The Daly Waters Pub

Daly Waters
A township which comprises a few houses and the very famous Daly Waters Hotel.
Even people who have never been to the Northern Territory know of the legendary Daly Waters Hotel. Today, with a population of about 23, the town of Daly Waters has little to commend it apart from its historical pub which is like no other pub you've ever seen before.

The menu at the pub, which has a little local history on the back, records: 'In the early days the Daly Waters Pub was a drover's rest, the mob always staging here for stores and a night out for the boys before tackling the Murranji leg of the drove.' This admirable piece of understatement only hints at the wild times that the pub has seen in its near–century of existence.

Daly Waters lies 212 metres above sea level and is located 620 km south of Darwin on the Stuart Highway. Now little more than a stopover for people travelling along the Stuart Highway the tiny settlement was named by John McDouall Stuart during his epic attempt to cross Australia from south to north in 1861-2.

By 1862 Stuart had already made two attempts to cross the continent. His first, in 1860, had reached Tennant Creek. The second, in early 1861, pushed further north but again Stuart was forced back. The third journey, which headed out from Adelaide in October 1861 reached the centre in March, 1862. Stuart pushed north making slow progress. He finally arrived at Daly Waters on 28 May having forced their way through difficult lacewood scrub and harsh terrain at a rate of a little over a kilometre a day.

Stuart named the springs after the new Governor of South Australia, Sir Dominick Daly. This journey was successful. Stuart reached the northern coast near modern day Darwin on 24 July, 1862.

On the way into town (the actual town of Daly Waters is located 7 km to the west of the Stuart Highway - it was built on the old stock route not the road) is the the Stuart Tree. This remarkably dead looking tree has a plaque which reads: 'The explorer John McDouall Stuart is presumed to have carved the initial S on this tree on 23 May 1862 during his successful journey from Adelaide to Darwin 1861-62. Erected by the Northern Territory Forces in 1944.' If you look long and hard you can see a vague S on the eastern side of the tree.

The Overland Telegraph Line reached Daly Waters in June,1872 and for a short time (until the line was completed) a 'pony express' was established to bridge the gap between Daly Waters and Tennant Creek. Important telegraphic messages from overseas were actually carried by horse for the 421 km between the two stations. The line was finally completed on 22 August, 1872.

At this time conditions in the area were unbelievably harsh. For example, twice each year the telegraphists at Daly Waters would ride across to Roper Bar, a journey of nearly 400 km, to meet the boat Gulnare which brought their stores and ammunition around the coast from Adelaide.

Things to see:  

The Daly Waters Hotel
As early as 1893 a hotel, the Daly Waters Hotel, was built in the town. It is now one of the oldest buildings in the Northern Territory. The reason for the construction of the hotel was that Daly Waters was becoming an important stopover point for people travelling from the north to the south as well as for the drovers moving cattle across from the Kimberleys to Queensland. The modern pub, although little changed, is a tourist attraction. Every night there is a steak and barri (ie. Barramundi) barbeque and it boasts air–conditioned rooms.

Daly Water Airstrip
On the way into town is the Daly Water Airstrip. It was constructed initially about 1930 for the Daly Waters Airmail run. It later became a major staging point for interstate and international airlines. It was declared an RAAF station on 18 March 1942 when No: 56 Operational Base Unit, No: 1 Medical Receiving Station and No: 1 Repair and Salvage Unit formed. No: 56 Operational Base Unit moved out in the latter half of 1943 and No: 9 Stores Depot was the last to leave on 6 October 1944. It was used in 1989 as part of the military manoeuvre - Kangaroo '89.

	Hotels
	Daly Waters Hi-Way Inn Cnr. Stuart & Carpentaria Hwys Daly Waters NT 0852 Telephone: (08) 8975 9925
	Daly Waters Pub Stuart Hwy Daly Waters NT 0852 Telephone: (08) 8975 9927
	Caravan Parks
	Daly Waters Hi-Way Inn & Caravan Park Cnr. Stuart & Carpentaria Hwys Daly Waters NT 0852 Telephone: (08) 8975 9925
	Restaurants
	Daly Waters Hi-Way Inn Cnr. Stuart & Carpentaria Hwys Daly Waters NT 0852 Telephone: (08) 8975 9925