Newcastle Waters
NT 862 • Northern Territory
About Newcastle Waters
Newcastle Waters is a historic ghost town and locality located off the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory, within the Barkly Regional Council area. Situated approximately 606 kilometres south of Darwin, 285 kilometres north-west of Tennant Creek, and 771 kilometres north of Alice Springs, it is one of the more remote inhabited localities in the country. The town was gazetted in 1964 and had a population of 122 residents at the 2021 Census, with a notably young median age of 25 years.
Newcastle Waters is renowned for its preserved historic buildings, including Jones's Store and the Junction Hotel — tangible reminders of the locality's rich droving and cattle trade heritage that flourished before road trains rendered the industry obsolete in the 1960s. The town was passed through by explorer John McDouall Stuart in 1861 on his continental crossing, and briefly designated as a planned seat of government for the Territory of North Australia in 1926. Today it draws history enthusiasts and travellers on the Stuart Highway, with the nearest fuel and accommodation available 23 kilometres south at Elliott.
Newcastle Waters falls under postcode 862 and is governed by the local council Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Barkly electorate.
Location
Transport & Commute
Bus Services
- No scheduled services — N/A N/A
Commute to Darwin CBD
🛣️ Elliott (23 km south) is the nearest town with fuel and accommodation; extremely remote
A remote, sparsely populated ghost town where a vehicle is essential and the nearest services are 23 km away
Supermarkets Nearby
No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.
Schools
No schools listed for this postcode.