Normanton

The main purpose of our visit to Normanton was to travel on the ‘Gulflander’ train however the town has many other interesting attractions. There are 30 historic sights listed on the town walking map. Normanton is the second oldest town in the Gulf region and the administrative centre of the Carpentaria Shire. Some of the sights we marvelled at were the original town well in the middle of the main street and the giant crocodile statue next to the shire offices. Called ‘Krys – the Savannah King’ this faithful reproduction of the largest recorded crocodile ever hunted is 8.63 metres long and was estimated to weigh around 2 tons and is authenticated by the Guinness book of records. Normanton also has a number of Pubs, most notably the Purple Pub in the main street and the Albion Hotel just a couple of blocks away. The Albion was built in Croydon on the 1880’s and moved to Normanton in the early 1900’s. The original bar is now hanging on the wall to preserve the artworks on it, painted by charismatic Australian artist, Percy Trezise in the 1950’s.

Normanton Town Well

'Krys the Croc'

'What a Monster'

Normanton once served as a port town on the Norman River and was the main access point for the Croydon gold rush of the 1880’s. With the improvement of the roads and the efficiency of road transport the steamers and barges no longer travel to Normanton and now there is only a small remnant of the town’s once busy wharf. The first Europeans to visit the area were the explorers Burke and Wills in 1861. Their camp 119 is situated just 30 Km from town.

Percy Trezise Artwork - Albion Hotel

Percy Trezise Artwork - Albion Hotel

Shire Offices

The Purple Pub