ALICE SPRINGS TELEGRAPH STATION

Alice Springs takes its name from the springs at the telegraph station, one of eleven repeater stations set up in the late 1800s to relay messages sent by morse code from Darwin to Adelaide.

The under sea cable, linking Australia with the rest of the world, was pulled ashore at Darwin (then Palmerston) in November 1871. It was possibly the biggest advance in technology Australia has seen and changed communication from weeks to just hours.

The buildings were well constructed and you can see how the stationmaster, up to four operators and a linesman lived.

In later years the stations became obsolete. The Alice Springs Telegraph Station became a home for Aboriginal children and was known as “The Bungalow”.

You can relive early days with a wander through the buildings. The picturesque setting is an ideal picnic area. The kiosk hasrefreshments, souvenirs and giftware.

The telegraph station is about 2 kms from the Stuart Highway and ideal to walk or bike-ride. A walkway / bicycle track is next to the access road.    Sorry no dogs

Open 8am to 9pm every day.     

Just off the Stuart Highway,
north of town.
Phone (08) 8952 3993