View source for Alice Springs

{{Short description| Town in the Northern Territory, Australia }}
{{About|the town in Australia|the local government area|Town of Alice Springs|the Australian photographer under the same name|June Newton|the racehorse|Alice Springs (horse)}}
{{redirect|The Alice||The Alice (disambiguation)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                = Town
| name                = Alice Springs
| native_name         = Mparntwe
| native_name_lang    = aer
| state               = nt
| lga                 = [[Town of Alice Springs|Alice Springs Town Council]]
| mayor               = Asta Hill
| image               = Alice Springs, 2015 (01).JPG
| caption             = View of Alice Springs from Anzac Hill, with [[MacDonnell Ranges]] and [[Heavitree Gap]] in the background
| pop                 = 25912
| pop_year            = 2021
| pop_footnotes       = <ref name=ABSSUA>{{cite web|title=Alice Springs 2021 Census All persons QuickStats|url=https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/LGA70200 |publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]|access-date=1 March 2023}} </ref>
| poprank             = 
| density             = 
| coordinates         = {{coord|23|42|0|S|133|52|12|E|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Northern Territory
| area                = 327.5
| area_footnotes      = <ref name="ABSSUAProf">{{cite web |title=2011 Census Community Profiles: Alice Springs |url=http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/communityprofile/7001 |website=ABS Census |publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] |access-date=15 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031828/http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/communityprofile/7001 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> (2011 urban)
| est                 = 1872
| timezone            = [[UTC9:30|ACST]]
| utc                 = +9:30
| dist1               = 1499
| location1           = [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]]
| dist2               = 1532
| location2           = Adelaide
| dist4               = 1990
| location4           = Perth
| dist3               = 1890
| location3           = Melbourne
| dist5               = 2026
| location5           = Sydney
| postcode            = 0870-0872
| elevation           = 545
| stategov            = [[Electoral division of Araluen|Araluen]]
| stategov2           = [[Electoral division of Braitling|Braitling]]
| stategov3           = [[Electoral division of Namatjira|Namatjira]]
| stategov4           = [[Electoral division of Gwoja|Gwoja]]
| fedgov              = [[Division of Lingiari|Lingiari]]
| fedgov2             = 
| maxtemp             = 28.8
| mintemp             = 13.2
| rainfall            = 282.8
}}

'''Alice Springs''' ({{langx|aer|Mparntwe}}, {{IPAc|aer|ᵐbaⁿɖʷə|}})<ref>[https://alicesprings.nt.gov.au/about-alice-springs/living-in-alice-springs/local-community-culture  Local Community & Culture] Alice Springs Town Council. Retrieved 26 August 2022.</ref> is a town in the [[Northern Territory]], [[Australia]]; it is the third-largest settlement after [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]] and [[Palmerston, Northern Territory|Palmerston]]. The name Alice Springs was given by surveyor [[William Mills (surveyor)|William Whitfield Mills]] after Alice, Lady Todd ({{nee|Alice Gillam Bell}}), wife of the telegraph pioneer Sir [[Charles Todd (pioneer)|Charles Todd]]. Known colloquially as '''The Alice''' or simply '''Alice''', the town is situated roughly in Australia's [[Geographical centre|geographic centre]]. It is nearly [[equidistant]] from [[Adelaide]] and Darwin.<ref>[http://www.ga.gov.au/education/geoscience-basics/dimensions/centre-of-australia-states-territories.html Geoscience Australia Centre of Australia, States and Territories updated July 2006] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212130456/http://www.ga.gov.au/education/geoscience-basics/dimensions/centre-of-australia-states-territories.html |date=12 February 2014}} "Officially, there is no centre of Australia. This is because there are many complex but equally valid methods that can determine possible centres of a large, irregularly shaped area especially one that is curved by the earth's surface." See the Geoscience Australia page for further details.</ref>

The area is also known locally as {{lang|aer|Mparntwe}} to its [[Indigenous Australians|original inhabitants]], the [[Arrernte people|Arrernte]], who have lived in the Central Australian desert in and around what is now Alice Springs for tens of thousands of years.

Alice Springs had a population of 33,990 as of June 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alice Springs Population 2024 {{!}} Population Australia |url=https://www.population.net.au/alice-springs-population/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |language=en-US}}</ref> The town's population accounts for approximately 10 percent of the population of the Northern Territory.<ref name="census16">{{Census 2016 AUS|id=UCL712001 |name=Alice Springs (Urban Centre) |access-date=18 December 2017 |quick=on}}</ref>

The town straddles the usually dry [[Todd River]] on the northern side of the [[MacDonnell Ranges]]. The surrounding region is known as Central Australia, or the [[Red Centre]], an arid environment consisting of several deserts. Alice Springs experiences a wide temperature range, with an average maximum in summer of {{convert|35.6|C}} and an average minimum in winter of {{convert|5.1|C}}.<ref>{{cite web |year=2011 |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_015590.shtml |title=Climate statistics for Alice Springs Airport |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |access-date=19 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602125448/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_015590.shtml |archive-date=2 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
===Traditional owners===
[[File:Alice Springs.jpg|thumb|[[Todd River]] spring, the "springs" that give the town its name|left]]
The [[Arrernte people|Arrernte]] people are the [[traditional owners]] of the Alice Springs area and surrounding [[MacDonnell Ranges]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Local Community & Culture |url=https://alicesprings.nt.gov.au/about-alice-springs/living-in-alice-springs/local-community-culture|access-date=2021-03-17|website=Alice Springs Town Council|language=en-AU}}</ref> They have lived in the area for at least 30,000 years.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Thorley |first=Peter |title=Rock-art and the archaeological record of Indigenous settlement in Central Australia |journal=Australian Aboriginal Studies |year=2004 |volume=2004 |issue=1 |pages=79–90 |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A125955412/AONE?u=googlescholar&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=714231f7 |access-date=26 February 2023 }} </ref> The traditional name for the township area is ''Mparntwe''.<ref name="a town like mparntwe">{{cite book |last=Brooks |first=David |title=A town like Mparntwe: a guide to the dreaming tracks and sites of Alice Springs |year=2003 |publisher=Jukurrpa Books |location=Alice Springs |isbn=1-86465-045-1 |url=https://iadpress.com/shop/a-town-like-mparntwe-reprint/ |access-date=18 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110601022559/http://iadpress.com/shop/a-town-like-mparntwe-reprint/ |archive-date=1 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Mparntwe is Arrernte for "watering place", referencing Atherreyurre,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Traynor |first=Stuart |title=Alice Springs: from singing wire to iconic outback town |publisher=Wakefield Press |year=2016 |isbn=9781743054499 |location=Mile End, SA}}</ref> a waterhole in the Todd River at Old Telegraph Station (known as Alice Springs). Mparntwe refers to the majority of the Alice Springs township, with two additional names: '''''Irlpme''''' covering the south and '''''Antulye''''' the east.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Do you know what Aboriginal land you're on today? |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/do-you-know-what-aboriginal-land-youre-on-today/ytff85vi1 |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=NITV |language=en}}</ref>

Arrernte has been spelt in various forms, including Aranda, Arrarnta, and Arunta. There are five dialects of the [[Arrernte language]]: South-eastern, Central, Northern, Eastern and North-eastern.<ref name="austlang_c8">{{aiatsis|C8|Arrernte}}</ref>

Arrernte country is rich with mountain ranges, waterholes and gorges, which create a variety of natural habitats. According to Arrernte traditional histories, the landscape was shaped by the [[Hyles livornicoides|Yeperenye]], [[Hippotion celerio|Ntyarlke]], and [[Coenotes eremophilae|Utnerrengatye]] caterpillars<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-09-07|title=Alice Springs Aboriginal elder's bid for better understanding |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-07/sacred-sites-alice-springs-aboriginal-elder-leads-tours/6744524|access-date=2021-03-17|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Sacred caterpillars plentiful after the rain - ABC (none) - Australian Broadcasting Corporation|url=https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2015/02/05/4174922.htm|access-date=2021-03-17|website=www.abc.net.au}}</ref> and Akngwelye or wild dogs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NAIDOC celebrates the Wild Dog Story of Alice Springs |website =[[Alice Springs News]] |date =9 July 2016 |url=https://alicespringsnews.com.au/2016/07/09/naidoc-celebrates-the-wild-dog-story-of-alice-springs/|access-date=2021-03-17|language=en-AU}}</ref>

Sites of traditional importance include [[Emily Gap|Anthwerrke]] (Emily Gap), [[Billy Goat Hill (Alice Springs)|Akeyulerre]] (Billy Goat Hill), [[Heavitree Gap|Ntaripe]] (Heavitree Gap), [[ANZAC Hill|Atnelkentyarliweke]] (ANZAC Hill) and Alhekulyele (Mt Gillen).<ref name="a town like mparntwe" />

