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Murranji Track
Permanent Declaration
Place
The Murranji Track has social and historical significance as one of the most famous stockroutes in Australia. The Murranji extends for 230 kilometres through dense lancewood and bullwaddy from Newcastle Waters to Old Top Springs. It formed an important shortcut saving hundreds of kilometres from a trip starting in the Kimberley or Victoria River Districts to the markets in Queensland.
Known due to its harshness as the "ghost road of the drovers", the Murranji Track has continued to live on as part of the folklore of the Northern Territory and the Australian cattle industry. From its first crossing in 1885 by Hedley and Morgan until the last mob of cattle were taken across in 1967 by Noel "Pic" Willetts, the Murranji was infamous for its lack of water and the unreliability of what water there was. If lack of water weren't enough the track was a narrow cutting through impenetrable bullwaddy which made managing moving stock extremely difficult. Government inaction, poor maintenance of facilities, a lack of stock reserves and poisonous plants added to the trials of beasts and men moving along the Murranji.

Murranji Bore and Waterhole: One of the key sites on the Murranji and the largest source of natural water. Has the best preserved bore, tank and mill system, established in 1937 along the track. The tanks exhibit the most extensive examples of graffiti, or the "Bagman's Gazette". The site contains several blazed trees including Scandrett's 1914 marked survey tree and is reputedly the resting place of eleven Europeans, three of which have been recorded. It is an important site to the Mudburra people and is known as "Murmulka".

No. 11 Bore: Established in 1924, 30 kilometres northwest of the Murranji Waterhole, the remaining two water tanks have examples of graffiti from the "Bagman's Gazette". The extant remains of the windmill and the bore complex add to the significance of the site.

No. 12 Bore: Established in 1924, 26 kilometres west of No. 11 Bore on a soakage known as "Kinganut". No. 12 was an integral part of the Murranji and still contains examples of the "Bagman's Gazette" on the tanks. The bore remains in use with a diesel engine, although the windmill is still in relatively good condition.

No. 13 Bore: Established in 1924, 25 kilometres west of No.12 Bore it retains examples of graffiti forming part of the "Bagman's Gazette".

Jump-Up Cairn: Marks the route where access up and down the "jump-up" was easiest. This marked the end of a long and arduous trip across the Murranji for those travelling from East to West. First mentioned by Surveyor Scandrett in 1914.

No. 14 (Pussycat) Bore: The dip and dipyards at Pussycat Bore were built in 1958 and were the last major improvement on the Track. Used until 1974 to dip cattle being transported by truck these dipyards represent the link between the droving era and the introduction of vehicular transport for cattle.

Surveyor Well's Cairn, Hawk Knob: Built by Well's the surveyor during the first survey of the Victoria River District in 1905. The cairn was used as the starting point for Scandrett's survey of the Murranji Track in 1914.
03/07/1993
21/09/1993
28/09/1994
Comment sought
04/06/1998
03/07/1998
17/06/1998
H93/0044
Historic, Indigenous & Natural
See Separate listings.
Photo
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewMurranjiTrack_Windmill 300801_LR1.jpgWindmill, fence and tanks13/JUL/21
ViewMurranjiTrack_Trough 300801_LR2.jpgTrough13/JUL/21
ViewMurranjiTrack_Woodland 300801_LR3.jpgWoodland13/JUL/21
ViewMurranjiTrack_ConcretePost 300801_LR4.jpgConcrete post13/JUL/21
ViewMurranjiTrack_Tanks 300801_LR5.jpgTanks13/JUL/21
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Scan
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewInstrument.pdf - 10/FEB/09
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Further Information
   
no data found
Approximate Location
   
LAIS KeyStreet NumberStreet NameSuburbLocation CodeLot NumberLTO PlanPartTenure
000 00850 12510BUCHANANVICTORIA RIVER000850 - - PPL
000 01747 1521BUNTINEVICTORIA RIVER0001747 - - PPL
000 01751 15362BUCHANANVICTORIA RIVER0001751 - - PPL
000 02114 12571BUCHANANVICTORIA RIVER0002114 - - PPL
000 03637 0 TANAMI EAST0003637 - - Freehold
000 05148 9243BUCHANANTANAMI EAST0005148 - - PPL
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Status Explanations
   

Nomination Period - a nomination has been accepted by Heritage Branch, but has not yet been accepted by the Heritage Council; OR a nomination has been accepted by the Heritage Council but the place/object has not yet been subject to a heritage assessment.

Assessment Period - a nomination has been accepted by the Heritage Council and the place/object is in the process of being assessed.

Consultation Period - Heritage assessment has been completed and s24 of the Act has been instigated, ie comment has been sought on a proposal to declare the place/object.

Recommendation Period - the Heritage Council has made a recommendation to declare the place/object and the Minister's final decision is awaited.

Not Recommended - a decision has been made by the Heritage Council not to recommend to the Minister that a place/object be declared

Declared - the Minister has made a decision to declare the place/object

Refused - the Minister has refused to declare the place/object