MUSEUM OF THE NEVER NEVER

The Museum of the Never Never depicts life in Mataranka’s early days. You can pick up a map and guide to exhibits at the Post Office / Rural Transaction Centre.

Overland Telegraph Line, from Darwin to Adelaide, completed in 1972, carried morse code communications to and from Australia and the world. The three poles with insulators include a cyprus pine from the original line, an Oppenheimer metal pole that replaced wooden poles ravaged by white ants and the "the Whistler" so called as wind whistles passing through the pole.

Station Life – a number of displays show life was tough in the early days of settlement. There’s the Furphy Water Tank, a copper – part of wash days back then. There’s an ant bed oven which ably baked roasts and cakes. The ringer’s hut is basic, but a step above the stockmen. Legs of beds and cupboards stood in empty jam tins filled with oil or kerosene to stop the ants.
A number of other artefacts are displayed.

Railway Van – the louvered van c1932 is the last of three sent to the Northern Territory. The railway line was built from Katherine to Mataranka in 1928, the same year the township was gazetted.

The Museum was an initiative of the Mataranka Community Government Council after purchasing Des and Sandra Fishlock memorabilia collection. Other items were donated by residents and army personnel working at Mataranka during WW11.

89 Main Street (next to the Post Office / Rural Transaction Centre), Mataranka   Phone (08) 8975 4576