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Jack Cotterill Monument 2
Jack Cotterill Monument 2

Photographs supplied by Diane Watson / Glen Yeomans / Henry Moulds

The monument commemorates Kings Canyon tourist operator, Jack Cotterill. 

Jack Cotterill, wife Elsie, and sons John and Jim, migrated from Britain to Australia in the early 1950s, settled in Alice Springs and became pioneers of Central Australia`s tourist industry. Perhaps their greatest feat was opening Kings Canyon to tourism in the early 1960s. These were the industry`s infant days, when few tourists ventured so far and vehicles barely survived the heavily corrugated dirt tracks leading to Red Centre attractions.

In 1960, the Cotterill family first saw Kings Canyon, realised its tourism potential, and in 1961 opened Wallara Ranch, some 100km. away, and now, unfortunately, closed. It provided accommodation and operated tours to the canyon by 4 wheel drive. The Cotterills used an old Dodge Weapons-carrier and a drag to cut their own road 60 kilometres towards the canyon from Wallara merely four decades ago.

Location

Address:Larapinta Drive, Kings Canyon Car Park, Watarrka National Park, Petermann, 0872
State:NT
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -24.252244
Long: 131.573756
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:People
Sub-Theme:Industry

Dedication

Approx. Monument Dedication Date:July-1982
Front Inscription

           IN MEMORY OF
        JACK COTTERILL
WHOSE FORESIGHT AND EFFORT
MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US ALL
TO VISIT THIS WONDERFUL PLACE 

                      Erected By 
           Jack Miller & Trev Packer
                     July 1982

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au