===European settlement ===
In 1861–62, [[John McDouall Stuart]] led an expedition through Central Australia to the west of what later became Alice Springs, thereby establishing a route from the south of the continent to the north.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks/e00040.html|title=Explorations in Australia|last=Stuart|first=John McDouall|publisher=Saunders, Otley, and Co.|year=1865|location=London|pages=1|access-date=25 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190317064614/http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks/e00040.html|archive-date=17 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Alice Springs Telegraph Station, 2015 (02).JPG|thumb|The original [[Alice Springs Telegraph Station]] was built in 1872 to relay messages between [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]] and [[Adelaide]].|left]]
A settlement named after Stuart was necessitated ten years later with the construction of a repeater station on the [[Australian Overland Telegraph Line]] (OTL), which linked [[Adelaide]] to [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]] and [[Great Britain]]. The OTL was completed in 1872. It traced Stuart's route and opened up the interior for permanent settlement. The [[Alice Springs Telegraph Station]] was sited near what was thought to be a permanent waterhole in the normally dry [[Todd River]],<ref name="ausgeorc" /> named Alice Springs<ref>[https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/placenames/view.jsp?id=23882 Alice Springs (waterhole)] Northern Territory Government Place Names Register Retrieved 9 June 2020.</ref> by W.W. Mills after the wife of the Superintendent of Telegraphs and Postmaster General of South Australia, Sir [[Charles Todd (pioneer)|Charles Todd]], who was the driving force for constructing the OTL. The nearby settlement of Stuart was renamed Alice Springs on 31 August 1933.<ref>[https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/placenames/view.jsp?id=10219 Alice Springs (town)] Northern Territory Government Place Names Register Retrieved 9 June 2020.</ref> The Todd River<ref>[https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/placenames/view.jsp?id=19020 Todd River] Northern Territory Government Place Names Register Retrieved 9 June 2020.</ref> and its tributary the Charles River,<ref>[https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/placenames/view.jsp?id=11704 Charles River] Northern Territory Government Place Names Register Retrieved 9 June 2020.</ref> which meet near the telegraph station, were named after Sir Charles.
[[File:Adelaide House, Alice Springs, 2015.JPG|thumb|The historic [[Adelaide House (Alice Springs)|Adelaide House]], built 1926, the town's first hospital]]
It was not until [[Alluvium|alluvial]] gold was discovered at Arltunga, {{convert|100|km|mi}} east of the present Alice Springs, in 1887 that any significant European settlement occurred.<ref>Kelham, Megg "Discovering Local History Through Museums in Central Australia" published by the National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame as educational resources [http://www.pioneerwomen.com.au/content/view/87/62/educational_resources available on-line] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193408/http://www.pioneerwomen.com.au/content/view/87/62/educational_resources |date=29 October 2013 }}</ref> The town's first substantial building was the [[Stuart Town Gaol]] (jail) in Parson's Street; this was built in 1909, when the town had a European population of fewer than 20 people. Many of the jail's first prisoners were first-contact Aboriginal men imprisoned for killing cattle.<ref>{{cite web |author=Kelham, Megg |hdl=10070/233508|title=A Very Short History of the Stuart Town Gaol |url=https://territorystories.nt.gov.au/10070/656925/0/0 |website=Territory Stories}}</ref> The first aircraft, piloted by [[Francis Stewart Briggs]], landed in 1921.<ref>State Library of South Australia, [https://web.archive.org/web/20151017024334/http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/searcy/35/PRG280_1_35_262.htm "De Havilland D.H.4 flown by Francis Briggs after landing in Central Australia"], ''State Library of South Australia''. Retrieved 16 June 2014.</ref> Central Australia's first hospital, Adelaide House, was built in 1926 when the European population of the town was about 40. It was not until 1929, when the train line to Alice was built, that the town's European population began to grow. Aboriginal Centralians outnumbered European Centralians until the mid-1930s.<ref name="flynntrail.org.au">Kelham, Megg 'Flynn's Alice' – a pictorial history of Alice Springs with documents available on line at {{cite web |url=http://www.flynntrail.org.au/discovery_resources/Reading/Flynn's_Alice.pdf |title=Following in Flynn's footsteps|access-date=26 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316124723/http://flynntrail.org.au/discovery_resources/Reading/Flynn%27s_Alice.pdf |archive-date=16 March 2016 }}</ref> From 1926 to 1931, Alice Springs was the seat of government for the now-defunct [[Central Australia (territory)|Territory of Central Australia]].<ref name="act1926">{{cite web |title=North Australia Act, No. 16 of 1926 |url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdb/au/legis/cth/num_act/naa192616o1926264/ |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |access-date=2 October 2018 |date=4 June 1926 |quote=Clause 51; Seat of government of Central Australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002090210/http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdb/au/legis/cth/num_act/naa192616o1926264/ |archive-date=2 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C1931A00005|title=Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1931|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|access-date=22 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203202747/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C1931A00005|archive-date=3 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Until 31 August 1933, the town was officially known as Stuart.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/alice-springs/history |title=About Alice Springs – History |publisher=Alicesprings.nt.gov.au |date=31 August 1933 |access-date=30 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524153936/http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/alice-springs/history |archive-date=24 May 2011 }}</ref>
[[File:The Flying Doctor Service, Alice Springs, Australia.jpg|thumb|Main dispatch centre of the [[Royal Flying Doctor Service]]]]
[[File:Alice Springs Panoramic View(GN05767).jpg|thumb|The township in 1935]]
The original mode of British-Australian transportation in the outback were [[camel]] trains, operated by immigrants from [[Pashtun people|Pathan]] tribes in the [[Military history of the North-West Frontier|North-West Frontier]] of then-[[British India]] (present-day Pakistan), known locally as [[Afghan (Australia)|Afghan]] cameleers based at Hergott Springs, or Marree as it is now known. Many cameleers moved to Alice Springs in 1929 when the railway finally reached the town. They lived on the block where the town council is now, transporting goods from the rail head to stations and settlements to the north. A gold rush in Tennant Creek in 1932 kept the wheels of the Alice Springs economy turning until the outbreak of [[World War II]].<ref name="flynntrail.org.au"/>

