Mataranka is a small town located 420 klm's southeast of Darwin and 107 klm's south of Katherine. The current Police Station which was built in 1968 is located at 4 Roper Terrace Mataranka NT. The First Police Camp at Mataranka was established in 1928. It consisted of tents. In 1930 a new but third hand building made of angle iron and corrugated iron purchased from Yam Springs Mining Company was brought to Mataranka to serve as the new Police Station.

In 1938, a refrigerator which was likely fuelled by kerosene exploded, narrowly killing the local Police Officer Jack Mahony. Jack had just left the building when it exploded, sending iron sheets through the air. One landed on the aerodrome some distance away. From 1942 until December 1944, the Police Station was under the control of the military. By 1948, the Police Station was closed due to an under-strengthened police force. Katherine police station took control of the Mataranka district. The Mataranka Police Station is the second oldest police station still in use in the Northern Territory.

It was without a police station until 1957, when a temporary Police Station was opened in the Commonwealth Railway Cottage. The need for the police station to reopen was due to the lawlessness in the Mataranka District, which could not be handled effectively by officers at nearby stations. In 1967, construction commenced on the new police station. It consisted of a 3-bedroom house and an office/court room. Two cells, an exercise yard, quarters for one married tracker and a station store. Back in those days, it was a one-member station. In 1982, a second residence was established, and the station became a two-member station.

Mataranka is a two-member station, and their main duties are:

Domestic and alcohol fuelled disturbances

Community engagement

Traffic Duties along the highway, including responding to traffic accidents

Firearms applications/licensing/registrations

General Policing

Mataranka is a tourist town famous for Elsey Station - We of the Never Never and the famous Thermal pools at the Homestead and Bitter Springs. The land around Mataranka and the Roper River is home to the Mangarayi and Yungman Aboriginal groups. Early European settlement at Mataranka was based on pastoralism. The Darwin-Alice Springs railway came through the town in 1927. It has a stockyard Gallery and Museum and was influential in the Second World War.

We have many journal entries from the 1940's at the Police Museum and Historical Society in Darwin. Constable Geoff Holland, who was stationed at Mataranka, says, "The journals give an insight into the various duties performed by country policemen in those times. In addition to police work, they held such ex-officio positions as Stock Inspector, Protector of Aborigines, Postmaster, Railway Station master, ambulanceman, marriage guidance counsellor mostly for Aborigines, mechanic and at Mataranka the station was a fuelling depot for travelling police and other Government officials. Not mentioned in these entries was the growing problem of cattle duffing, which was the reason for horses being provided to Mataranka"

One entry written on 24/03/1947 states - Report that a truck had turned over at Larrimah. Driver O.K but passenger appeared to be dead. On arrival, found passenger to be "dead drunk". When revived, he did not even know the truck had overturned.

The cover photo is Mataranka Police camp 1928

The below photo is of Mataranka Police Station 1930

The below photo is of Constable Fitzgerald (right side horse) 1935

The below photo is of Mataranka Police Station 1980