Knotts Crossing is the site of the original township of Katherine, 5km north of Katherine's current location. Established in the early 1870s, the original township consisted of a shanty pub and the Overland Telegraph Line Repeater Station. By 1888 the township grew to include a hotel, a general store that became the Gallon Licence Store, and police station. The crossing was named after Frederick George Knott and his wife Kate who were the first people to farm the north side of the river. It was the original ford on the Katherine River. If you look carefully, you'll see the alignment of the original road and remains that reveal the activities of everyday life of the period, such as the Wheel Pit in the yard area of the Gallon Licence Store. This was still in operation until 1942 when the township of Katherine was bombed during World War II. You can still see the crater where a bomb hit nearby. The three Boab trees, which are over 100 years old, were planted by local pioneer Tom Pearce. Stop in and tour the entire site, and learn about its heritage value to the Katherine region and the Northern Territory as a whole.