In 1941 Father [[Percy Smith (Australian priest)|Percy Smith]], an Anglican minister, founded St John's Hostel in Bath Street.<ref name=cofehostel>{{cite web | title=Church of England Hostel for Inland Children| website=Find & Connect | publisher=Commonwealth of Australia | date=5 December 2017 | url=https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/sa/biogs/SE01190b.htm | access-date=30 January 2024| first1=Karen |last1=George | first2= Gary |last2=George}}</ref> The hostel provided accommodation for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children from remote areas who were attending school in Alice Springs. He had been concerned at the lack of opportunities for children housed in the government facility for Aboriginal children in Alice Springs, called [[The Bungalow]]. Smith went on to found and run [[St Francis House]] in [[Adelaide]] in 1945, but St John's continued to operate. Children under the care of the Welfare Branch were also placed there, and the building had to be expanded. During World War II, the hostel served as a recreation centre for troops. The new two-storey building was designed to accommodate up to 50 children, with separate dormitories for boys and girls, each with separate study area and library. Several of the children were transferred to St Francis House over time, and St John's Hostel continued to operate until the 1970s.<ref name=stj>{{cite web | title=St John's Hostel | website=Find & Connect |date=20 May 2021 | url=https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/guide/nt/YE00263 | access-date=30 January 2024}}</ref>

=== World War II ===
[[File:Dowling_066.jpg|thumb|Army camp in Alice Springs during World War II, photo taken from the top of ANZAC Hill]]
[[World War II]] brought significant changes to Alice Springs. Prior to the war, Alice Springs was an isolated settlement of fewer than 500 people. During the war, however, the town was an extremely active staging base, known as No.&nbsp;9 Australian Staging Camp, and a depot base for the long four-day trip to Darwin. The railway hub in Alice Springs was taken over by military operations, and the number of soldiers posted in Alice Springs grew rapidly, as did the number of personnel passing through on their way to and from Darwin. When Darwin was [[Proposed Japanese invasion of Australia during World War II|threatened by Japanese forces]], the sea routes—the Northern Territory capital's primary means of transportation and resupply—were cut off. The evacuation of Darwin first brought a large number of civilians including elected officials and many of the territory government's records. Alice Springs became the war-time civilian capital of the Northern Territory. When Darwin was [[Bombing of Darwin|bombed by Japanese air forces]], a large number of military personnel and their heavy equipment were rapidly moved south to Alice Springs.

The number of soldiers posted in Alice Springs peaked at around 8,000, and the number of personnel passing through totalled close to 200,000.<ref name=thewaryears>{{cite web |title=Central Australia the war years 1939–1945 |url=http://www.thewaryears.alicespringsrsl.com.au/townlife.shtml |work=RSL On-Line Museum |publisher=RSL Sub Branch Alice Springs |access-date=8 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217185555/http://www.thewaryears.alicespringsrsl.com.au/townlife.shtml |archive-date=17 February 2011 }}</ref> Once the war ended, the military camps and the evacuees departed, and Alice Springs' population declined rapidly. After being visited by nearly 200,000 people, including the American General [[Douglas MacArthur]], Alice Springs gained considerable fame. The war years also left behind many structures. The historically listed [[Totem Theatre]], created for the entertainment of this camp, still exists today. The [[Australian Army]] set up the 109th Australian General Hospital at Alice Springs. [[Alice Springs Airport|Seven Mile Aerodrome]] was constructed by the [[Royal Australian Air Force]]. War-related operations necessitated the first sealing of the road between Alice Springs and Larrimah, expansion and improvement of Alice Springs' water supply, and improving the rail head. The war-related operations left behind thousands of pieces of excess military equipment and vehicles and a marked increase in Alice Springs' population.<ref name=thewaryears/><ref>{{cite web |title=Alice Springs (Mparntwe) NT |url=https://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/alicesprings.htm |work=Flinders Range Research |publisher=Flinders Ranges Research |access-date=8 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716051742/http://southaustralianhistory.com.au/alicesprings.htm |archive-date=16 July 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

During World War II, Alice Springs was the location of [[List of RAAF inland aircraft fuel depots|RAAF No. 24 Inland Aircraft Fuel Depot]] (IAFD), completed on 20 May 1942 and closed in November 1944. Each IAFD usually consisted of four tanks; 31 fuel depots were built across Australia for the storage and supply of aircraft fuel for the [[RAAF]] and the [[US Army Air Forces]], at a total cost of £900,000 ($1,800,000).<ref>{{citation |author1=Australia. Royal Australian Air Force. Historical Section |title=Logistics units |date=1995 |publisher=AGPS Press |isbn=978-0-644-42798-2}}</ref>{{Clarify|reason=modern currency conversion?|date=August 2024}}

===After World War II===
During the 1960s, Alice Springs became an important defence location with the development of the US/Australian [[Pine Gap]] joint defence [[satellite]] monitoring base, home to about 700 workers from both countries.

By far the major industry in recent times is tourism. Almost in the exact centre of the continent, Alice Springs is some {{convert|1200|km}} from the nearest ocean and {{convert|1500|km}} from the nearest major cities, Darwin and [[Adelaide]]. Alice Springs is at the midpoint of the [[The Ghan|Adelaide–Darwin Railway]].
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.travelnt.com/en/experience/outback/the-ghan.htm |title=The Ghan – Outback experiences – Northern Territory Official Travel Site |publisher=Travelnt.com |access-date=30 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927013949/http://www.travelnt.com/en/experience/outback/the-ghan.htm |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref>
[[File:Todd Tavern, 2015 (01).JPG|thumb|Todd Tavern]]
Alice Springs was connected to Darwin by rail on 4 February 2004, when [[The Ghan|the first passenger train]] arrived in Darwin from Adelaide.

