Alice Springs Resort
Alice Springs - Australia
Luxury Lodge Hotel & Resort accommodation

Alice Springs Resort

About Alice Springs

The People - History - Festivals - Countryside

Alice Springs is a spirited bush town that grew from humble beginnings. It started out in the 1870's as a lonely repeater station for the overland telegraph line that ran the length of Australia and on to Europe. 'The Alice', as locals call it, has since grown into a modern town that still wears its Outback heritage proudly.

Situated in the middle of a huge, sparsely populated continent, Alice Springs is legendary for its isolated position on the map. Innovation has worked in bridging distances - Alice Springs is home to great Australian institutions such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service (an airborne medical service to remote bush communities) and the School of the Air, which uses two-way radios to give lessons to children on far-flung cattle stations.

Alice Springs is the second largest populated city in the Northern Territory, has developed into a modern, thriving outback town. However it has not lost any of its charming heritage or outback hospitality.

Find out about the evolution of 'the Alice", the people which call this their home and the areas that make the place what it is today.

The People

Diverse in population and history, the culture of The Alice is like no where else in the world. Population has increased over the years to over 28,000 people due to many people visiting and never leaving.

Culturally, Alice Springs is a diverse community comprising a delightful multicultural blend, including a 20% Aboriginal population. Add to this 500,000 national and international visitors annually and you'll find it has a worldly, vibrant and progressive "can-do" perspective unlike any typical country town of similar size.

The Arrernte traditional owners of Mparntwe (Alice Springs) have been here since time immemorial. In the beginning, Altyerrenge, ancestral figures created the landscape and its features, as well as Arrernte Law. Arrernte people continue to live in Mparntwe, observe that law, look after the country and teach children the Arrernte language and the importance of culture.

What it means to be Indigenous is expressed in a rich and very diverse cultural mosaic. There are local people still living very close to the ancient ways of the desert, struggling to maintain these ways in the face of the ever increasing pressures of modernisation.

Alice Springs' greatest wealth is definitely its people. The strong Aboriginal presence in the heart of Australia is a striking feature of the town. The mixture of born and bred Territorians with the many newcomers - attracted to Alice Springs for as many reasons as there is cultural diversity - has created a sophisticated culture with a rich pool of talent.

Home to The Alice Springs Cultural Precinct - this is where the talent of the town shines out. A unique blend of ancient art and culture of the local people and new works from young artists and performers both indigenous and non-indigenous - the Centre draws on all Alice has to offer and puts it out there to the world.

History

Alice Springs is a vibrant town that started life in the 1870's as a repeater station for the overland telegraph line that ran the length of Australia and onto Europe.

Smack bang in the middle of a huge sparsely populated continent, its isolation inspired the establishment of such legendary Australian institutes as the Royal Flying Doctor Service (an airborne medical service to remote bush communities) and the School of the Air, which educates children on remote cattle stations via two-way radio.

The School of the Air

The school of the air was set up in 1951 in Alice Springs with the intention to provide educational services to children who lived on 'the land'. It was the first of its kind in Australia, however now there are a number of schools around the country.

The Alice Springs School of the Air today gives over 140 children spread over a 1 million square km's of Central Australia, access to education via the airwaves.

The Royal Flying Doctors

On May 5th 1928 in Alice Springs, with the help of Alf Traeger's pedal radio and advice from Australia's most famous pioneer aviators Hudson Fysy, the Reverand John Flynn took to the air to provide medical help for sick and injured outback pioneers. And so began The Royal Flying Doctor's.

The service was and still is a not-for-profit organisation which provides emergency and primary health care services to people who live, work and travel in regional Australia.

In 1934 the Presbyterian Church handed over the service to a new organisation, the Australian Aerial Medical Service. It was renamed in 1942 to the Flying Doctors Service and then in 1955 the Queen granted the use of the Royal prefix.

The service now operates from 20 bases around Australia, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The Overland Telegraph Station

The Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve marks the original site of the first European settlement in Alice Springs. Established in 1872 to relay messages between Darwin and Adelaide, it is the best preserved of the twelve stations along the Overland Telegraph Line.

The site was first recorded by surveyor William Mills in 1871, while in search of a suitable route for the Overland Telegraph Line through the MacDonnell Ranges. Construction of the Telegraph Station began in November 1871. The Telegraph Station operated for 60 years, until 1832 after which time the buildings served as a school for Aboriginal children. During WWII parts of the station were used by the Army. The Station was protected as a Historical Reserve in 1963.

School of the Air

Royal Flying Doctor Service

Overland Telegraph Marker

Alice Springs Festivals

It could never be said that the people of Alice Springs don't know how to party. They throw some of the best in the world. And for the most part the parties are always for a worthwhile cause.

JULY - Voyages Camel Cup

Fun-filled day with various camel races held, including the Camel Cup. Plenty of food, drink, novelty events, Miss Camel Cup and other entertainment.

