Mataranka

Mataranka Facts and Figures

Mataranka is a small town located on the Stuart Highway about 100 km south of Katherine, and is the traditional home to the Mangarayi and Yungman peoples. 10 km to the east of Mataranka is a 4 hectare park with a superb thermal pool and stands of tall cabbage tree palms and paperbarks. This popular stopover and picnic spot for visitors is owned and operated by the Mataranka Homestead Tourist Resort. Mataranka is also close to the site of Elsey Station, the subject of Jeannie Gunn's popular autobiographical novel We of the Never-Never.

The Mataranka region is home to the Roper River, one of the world's most magnificent rivers. The river flows 250km east from headwaters at Mataranka to the Gulf of Carpentaria, and is fed from crystal clear springs all year round. The Roper River has a beautiful emerald green colour and runs through the largest stand of Livistonia Rigida palms in the world. Pandanus and River red gums also grow along the banks of this river. Large billabongs filled with Gigantea and Lotus lilies are also a spectacular sight. The Roper River is also famous as one of the best location for Barramundi fishing.

Distances
Mataranka to Alice Springs: 1059 km
Mataranka to Darwin: 423 km
Mataranka to Katherine: 107 km

Mataranka History

The first European to visit the Mataranka area was Ludwig Leichhardt who crossed the Roper River in 1845. The area was made famous in Jeannie Gunn's book ‘We Of The Never Never’, a record of her experiences of living on Elsey Station which was subsequently made into a film of the same name. Aeneas James Gunn 'The Maluka' is buried in the Elsey Cemetary near Mataranka. He died on 16 March 1902 of malarial dysentery only 13 months after moving to the area with his wife Jeannie. The grave of Aeneas is located next to a memorial to Jeannie, who died on 9 June 1961. The remains of other characters from We of the Never-Never were relocated to the Elsey Cemetery during World War II.