==Modern town==
The modern town of Alice Springs has both European and Aboriginal influences. The town's focal point, the [[Todd Mall]], hosts a number of Aboriginal art galleries and community events including the fortnightly Todd Mall Markets.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Todd Mall Markets {{!}} Alice Springs |url=https://www.toddmallmarkets.com.au/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=www.toddmallmarkets.com.au}}</ref> In February 2024,  [[AIATSIS Central Australia]] information and exhibition centre opened in Todd Mall.<ref name=aca>{{cite web | title=AIATSIS Central Australia Unveiled: A Cultural Milestone in Mparntwe | website=AIATSIS | date=1 February 2024 | url=https://aiatsis.gov.au/whats-new/news/aiatsis-central-australia-unveiled-cultural-milestone-mparntwe | access-date=7 February 2024}}</ref><ref name=allison2024>{{cite web | last=Allison | first=Charmayne | title=Alice Springs' Indigenous culture collection allows access to priceless knowledge on country for first time | website= [[ABC News (Australia)]] | date=2 February 2024 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-02/alice-springs-aiatsis-facility-preserves-indigenous-culture/103413872 | access-date=7 February 2024}}</ref><ref name=revitalise>{{cite web | title=New AIATSIS centre in Alice Springs | website=Revitalising Alice | date=25 March 2022 | url=https://revitalisingalice.nt.gov.au/initiatives/new-aiatsis-centre-in-alice-springs | access-date=7 February 2024}}</ref>

Alice Springs' desert lifestyle has inspired several unique events, such as the [[Alice Springs Camel Cup]], the [[Henley-on-Todd Regatta]], the [[Bangtail muster]], [[Alice Springs Beanie Festival|Beanie Festival]] and the [[Finke Desert Race]].

In May 2000 the [[Arrernte people]] were recognised by the Federal Court as the Traditional Owners of Alice Springs and they are recognised as the native title holders, with non-exclusive rights over their lands.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Strelein |first=Lisa |date=2000 |title=The Vagaries of Native Title - Partial Recognition of Aboriginal Law in the Alice Springs Native Title Case: Hayes v Northern Territory |url=https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/journals/IndigLawB/2000/4.html |journal=Indigenous Law Bulletin}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Hayes v Northern Territory |date=1999-09-09 |issue=1248 |url=https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/FCA/1999/1248.html |access-date=2025-03-18}}</ref> This was the first successful native title claim in an urban area within Australia and the [[Registered Native Title Body Corporate|Prescribed Body Corporate]] for this claim is [[Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation]]'''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Native title |url=https://www.clc.org.au/native-title/#alice-springs |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=Central Land Council |language=en-AU}}</ref>'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Empowering Indigenous Community in Alice Springs {{!}} ABOUT US |url=https://www.lhereartepe.org.au/about-us |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=www.lhereartepe.org.au |language=en}}</ref>

==Built environment==
Alice Springs has many historic buildings, including the [[Overland Telegraph|Overland Telegraph Station]], the Old Courthouse and [[The Residency, Alice Springs|Residency]] and the [[Hartley Street School]]. [[Adelaide House (Alice Springs)|Adelaide House]], a stone building in the middle of the Mall, Central Australia's first hospital, was designed and built by the Rev. John Flynn, founder of the world's first [[Royal Flying Doctor Service|flying doctor]] service, in 1926. It was also the site of the world's first successful portable wireless radio experiment conducted by Alf Traeger. Today it is a museum, one of several significant tourist attractions which form part of The Flynn Trail, a self-guided urban heritage trail.<ref>The Flynn Trail {{cite web |url=http://www.flynntrail.org.au/discovery.html |title=Flynn Trail - heritage tour in Alice Springs |access-date=26 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611001449/http://flynntrail.org.au/discovery.html |archive-date=11 June 2016 }}</ref>

Today, the town is an important tourist hub and service centre for the surrounding area. It is a well-appointed town for its size, with several large hotels, a convention centre, and a good range of visitor attractions, restaurants, and other services.

==Geography==
{{wide image|Alice Springs Panorama.jpg|800px|Panorama of Alice Springs}}
The region around Alice Springs is part of the [[Central Ranges xeric scrub]] area of dry scrubby grassland<ref>{{NatGeo ecoregion|id=aa1302|name=Central Ranges xeric scrub|access-date=30 May 2011}}</ref> and includes the [[MacDonnell Ranges]], which run east and west of the town and contain a number of hiking trails and swimming holes, such as [[Ormiston Gorge]], Ormiston Gorge Creek, Red Bank Gorge and [[Glen Helen Gorge]]. The {{convert|223|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} [[Larapinta Trail]] follows the West MacDonnell Ranges and is considered among the world's great walking experiences.

The [[Simpson Desert]], southeast of Alice Springs, is one of Australia's great wilderness areas, containing giant, red sand dunes and rock formations, such as [[Chambers Pillar]] and Rainbow Valley.

