We present 2.1 GHz imaging with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) of a 6.5 deg2 region within the XXM-Newton XXL South field using a band of 1.1−3.1 GHz. We achieve an angular resolution of 4.7′′ × 4.2′′ in the final radio continuum map with a median rms noise level of 50 μJy/beam. We identify 1389 radio sources in the field with peak S/N ≥ 5 and present the catalogue of observed parameters. We find that 305 sources are resolved, of which 77 consist of multiple radio components. These number counts are in agreement with those found for the COSMOS-VLA 1.4 GHz survey. We derive spectral indices by a comparison with the Sydney University Molongolo Sky Survey (SUMSS) 843 MHz data. We find an average spectral index of − 0.78 and a scatter of 0.28, in line with expectations. This pilot survey was conducted in preparation for a larger ATCA program to observe the full 25 deg2 southern XXL field. When complete, the survey will provide a unique resource of sensitive, wide-field radio continuum imaging with complementary X-ray data in the field. This will facilitate studies of the physical mechanisms of radio-loud and radio-quiet AGNs and galaxy clusters, and the role they play in galaxy evolution. The source catalogue is publicly available online via the XXL Master Catalogue browser and the Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS).