Hatches Creek wolfram field

[7] Mining revived in the 1930s and in 1937 NT Administrator Aubrey Abbott visited the field and found 60 men at work there; this number had increased to between 150 and 200 by the following year.

In 1938 a visiting journalist from Walkabout wrote of it:[8] The field is not without its romance; some of the adventures have gone out there practically broke and returned to civilization with small fortunes, while others have gone out there with money and have been glad to cadge a ride back to Alice Springs on a motor-lorry.This increased population at the field led to difficulties obtaining water and the nearby Kangaroo Waterhole almost dried up and many of the miners experienced dysentery and other stomach disorders.

[10] During World War II wolfram became increasingly important and the mining area was taken over by the government under the National Security Regulations in 1942 when Australia was essentially cut-off from overseas supplies.

[20][21] These plans never eventuated but, in 1953, both a Hatches Creek Miners' Association was formed, led by Simon Rieff, a school was opened and local advocated for a hospital.

[22][23][24] Despite this mining continued to wain in the region and in 1954 it was reported that only 61 people remained there and predictions were made that it would become a "ghost centre" and by 1957 it was considered closed.