In 1971 the first Lions Club of Alice Springs Camel Cup was run as a challenge between two Lions Club members, Keith Mooney-Smith and Noel Fullerton. The Cup has grown to be one of the major events held in Alice Springs each year.

It's hilarious. It's crazy. But make no mistake, this is the Melbourne Cup of the outback. And it's just as spectacular. What started as a bet in a pub between two Alice Springs Lions Club mates 33 years ago has grown into a full scale carnival.

The Voyages Camel Cup is held each year in its own arena at Blatherskite Park, minutes from the town centre, where the grounds of the Central Australia Show Society take on their own party. There are belly dancers, food stalls and bars, and in between races the spectators become part of the spectacle themselves. The Rickshaw Rally sees competitors come out of the crowd to form pulling teams with ridiculous names.

The true stars of the day, of course, are the camels themselves. Especially Bazza - Camel Cup champion two years in a row. Bazza has become a local legend.

While the Voyages Camel Cup day might have its tongue firmly in cheek, the event has an important heritage of raising money. All proceeds raised at the gate go to the Lions Club of Alice Springs and a long list of worthwhile local causes - from disabled children to elderly in need.

More info: www.camelcup.com.au

SEPTEMBER - Henley-on-Todd Regatta

Henley-on-Todd is an annual event that has four essential ingredients: a dry riverbed, bottomless boats, plenty of human horsepower and a delight in the ridiculous.

Held annually the regatta started in 1962, when the idea was taken up to hold a rowing and sailing regatta in Alice Springs - even though the town was 1500kms from the nearest large body of water. This was never a problem for the folk in Alice - they went ahead with their regatta and named it the Henley-on-Todd.

The ASSA ABLOY Henley-on-Todd is run entirely on a volunteer basis by the three Rotary Clubs based in the Alice. The entire proceeds - well over a million dollars raised over the years - are given to local, national and international humanitarian projects.

More info: www.henleyontodd.com.au

OTHER ALICE SPRINGS EVENTS

February/March

Alice is Wonderland Festival
Central Australian Bike Challenge

April/May

Alice Springs Cup Carnival (horse racing)
Bangtail Muster Parade

June/July

Alice Springs Beanie Festival
Finke Desert Race (460km of outback racing)
Alice Springs Show
Harts Range Annual Races (horse racing)

August/September/October

Old Times Fate
Alice Springs Rodeo
Alice Springs Festival
Alice Springs Masters Games (biennial event)

Surrounding Landscape

Alice Springs is home to some of the most amazing scenery and landscapes in Central Australia. While visiting Alice Springs be sure to put on your itinerary the following places:

Alice Springs Desert Park

Alice Springs Desert Park is a Central Australia must see, where visitors can experience everything that the Central Australian desert has to offer, all in one location. Open since March 1997, the park tells the living stories of Australia's deserts, its plants, animals, landscapes and people.

The Park is also used by the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory, who conduct research into the conservation of Australia's desert plants and animals.

Macdonnell Ranges

Alice Springs is located in the center of a range of mountains - the MacDonnell Ranges - that extend to the east and west.

Stretching to the west of Alice Springs and the Finke River region to the south, The West MacDonnell Ranges holds some of Central Australia's most spectacular scenery.

One of the most surprising features of the West MacDonnell Ranges are pockets of permanent water holes that lie hidden among its ancient folds. These help support a rich variety of plants and animals, with thick leafy canopies of bloodwoods and ghost gums sheltering Diamond Doves, migratory Rainbow Bee-eaters and many other birds. Black-footed Rock Wallabies pick their way along the rocky slopes while, high above, majestic Wedge tailed Eagles seek out unwary snakes and skinks.

The East MacDonnell Ranges stretches over 100 kilometres to the east of Alice Springs To the local Arrernte people, this area is the dreamtime birthplace of the mountain range. As the caterpillar ancestral beings moved out from Emily Gap, they formed the MacDonnell Ranges and the site of Alice Springs. Places like Jessie Gap, Corroboree Rock, and N'Dhala Gorge are all of great cultural significance to the Arrernte people.

The beauty of these sites and others, such as Trephina Gorge, makes a trip to the East MacDonnell's more than worthwhile. The East MacDonnell's region is also rich with bird and animal life. Trephina Gorge offers great bird watching opportunities. And as the East MacDonnells are less visited by tourists, you will have a greater chance to spot wildlife in their own natural environment.

Standley Chasm

Standley Chasm is situated in the West MacDonnell Ranges. It is probably the most spectacular of all the gorges around Alice Springs. The Chasm is just seven metres across at its widest point and 80 metres deep, where the sunlight illuminates the bottom for a mere fifteen minutes a day! If you can time your trip with the suns mid-day passage you will be in for a spectacular treat.

Leading up to the chasm, visitors are led via a creek where you can witness the abundance of wildlife - in particular the birds of the area. The lush gully floor is also home to a range of delicate flora species including Cycad palms, tall gums and fragile ferns which have survived here since the long gone wetter age

Todd River

Alice Springs Desert Park

West MacDonnell Ranges

Standley Chasm