Businesses and investors are invited to invest in the Barkly as Tennant Creek Telegraph Station and the 2028 Total Solar Eclipse offer new tourism opportunities.This comes after the Government delivers new tourism products and upgrades to key tourism facilities, including a $1.2 million upgrade to the Battery Hill Visitor Information Centre.The Finocchiaro CLP Government is backing local businesses and local jobs in the regions as we grow the Territory’s visitor economy.
A new day is dawning for tourism in the Barkly Region, as the Government unlocks new investment opportunities to leverage from the 2028 Total Solar Eclipse, and the historic Tennant Creek Telegraph Station.
This comes as the Finocchiaro CLP Government invests over $12 million into upgrading and delivering new tourism products in the region, including the Battery Hill Visitor Information Centre which has seen an enormous refurbishment.
Other tourism investments by the Government in the Barkly region include:
Significant development of the Battery Hill Gold Mining and Heritage Centre to improve visitor experienceA $10 million upgrade for the Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture CentreUpgrades to the Renner Springs Roadhouse to increase accommodation capacity Funding for the National Trust to promote military and civilian heritage at Tuxworth Fullwood House.
Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, Marie-Clare Boothby, said the Barkly’s potential was sky-high, with the 2028 Total Solar Eclipse offering an astronomical opportunity to increase interest, industry, and investment in the region.
“The Barkly is home to some of the Territory’s most iconic tourism experiences, from the Devil’s Marbles and the Davenport Ranges, to the Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre, to events like Desert Harmony Festival and the iconic Tennant Creek Races,” Minister Boothby said.
“By investing in Battery Hill’s visitor information centre, promoting our rich mining and military history, and backing local operators, our Government is making it clear that we believe the Barkly’s best days are ahead of it.
“We’re also really excited about the 2028 Total Solar Eclipse – an event that gives us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to showcase the Barkly to the world. With our enviable dark skies, it’s just another way we’re positioning the Territory as Australia’s premier astro-tourism destination.”
Member for Barkly, Steven Edgington, said that the Finocchiaro CLP Government was positioning the Barkly Region as a key tourism hotspot with strategic investments unlocking new commercial opportunities.
“Tourism is one of our Government’s five priority industries which is helping to grow jobs, attract investment, and restore our reputation as a must-visit destination – particularly here in the Barkly,” Minister Edgington said.
“From our revitalised Battery Hill Visitor Information Centre to new investments in local businesses and parks, we are strengthening the Barkly’s position as a tourism destination, especially important as we look ahead toward the highly-anticipated 2028 total solar eclipse.”
CEO of Tourism Central Australia, Danial Rochford, said that the upgrade to the Visitor Information Centre means visitors stay longer and spend more – a huge benefit to the local economy.
“This upgrade will ensure every visitor to Battery Hill leaves with a richer, more memorable experience of their time at this historic site,” Mr Rochford said.
“Investment like this sends a clear signal that Tennant Creek is open, ambitious, and ready to welcome visitors – and that is good for the entire region.”
New opportunities will continue to build on that momentum, as the Finocchiaro CLP Government announced a new investment opportunity at the iconic Tennant Creek Telegraph Station, at the 2026 NT Investment Summit.
At the Tennant Creek Telegraph Station, operators are invited to develop a boutique, rustic-style accommodation and visitor experience, taking advantage of the historical roots and natural landscapes which attract visitors to the Barkly Region.
That will be further strengthened as the Government elevates the Barkly as a prime dark-sky destination, with the region among the only places in the world set to experience “100% obscuration” during the 2028 Total Solar Eclipse, thanks to its unique geography, stable weather, and open skies.
Minister Boothby concluded: “In our year of growth, certainty and security, we are investing in new tourism opportunities for the Barkly and regions right across the Territory, as we rebuild our economy and make the Territory the best place to visit and invest.”