===Climate===
Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], Alice Springs has a subtropical [[hot desert climate]] (''BWh''), featuring very hot, fairly moist summers and short, very dry, mild winters.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tapper |first1=Andrew |last2=Tapper |first2=Nigel |title=The weather and climate of Australia and New Zealand |year=1996 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Melbourne, Australia |isbn=0-19-553393-3 |edition=First |editor=Gray, Kathleen |page=300}}</ref><ref name="Climates and Weather Explained"/> Located just south of the [[Tropic of Capricorn]], the town of Alice Springs straddles the usually dry [[Todd River]] on the northern side of the [[MacDonnell Ranges]]. Alice Springs is located in Central Australia, also called the Red Centre, an arid environment consisting of several different deserts. The annual average rainfall is {{convert|285.9|mm|in|1}}, which would make it a [[semi-arid climate]], except that its high [[evapotranspiration]], or its aridity, makes it a [[desert climate]].<ref>McKnight & Hess, pp. 212–1, "Climate Zones and Types: Dry Climates (Zone B)"</ref>

Annual precipitation is erratic. In 2001, {{convert|741|mm|in|1}} fell and in 2002 only {{convert|198|mm|in|1}} fell.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/about_alice/climate.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050616073111/http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/about_alice/climate.asp|url-status=dead|title=Alice Springs' Climate|archivedate=16 June 2005|accessdate=6 April 2023}}</ref> The highest daily rainfall is {{convert|204.8|mm|in|2}}, recorded on 31 March 1988.

Temperatures in Alice Springs vary widely, and rainfall can vary quite dramatically from year to year. In summer, the average maximum temperature is in the mid-30s, whereas in winter the average minimum temperature can be {{convert|5.5|C}}, with an average of 12.4 nights below freezing every year, providing [[frost]]. The elevation of the town is about {{convert|545|m|abbr=off}}, which contributes to the cool nights in winter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=62349&refer= |title=Weatherbase: Records and Averages for Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia |publisher=Weatherbase |access-date=30 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729152245/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=62349&refer= |archive-date=29 July 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The highest temperature on record is {{convert|47.5|C}},<ref>[http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_015540_All.shtml Monthly climate statistics : ALICE SPRINGS POST OFFICE], [[Bureau of Meteorology]]. Retrieved 26 February 2023.</ref> first recorded on 24 December 1891, whilst the record low is {{convert|-7.5|C}}, recorded on 17 July 1976. This is also the lowest temperature recorded in the Northern Territory.

{{Weather box|location = Alice Springs Airport (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1941–present)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|width= auto
|Jan record high C = 45.6
|Feb record high C = 44.7
|Mar record high C = 44.5
|Apr record high C = 39.9
|May record high C = 35.0
|Jun record high C = 31.6
|Jul record high C = 31.8
|Aug record high C = 36.6
|Sep record high C = 38.8
|Oct record high C = 42.6
|Nov record high C = 44.9
|Dec record high C = 45.7
|Jan high C = 37.1
|Feb high C = 35.8
|Mar high C = 33.5
|Apr high C = 29.3
|May high C = 23.6
|Jun high C = 20.1
|Jul high C = 20.7
|Aug high C = 23.5
|Sep high C = 28.8
|Oct high C = 31.9
|Nov high C = 34.4
|Dec high C = 35.7
|Jan mean C = 29.7
|Feb mean C = 28.5
|Mar mean C = 25.7
|Apr mean C = 21.1
|May mean C = 15.8
|Jun mean C = 12.4
|Jul mean C = 12.3
|Aug mean C = 14.7
|Sep mean C = 20.0
|Oct mean C = 23.4
|Nov mean C = 26.4
|Dec mean C = 28.2
|Jan low C = 22.3
|Feb low C = 21.1
|Mar low C = 17.9
|Apr low C = 12.9
|May low C = 8.0
|Jun low C = 4.7
|Jul low C = 3.9
|Aug low C = 5.8
|Sep low C = 11.2
|Oct low C = 14.9
|Nov low C = 18.3
|Dec low C = 20.7
|Jan record low C = 10.0
|Feb record low C = 8.5
|Mar record low C = 6.1
|Apr record low C = 1.4
|May record low C = -2.7
|Jun record low C = -6.0
|Jul record low C = -7.5
|Aug record low C = -4.1
|Sep record low C = -1.0
|Oct record low C = 1.3
|Nov record low C = 3.5
|Dec record low C = 9.3
| Jan avg record high C  = 42.5
| Feb avg record high C  = 41.2
| Mar avg record high C  = 38.8
| Apr avg record high C  = 35.9
| May avg record high C  = 31.0
| Jun avg record high C  = 28.2
| Jul avg record high C  = 28.4
| Aug avg record high C  = 31.5
| Sep avg record high C  = 36.2
| Oct avg record high C  = 39.6
| Nov avg record high C  = 41.1
| Dec avg record high C  = 42.1
| year avg record high C = 43.2
| Jan avg record low C  = 15.9
| Feb avg record low C  = 14.9
| Mar avg record low C  = 10.6
| Apr avg record low C  = 6.2
| May avg record low C  = 1.7
| Jun avg record low C  = -1.4
| Jul avg record low C  = -2.1
| Aug avg record low C  = -0.9
| Sep avg record low C  = 3.2
| Oct avg record low C  = 6.9
| Nov avg record low C  = 10.8
| Dec avg record low C  = 13.2
| year avg record low C = -2.7
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 48.9
|Feb rain mm = 40.7
|Mar rain mm = 19.9
|Apr rain mm = 19.9
|May rain mm = 17.5
|Jun rain mm = 10.3
|Jul rain mm = 13.0
|Aug rain mm = 3.8
|Sep rain mm = 7.8
|Oct rain mm = 18.7
|Nov rain mm = 33.0
|Dec rain mm = 41.3
|Jan rain days = 3.7
|Feb rain days = 3.2
|Mar rain days = 2.0
|Apr rain days = 1.4
|May rain days = 1.9
|Jun rain days = 1.5
|Jul rain days = 1.4
|Aug rain days = 0.9
|Sep rain days = 1.3
|Oct rain days = 2.4
|Nov rain days = 3.9
|Dec rain days = 5.0
|unit rain days = 1 mm
|Jan afthumidity = 21
|Feb afthumidity = 26
|Mar afthumidity = 21
|Apr afthumidity = 23
|May afthumidity = 30
|Jun afthumidity = 34
|Jul afthumidity = 30
|Aug afthumidity = 22
|Sep afthumidity = 18
|Oct afthumidity = 18
|Nov afthumidity = 20
|Dec afthumidity = 23
|Jan dew point C = 6.8
|Feb dew point C = 8.6
|Mar dew point C = 5.1
|Apr dew point C = 3.4
|May dew point C = 2.7
|Jun dew point C = 2.0
|Jul dew point C = -0.2
|Aug dew point C = -2.0
|Sep dew point C = -0.9
|Oct dew point C = -0.1
|Nov dew point C = 3.6
|Dec dew point C = 5.9
|Jan percentsun = 76
|Feb percentsun = 73
|Mar percentsun = 77
|Apr percentsun = 81
|May percentsun = 78
|Jun percentsun = 78
|Jul percentsun = 85
|Aug percentsun = 89
|Sep percentsun = 84
|Oct percentsun = 80
|Nov percentsun = 75
|Dec percentsun = 72
|Jan sun = 316.2
|Feb sun = 274.0
|Mar sun = 297.6
|Apr sun = 291.0
|May sun = 266.6
|Jun sun = 252.0
|Jul sun = 285.2
|Aug sun = 313.3
|Sep sun = 303.0
|Oct sun = 316.2
|Nov sun = 297.0
|Dec sun = 294.5
|Jand sun = 10.2
|Febd sun = 9.7
|Mard sun = 9.6
|Aprd sun = 9.7
|Mayd sun = 8.6
|Jund sun = 8.4
|Juld sun = 9.2
|Augd sun = 10.1
|Sepd sun = 10.1
|Octd sun = 10.2
|Novd sun = 9.9
|Decd sun = 9.5
|Jan uv = 14
|Feb uv = 13
|Mar uv = 11
|Apr uv = 8
|May uv = 6
|Jun uv = 5
|Jul uv = 5
|Aug uv = 7
|Sep uv = 9
|Oct uv = 11
|Nov uv = 12
|Dec uv = 13

