I remembered Mataranka from 1976 when I was notionally in charge of an Army convoy of semi trailers taking supplies to Darwin after the cyclone. This huge tree was there in 1976 and doesn't look any bigger for its extra 40 years of growth.
It was heart breaking then to see the way the Aboriginals lived under decrepit tents, and we saw this again today.
In 1976 there was one store which was also the hotel. The proprietor had total control over the locals' money and most of it was spent on alcohol.
Today there are other facilities to service the caravan/travelling non Aboriginal population, but I only saw Aboriginals congregated outside the original pub. Their accommodation now includes car wrecks parked amongst the tents.
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