Heritage in the Daly River Region

Agriculture 

With its abundance of water and soil rich in nutrients, early pioneers of the region quickly realised the potential of the Daly Region as an agricultural centre. The first attempts to harvest the land were made by a group of Chinese farmers working land on the nearby  Peron islands, located just north of the mouth of the Daly River. Ninety acres were set aside for the production of vegetables with the produce shipped to Darwin by boat. 

Unfortunately, the venture was never a success and throughout the 1880s and 1890s, several other crops were tried with limited results. By 1908, a government experimental farm was established and various forms of crops were trialed including peanuts, sugarcane and tobacco. Experimental dairy and pig farms were also set up all with little success. 

Today the greatest achievement in agricultural production in the region has been the continued expansion of the live export industry with cattle grown on both improved and native pasture. The cultivation of mangoes at Daly River and the production of grain sorghum, peanuts, sesame and cavalcade hay at Douglas Daly are proof of the continual diversification and expansion of agricultural industries in the region. 

AboriginaI Heritage 

As with most parts of the Northem Territory, the Douglas Daly and Daly River regions are rich in Aboriginal culture, with some 25 different language groups calling the area home. Prior to European settlement, indigenous inhabitants lived and practiced a traditional form of life. With the arrival of the European settlers came the prospect of employment, with many recruited into agricultural projects in the region. 

The arrival of Jesuit Missionaries to the region in 1886 sought to convert the Aboriginal population, and by 1888 a Mission settlement to become known as "Uniya" was established. 

In 1954, the Catholic Church purchased land for a mission site, and in October of 1961, a church had been constructed. 

Today, Nauiyu Nambiyu is a self-sufficient community and home to approximately 300 indigenous and non-indigenous people. 

Mining and Massacre 

In the early 1880s, five miners, Roberts, Houschild, Landers, Noltenius and Schollert discovered copper at Mt Hayward, 10 km north of the current Daly River crossing. The five miners developed and worked the rnine until disaster struck in September 1884 when all of the party had either been killed or injured in an attack by Aboriginals. 

Although seriously wounded, Roberts and Noltenious managed to escape, and sought refuge at Daly River Station (now Tipperary Station) some 75 km away. However, due to the severity of his wounds, Noltenious was unable to complete the journey and was left beside a billabong where he was laid to rest. This billabong now bears his name. 

The anger felt by the larger community led ultimately to the formation of a native Police Corps. Led and organised by Corporal Montague. several groups were dispatched to seek out the perpetrators. Retfibution was called upon where punishment was served swiftly and harshly. The killings were merciless and indiscriminate as all of the Daly River Aboriginal people were blamed. It is uncertain as to how many Aborigines were shot, but it is estimated that a total of 150 people were killed during the action.

Mining continued at Mt Hayward after the massacre with a smelter being constructed on site in 1904. Diminishing returns and ore reserves, flooding and fever, together with c ontinued harassment by the Aboriginals saw an end to mining only a few years later. The large smelter chimney was eventually demolished during the Second World War as it was feared that it could be used as a landmark bv the Japanese fighter bombers bound for Fenton Airfield. 

The Missions 

After this disturbing start to European settlement on the Daly. came the Missionaries. The Jesuits established several missionary stations on the Daly River. The first in 1886 was Uniya, on the western bank. a few kilometres downstream from the current crossing at what is now the Daly River Mango Farm. The second mission at Serpentine Lagoon, 35 km west of the crossing, functioned from 1889 to 1891. After 1891, the mission was moved to New Uniya, on the eastern bank of the Daly, lasting for eight years until the Jesuits withdrew their missionaries from the Northern Territory in 1899. You can see the ruins of the original Uniya mission that was established on the western bank at the Daly River Mango Farm. Also located there are the graves of the Parry family, one of the original pioneering families of the Daly. 

With the development of the Daly and an increasing European population, the Roman Catholic Church was asked to return to the Daly in 1952. The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, with some assistance from the government, established a school and hospital at the Daly. The Mission Church and Church of Saint Francis Xavier, located in the Nauiyu Community, are open to the public for prayer and worship.