|source 1 = Australian Bureau of Meteorology<ref name="BoM" >{{cite web
| url = http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=015590&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=large
| title = Climate statistics for Australian locations- Alice Springs Airport
| date = Apr 2022}}</ref><ref name="bom_climate_averages">[http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/climate_averages/uv-index/index.jsp Average solar ultraviolet (UV) Index] Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 17 October 2022.</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/
|title = Climate data online (Site number: 015590)
|publisher = Bureau of Meteorology
|access-date = 28 Jun 2025}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|align=right
|footnote=Source: [[Australian Bureau of Statistics|ABS]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/UCL712001|title=2021 Alice Springs, Census All persons QuickStats &#124; Australian Bureau of Statistics|website=abs.gov.au|accessdate=6 April 2023}}</ref> (Urban Centres and Localities)
|2001 | 23384
|2006 | 21622
|2011 | 24208
|2016 | 23726
|2021 | 24855
}}

According to the [[2021 Australian census|2021 census]] of population, there were 24,855 people in the Alice Springs Urban Area.<ref name="census21">{{cite web |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/community-profiles/2021/UCL712001|title=Alice Springs- 2021 Census Community Profiles |access-date=24 January 2023}}</ref>
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 21.2% of the population.
* 66.7% of people were born in Australia, 3.9% in India, 3.3% in New Zealand, 2.7% in the United States, 2.4% in England, and 2.3% in the Philippines.
* 67.6% of people spoke only English at home. Other languages spoken at home included [[Arrernte language|Arrernte]] 1.8%, [[Malayalam]] 1.8%, [[Punjabi Australians|Punjabi]] 1.7%, [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] 1.1% and Warlpiri 1.1%.
* 51.6% of the population was [[Irreligion in Australia|irreligious]] in 2021. The largest religious groups included [[Christianity in Australia|Christianity]] (41.1%), [[Hinduism in Australia|Hinduism]] (2.5%), [[Sikhism in Australia|Sikhism]] (1.5%), [[Buddhism in Australia|Buddhism]] (1.5%), and [[Islam in Australia|Islam]] (1.1%).<ref name="census21"/>[[File:John Flynn Memorial Church, Alice Springs, 2015.JPG|thumb|John Flynn Memorial Church]]

===Aboriginal population===
As Alice Springs is the regional hub of Central Australia, it attracts Aboriginal people from all over that region and well beyond. Many Aboriginal people visit regularly to use the town's services. Aboriginal residents usually live in the suburbs, on special purpose leases (or [[Alice Springs town camps|town camps]]), or further out at [[Amoonguna]] to the south and on the small family outstation communities on Aboriginal lands in surrounding areas.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}}

