Gold production has restarted at Nobles Nob mine in the Barkly region, marking the return of large-scale mining to Tennant Creek after a 20-year pause.
Operated by Tennant Mines under Pan African Resources, which acquired the site in 2024, the $94 million facility is set to initially produce 50,000 ounces of gold annually, with potential to reach 100,000 ounces, contributing up to $500 million yearly at current gold prices.
The project is expected to create over 160 jobs over the next 2 years, with one in six roles currently filled by Indigenous workers from the region.
The Nobles project has already injected over $12 million into local businesses, including $1.4 million with Indigenous enterprises.
Operations have begun with existing stockpiles, with plans for open-cut and underground mining to follow.
Nobles Nob is the NT’s eighth operational mine and the only one currently in the Barkly.
The NT’s gold sector delivered a production value of $1.4 billion in 2023–24, with gold prices currently sitting near record highs of over A$5,000 per ounce.