Buntine HWy
Submitted: Friday, Mar 23, 2007 at 21:31
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bobex
We are palnning to travel east along the Buntine hwy from Bungle Bungle (Hall's ck) Duncan rd then to buntine hwy then to Buchanan hwy to link up with the Stuart hwy running south from
Katherine - is this suitable for an off road Van and 4 wheel drive
Reply By: Member - vivien C (VIC) - Saturday, Mar 24, 2007 at 09:25
Saturday, Mar 24, 2007 at 09:25
Hello Bobex,
We've been that way a couple of times and the road is quite good. We didn't tow but would have no hesitation in going that way with the camper trailer. There is a nice spot for camping at Sawpit
Gorge not far from
Halls Creek.
Don't know if you've read "In the Middle Of Nowhere" but the station in that book, Riveren, is out this way. Also near Kalkarindji is where in 1966, Walter Lingiari led the Walk Off of the aboriginal stockmen from Vestey's station, Wave
Hill and where in 1975, Gough Whitlam handed them back their land. "From Little Things, Big Things Grow" is the song written by Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody about this whole episode.
I don't know why it's called the Duncan Highway but the Buntine Highway is named after Noel Buntine who pioneered the use of triple trailers and double deck trailers and was a pioneer in the early days of trucking cattle in the NT. The Buchanan is named after the famous drover Nat Buchanan who took enormous movements of cattle from the eastern states into the NT and WA.
Anyway, it's
well worth taking the drive across.
Best wishes
Viv
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Follow Up By: Off-track - Sunday, Mar 25, 2007 at 00:12
Sunday, Mar 25, 2007 at 00:12
Not sure about whether Noel pioneered triples (thought it was Johannsen) but certainly the rest is true. My old man carted for Buntine Roadways and Buntine Freightways and then for his son Dennis when he took the reigns. He always held great respect for the both of them.
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Follow Up By: Member - vivien C (VIC) - Sunday, Mar 25, 2007 at 18:01
Sunday, Mar 25, 2007 at 18:01
Hello Off-track,
I just googled Buntine Highway history and that was there. I knew he was a pioneer of the trucking industry in the NT but not exact details. It's a good trip out that way with a lot more history surrounding the stations in the area. Wouldn't mind getting back up there soon.
Best wishes
Viv
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