Pine Creek Police Station

Pine Creek Police Station has served the community since the gold rush era of the 1870s, playing a vital role in protecting the Overland Telegraph, maintaining law and order, and supporting the town’s growth. Today, as Pine Creek has evolved into a small tourist centre, the station remains an important symbol of the town’s rich history and enduring connection to policing in the Northern Territory.

Pine Creek is a small town in the Katherine region. It is located off the Stuart Highway, 90 km from Katherine and 248 km southeast of Darwin. It is one of the oldest towns in the Northern Territory. Originally opened due to the Overland Telegraph line, it soon became a booming gold rush town. The Police Station opened in December 1873.

The function of the police in the district was to protect the telegraph line from interruption, to pacify the Aboriginal population, to protect Europeans and to maintain law and order amongst the mining parties.

Up until 1911, policing came under the control of South Australia Police. It transferred to the Commonwealth on 1st January 1911 and became Northern Territory Police.

The first Police post consisted of old tents. It was not until 1874 that tenders were called for the erection of a station. Documentation from around 1879 states the first permanent police station was a simple timber frame structure clad with sawn pine board, a pitched roof and surrounding verandah covered with corrugated galvanised iron. In 1889, the Southport police station was re-erected at Pine Creek. This remained in use until the 1930's when the police moved into town and shared the courthouse.

The first police officer at Pine Creek was Corporal George Montagu. In 1881 on the closure of the Pine Creek Telegraph station, post office services were transferred to the police until a post office was opened at the new railway station in October 1889.

The first arrest for murder at Pine Creek was made in December 1875. A Chinese man attacked two compatriots with a knife, stabbing one to death. The arresting officer was Montagu, who was also a Justice of the Peace, so he held his own inquest and committed the defendant to the circuit court at Port Darwin on a charge of murder.

Pine Creek is now a tourist town. The mine is no longer operational, and the population is around 300.

The current station is located at 19 Railway Terrace, Pine Creek. It is a two-member station however, it is currently not staffed by permanent members who usually reside in the community. Northern Territory police say they are implementing a "new model" of policing whereby Pine Creek will receive regular scheduled visits from general duties police and specialist units targeting seasonal and emerging crime issues. Katherine police (100 klm's away) would continue to respond to urgent incidents as required. This has left locals very disappointed and state that there is an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour. A constant police presence was an effective way to deter crime. Locals are concerned that this will also deter tourists from visiting the town.

Local police duties include

General policing - crime, anti-social behaviour, traffic, Domestic Violence

Highway patrols on both the Stuart Highway and the Old Kakadu Highway

Community Engagement

The photo below is of staff at Pine Creek Station in the early 1900's