Heritage Register
Search>Results>Site Details
Site Details
   
Anna's Reservoir Conservation Reserve
Permanent Declaration
Place
The main historic elements within the Reserve are a rockhole (Anna's Reservoir) and the ruins of a station homestead comprising the remains of the rectangular three roomed plan of the original homestead building, three small isolated piles of stone, the remains of the blacksmith's hut and a fence or yard post about 90m south of the blacksmith's hut.
Anna's Reservoir Conservation Reserve has historical significance to the Territory.
The rockhole, Anna's Reservoir, was of critical importance to the explorer John McDouall Stuart, who discovered, described and named it in April 1860. He visited it on the forward and return journeys of each of his three attempts to reach the north coast. On Stuart's return from his last, and sucessful, trip in September 1862, the availability of water and grass at Anna's Reservoir at a time when Stuart himself was critically ill and the surrounding area dry, enabled the successful completion of the journey.

The Reservoir once again played an important part in the epic overland journey from 1879-1880 by Alred Giles, overlanding 8000 sheep and 4000 cattle to establish Springvale near Katherine. Giles took advantage of Stuart's description of the water at Anna's Reservoir and forced the sheep over a dry stage of 108 miles from Colyer's Creek (north of Alice Springs) to the Reservoir. This was the only reliable water source in that dry year between Colyer Creek and Tea Tree Well.

The homestead ruins within the Reserve are also highly significant due to their assocation with the Barrow Creek Pastoral Company venture, the most ambitious enterprise of its kind in Central Australia. Billy Benstead, manager of the venture chose in early 1884 Anna's Reservoir as the site of the station homestead. This homestead was the venue for one of the few documented cases where Aboriginal resistance actually forced a withdrawal of white settlement. As such the ruins are important as evidence of that settlement process.

Anna's Reservoir is also important as a wildlife watering hole.
05/08/1994
28/09/1994
29/09/1994
Comment sought
30/01/1995
18/02/1995
08/02/1995
H94/0051
Historic, Indigenous & Natural
Central Desert Shire
Anna's Reservoir was first named on the 19 April 1860, by John McDouall Stuart.
Photo
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewAnnasRes_3-roomedhouse.JPGThree-roomed stone hut10/JUL/14
ViewDSCF2404.JPGBlacksmith Shop ruin10/JUL/14
1 - 2
Scan
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewInstrument.pdf - 06/FEB/09
1 - 1
Further Information
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewAnnas Reservoir.pdfFactsheet13/DEC/11
1 - 1
Approximate Location
   
LAIS KeyStreet NumberStreet NameSuburbLocation CodeLot NumberLTO PlanPartTenure
000 01281 0 ANMATJERE0001281 - - Reserve
1 - 1
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