Largest land addition secured for Northern Territory’s Litchfield National Park in 25 years

June 30, 2025

Environment / Parks / Recreation / Tourism /

An historic purchase by the Northern Territory Government marks the largest addition of land to the Litchfield National Park estate in 25 years. The NT Government has secured the stunning ‘Silkwood’ property - a 30,000-hectare parcel of land with the landmark $7.5 million deal seeing Litchfield National Park expanded by 20%, making it bigger and better than ever.

The land purchase will open up a spectacular new southern section of the park, featuring untouched waterfalls, gorges, hot springs and 4WD tracks.

The Silkwood property borders Litchfield’s south-east boundary, 120km from Darwin near the town of Adelaide River, and includes the popular Robin Falls.

NT Minister for Parks and Wildlife and Tourism and Hospitality Marie-Clare Boothby advised “as part of our year of action, certainty and security, we’re proud to mark this historic purchase. Silkwood has been on the market since last year, and there were real concerns that a private sale could limit future access.

“We have secured the current use of the property into the future, and work will now commence on what improvements will be made, including a new dedicated hunting reserve.”

Litchfield already receives more than 250,000 visitors each year, with popular sites including Wangi Falls, Buley Rockhole and Florence Falls.

The regional town of Adelaide River is expected to benefit from increased visitation, creating new opportunities for local tourism, services, and economic growth.

Minister Boothby added “This is a huge win for regional development. More tourists through Adelaide River means more support for local businesses and jobs, and that’s central to our plan to rebuild the economy and restore our unique lifestyle across the Territory.

Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment, Joshua Burgoyne, said the Silkwood acquisition will secure the long-term protection of the region’s pristine environment and shared “30,000 hectares of escarpments, woodlands and wetlands are being returned to public hands, protecting Territory ecosystems and wildlife while opening up a range of incredible new recreational opportunities.

“This isn’t just a map change - this is a transformational and visionary investment in our lifestyle, liveability, and landscape.”

"We understand people want to see work advance as quickly as possible... these aren't just venues that are relevant to a four-week period in 2032, these are venues people want to get their value out of as quickly as possible."

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