Town clock a timely landmark

Tennant Creek is finally getting a town clock thanks to the determination of a local councillor and generous community spirit.

Posted: Friday, 3 August 2018

Councillor Hal Ruger has been pushing for a town clock on the main street since he first suggested the idea back in 2013.

Last week his dream began to be realised as community members, who are volunteering their time, began installing the framework and electrics.

“It's so great to see the town clock finally come to fruition. It will be a lovely addition to the main street and I'm sure it'll be admired for many years to come,” said Cr Ruger.

Cr Ruger said there are plans for a replica of the Battery Hill headframe to sit on top of the clock with Indigenous paintings on the top four panels and information about the town and nearby cattle stations on the lower panels.

The town clock project was given the go ahead after receiving a major cash boost from Territory Generation with donations from Barkly Regional Council, the Tennant Creek Local Authority and $3000 from Cr Ruger himself.

There has also been a great deal of in-kind support including Outback Crane Hire from Alice Springs, which brought the framework up the highway, and local businesses Barkly Plumbing, Mike Nash Electrics, Remote Concrete NT, and Scott Clarke Renovations.

The Territory Government’s Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics (DIPL) provided the land on the corner of Paterson Street and Memorial Drive and Oricon Developments came up with the design.

Mayor Steve Edgington said the town clock was a great example of community spirit with many individuals and businesses offering their time and services for free.

“This is an ongoing project with a lot of people working on it for free, and we look forward to the day when it’s officially unveiled,” he said.

Tennant Creek is now the second place in the NT to have a town centre clock following Nhulunbuy in the Top End.