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Historic site · Alice Springs, Northern Territory
Alice Springs Telegraph Station
1872 telegraph station that linked Darwin to Adelaide, built next to the waterhole that gave the town its name, in a historic reserve about 4 km from the centre.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Alice Springs Telegraph Station
The telegraph station was the beginning of Alice Springs. Built from November 1871 and opened in 1872, it was one of the twelve stations on the Overland Telegraph Line, the telegraph line that crossed the continent and connected Darwin—and from there the world—to Adelaide.
The builders erected it beside a waterhole in the bed of the Todd River, called Alice Springs in honour of the wife of the telegraph official. The site was an important camping and ceremonial place for the Arrernte.
The restored stone buildings show how the telegraph operators and their families lived in the isolation of the desert. The station closed in 1932; afterward it housed an institution for mixed-descent Aboriginal children, the Bungalow, until 1942, and was used by the army in World War II. Today it is a historic reserve, with a café, trails and cycle paths.
The station marks the start of the Larapinta Trail, a long-distance walk through the West MacDonnell Range.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
1 to 2 hours.
Best time
In the morning or late afternoon, to walk the reserve with less heat.
How to get there
About 4 km north of the centre, by car, bicycle or on foot via a trail along the Todd River.
Tip
Combine the visit with a short walk on the reserve hills for views of the range. Entry to the historic buildings is charged; check the current price list.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Alice Springs Telegraph Station
Why is the town called Alice Springs?
The name comes from the water well beside the telegraph station, named in honor of Alice, the wife of the man in charge of the telegraph line.
Where is the Alice Springs telegraph station?
About 4 km north of the center, in a historic reserve on the banks of the Todd River.
Does the Larapinta Trail start at the telegraph station?
Yes. The first stage of the trail leaves the station and goes to Simpsons Gap, in the West MacDonnell Ranges.