| History/Origin |
Named after Robert (Bob) Biddlecombe (1939-2012), who was born in Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom, in 1939. Bob arrived in Katherine in 1962 at the age of 23. He started work at the Moline Uranium Mine, working there until its closure in 1964. This was the beginning of Bob's love for mining as he went on to spend the next 40 years involved in the mining industry in the Northern Territory. After Cyclone Tracy destroyed Darwin in 1974, Bob stayed in Darwin to help with rebuilding by clearing rubbish, rubble and debris on a day to day basis. In the 1970's he was the largest private landholder of leasehold land in the Territory. Bob purchased land in Coconut Grove before it was rezoned to Commercial (he had heard rumours years earlier that it was embarked for rezoning) and he pursued it for all it was worth. He lived on this land in his caravan and commenced building his industrial shed complex, now known as 'Coconut Grove Industrial Village'. This was to be the start of his Biddlecombe Empire Building Program, which he completed with the construction of the Coolalinga Shopping Centre and Village. Bob's mining took him all over the Territory. At one time he was the largest lease holder of mineral leases in the Territory. He had a knack for knowing which areas had gold. He struck many deals with various mining companies, who mined the land and paid him royalties for the privilege. His pioneering exploration would eventually lead him to finding a waterfall which the ranger of Katherine Gorge named 'Biddlecombe Cascade', which is still in use today. Bob passed away in November 2012 at the age of 73. |