnic and certainly enjoying the surroundings, is the Water Gardens. Here you will find tropical gardens and delightful ponds right in the centre of the town.

Tours

Tours of the area are operated by Back O'Beyond Tours. There are a number of tours available, including a full day sightseeing trip, exploring bird and animal life, reptiles (the crocodiles are big !), and taking advantage of the opportunities for swimming and fishing; a two hour long gold panning and fossicking tour; wild pig and buffalo hunting safaris; and individually planned tours, for those wanting a little bit of everything !

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