PINE CREEK Not too far after leaving Katherine, the town of Pine Creek is visited. Pine Creek was once an open cut gold mining centre. That mine today is a recreational water feature/ weir. The annual Gold rush Festival, featuring the NT Gold Panning championships and Didgeridoo Jam, the Pine Creek Rodeo and Pine Creek Races. Pine Creek Goldfields Limited opened an open-cut gold mine in the region in 1985; however, the mine is now closed and its main pit, the Enterprise Pit, has been carefully filled with water to prevent acid build-up. The town was founded in 1870 during the construction of the Overland Telegraph.  In 1871 workers digging holes for the telegraph line found gold in the soil, triggering another Australian gold rush. The Alice Springs - Darwin railway (used by The Ghan) now passes near the town. Pine Creek is a small town, but is clearly around for the long term. The Pine Creek Museum is a rail museum. The Pine Creek Church is multi denominational. The Pine Creek Hotel is a serving building from the earlier eras. The War Memorial is over the road from the hotel. The weir and museum should be visited.