Tempe Downs Station

[4] The lands that make up Tempe Downs Station were first claimed for pastoral purposes by scientist and explorer Charles Chewings in partnership with other investors, including RJ Thornton in 1881.

[6] They struggled to make the new station profitable and 1893 in was sold and then left largely abandoned until 1906 when it was taken over by Bob and Bill Coulthard.

[2] In 1891 NT policeman William Willshire attacked sleeping Aboriginal people at the station and two men were killed.

[9][10] During this visit it was decided that Arrarbi would join the expedition as a tracker and interpreter; he later returned to the station.

[6] In 1918 the property was again sold, this time to George Bennet, who entrusted its management to Trot and Amelia Kunoth who remained there until about 1927.

The riverbed Tempe Downs in 1947, as pictured by Arthur Groom
The scrub at Tempe Downs, Northern Territory in 1947, as pictured by Arthur Groom