During World War 2 an artillery and aerial weapons range was established to the south of the Coomalie Creek Airfield in the area now known as Tortilla Flats.

[5] The Tortilla Flats Research Farm, originally known as the Upper Adelaide River Experiment Station operated from 1958-90[4] when the land was sold off to private owners.

Experiments conducted here focussed on rice as a potential export crop, as well as cattle rotation techniques.

Estimates based on this research in 1981 found that a land area of 45,000 hectares (110,000 acres) in the Adelaide River region was suited to irrigated rice production, and a potential crop yield in excess of 12,000 tonnes (12,000 long tons; 13,000 short tons) could be harvested annually from such activities.

These trials are supported by the NT Department of Resources and are investigating the potential of higher crop yields gained by growing the different varieties of rice during the dry season.