Tortilla Flats, Northern Territory

Tortilla Flats is a rural locality in the Coomalie Shire, Northern Territory, Australia. It is located approximately 105 kilometres (65 mi) south east of the Territory capital Darwin. The locality is named after a farm established in 1958 by the Australian Government to conduct agricultural experiments.[4] It was also the site of an artillery and weapons range used by Australian and US forces during the Second World War. The land surrounding the locality is sparsely populated and mainly set aside for pastoral uses.

Tortilla Flats
Northern Territory
Tortilla Flats is located in Northern Territory
Tortilla Flats
Tortilla Flats
Location in Northern Territory
Coordinates13°05′50.3″S 131°10′40.1″E
Population14 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)0845
LGA(s)Coomalie Shire
Territory electorate(s)Daly
Federal division(s)Lingiari
Suburbs around Tortilla Flats:
Coomalie Creek Coomalie Creek Margaret River
Batchelor Tortilla Flats Margaret River
Batchelor Adelaide River Margaret River
FootnotesAdjoining suburbs[2][3]

History

During World War 2 an artillery and aerial weapons range was established to the south of the Coomalie Creek Airfield in the area now known as Tortilla Flats.[5]

The Tortilla Flats Research Farm, originally known as the Upper Adelaide River Experiment Station operated from 1958-90[4] when the land was sold off to private owners. Experiments conducted here focussed on rice as a potential export crop, as well as cattle rotation techniques. Estimates based on this research in 1981 found that a land area of 45,000ha in the Adelaide River region was suited to irrigated rice production, and a potential crop yield in excess of 12,000 tonnes could be harvested annually from such activities.[6]

Present Day

Trials involving the growing of rice crops are once again being conducted in the on private farms in the vicinity. These trials are supported by the NT Department of Resources and are investigating the potential of higher crop yields gained by growing the different varieties of rice during the dry season.[7]

To date no successful industrial scale rice farming ventures have been undertaken in the Coomalie region or the Northern Territory.

See also

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Tortilla Flats (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
  2. "Tortilla Flats". NT Atlas and Spatial Data Directory. Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  3. "Coomalie Community Council Localities" (PDF). Place Names Committee. Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  4. NT Place Names Register Tortilla Flats, Northern Territory Government
  5. Department of Lands, Planning and Environment Coomalie Planning Concepts and Land Use Objectives Archived 2011-04-15 at the Wayback Machine, Northern Territory Government, 2000
  6. Airey, D.R. et al Rice Research and Demonstration Program for the N.T. - A Protocol, 1981
  7. Curtain, C "Rice Trialled Again at Tortilla Flats", ABC Rural, 28 March 2011
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