Place Names Register Extract

Pine Creek

Extract date: 14/03/2025

Name Pine Creek
Type Designation Village
Place Id 17626
Place Type Feature
Status Recorded
Date Registered
Location (Datum GDA94)  
Latitude: -13° 49' S (Decimal degrees -13.8227)
Longitude: 131° 50' E (Decimal degrees 131.8344)
Locality / Suburb  
  Pine Creek
Local Government Area  
  Victoria-Daly Shire Council
History/Origin The town of Pine Creek is named after the stream on the banks of which it is built and was originally officially called Playford, a name not commonly known except by officials.

Following the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line in 1871 and the subsequent discovery of gold, a Telegraph Station and Police Station were established adjacent to the Creek.

The North Australian Railway reached its terminus at Pine Creek in May 1889.

SW Herbert in his unpublished journal "Reminiscences of life in the Northern Territory: 1870-1873" writes: "We setled down in our new camp at Pine Creek, since well known throughout Australia, first on account of its being a rich gold field, and years later as the inland terminus of our only railway on the north coast. This creek is by no means large, but was remarkable for pines growing there, thus the name of Pine Creek.".

The Town of Playford was gazetted originally vide SA Gazette of 24 January 1889 after Thomas Playford Senior, former South Australian Premier. It was finally regazetted as the Town of Pine Creek, as it always had been known for the pine trees which once grew in the Creek, on 20 September 1973 (CG 129) and extended vide NTG 38, 23 September 1983.

Pine Creek embraced local government on 15 May 1987 as the Pine Creek Community Government Council.

Register & Gazettal information

Date Gazettal Comment
  (None Found)  

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GPO Box 1680, Darwin NT 0801. Ph 08 8995 5333.
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