The traditional owners of the Alice Springs area are the [[Central Arrernte]] people.<ref>[http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/alice-springs-community/indigenous Alice Springs Community – Indigenous Services] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522013704/http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/alice-springs-community/indigenous |date=22 May 2014 }}, ''Alice Springs Town Council''</ref> As it is the largest town in central Australia, there are also speakers of [[Warlpiri language|Warlpiri]], [[Warumungu language|Warumungu]], [[Kaytetye language|Kaytetye]], [[Alyawarre]], [[Luritja]], [[Pintupi]], [[Pitjantjatjara language|Pitjantjatjara]], [[Yankunytjatjara language|Yankunytjatjara]], [[Ngaanyatjarra]], [[Pertame]], [[Eastern Arrernte|Eastern]], and [[Western Arrernte]] among others.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/about_alice/aboriginal.asp |title=Alice Springs – Aboriginal Culture |publisher=Alice Springs Town Council |date=8 June 2006 |access-date=25 November 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061218024623/http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/about_alice/aboriginal.asp |archive-date = 18 December 2006}}</ref>

===Foreign and itinerant populations===

====American population====
[[File:PineGap-sign.jpg|thumb|Prohibited Area sign on the road to Pine Gap]]

[[Americans]] have lived in Alice Springs continuously since the establishment of the United States Air Force Detachment&nbsp;421, in 1954. Currently located on Schwarz Crescent, it is part of a joint American–Australian project called the Joint Geological and Geographical Research Station (JGGRS). The unit is locally known as "Det 421" or "The Det" and has sponsored as many as 25 American families to live as temporary residents of the Alice Springs district.

To mark the longstanding friendship with the community, on 1 July 1995, the Alice Springs Town Council granted Detachment&nbsp;421 honorary [[Freedom of the City|Freedom of Entry]] to Alice Springs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Seventh Council 1992-1996|url=http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/council/council-history/seventh-council-1992-1996|website=www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au|publisher=Alice Springs Council|access-date=13 June 2017|language=en|date=18 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623133359/http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/council/council-history/seventh-council-1992-1996|archive-date=23 June 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Since the early 1970s, the majority of the American population in Alice Springs has been associated with proximity to [[Pine Gap]], a joint Australian-US satellite tracking station, located {{convert|19|km|mi}} south-west of Alice Springs, that employs about 700 Americans and Australians.

Currently, 2,000 residents of the Alice Springs district hold American citizenship. Many of these, joined by some Australians, celebrate major American public holidays, including the [[Independence Day (United States)|4th of July]] and [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]]. Americans in Alice Springs are also known to participate in a variety of associations and sporting teams, including baseball, basketball and soccer competitions.<ref name="The American Connection">{{Cite web|url=http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/about_alice/american.asp|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406081824/http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/about_alice/american.asp|url-status=dead|title=The American Connection|archivedate=6 April 2005|accessdate=6 April 2023}}</ref>

====Other cultures====
Several small immigrant communities of other foreign cultures have found a home in Alice Springs, including Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Sudanese and [[Indian people|Indian ethnic groups]]. The most obvious impact of their presence in such a small and isolated town has been the opening of various restaurants serving their traditional cuisines.

====Itinerant population====
Alice Springs has a large [[wikt:itinerant|itinerant]] population. This population is generally composed of foreign and Australian tourists, Aboriginal Australians visiting from nearby [[Central Australia]]n communities, and Australian or international workers on short-term contracts (colloquially referred to as "blow-ins"). The major sources of work that recruit workers into town are the stations, mines, healthcare and law enforcement. Foreign tourists usually pass through on their way to [[Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park]], whilst Australian tourists usually come through as a part of an event such as the [[Masters Games]] and the [[Finke Desert Race]]. These events can cause the population of the town to fluctuate by several thousand within a matter of days.

==Government==
[[File:Alice Springs Civic Centre, 2015.JPG|thumb|The Alice Springs Civic Centre is the seat of the [[Alice Springs Town Council]].]]
The [[Alice Springs Town Council]] governs the Alice Springs area, which takes in the town centre, its suburbs and some rural area. The Alice Springs Town Council has governed Alice Springs since 1971. The Alice Springs council consists of nine members: the mayor and eight [[aldermen]]. The town is not divided up into wards. The current mayor of Alice Springs is Asta Hill. Council Meetings are held on the last Monday of each month. The [[Central Australia|Alice Springs Region]] is governed by the newly created [[MacDonnell Region]] [[local government area]], for which Alice Springs serves as council seat.

Alice Springs and the surrounding region have four elected members to the [[Northern Territory Legislative Assembly]]. [[Electoral division of Araluen|Araluen]] and [[Electoral division of Braitling|Braitling]] are entirely within Alice Springs, while the mostly rural seats of [[Electoral division of Gwoja|Gwoja]] (known as [[Electoral division of Stuart|Stuart]] before 2020) and [[electoral division of Namatjira|Namatjira]] spill into the town. Historically, Alice Springs has tilted conservative. It was a stronghold for the [[Country Liberal Party]] for many years; only the northeast (part of which is in Stuart) leans [[Australian Labor Party|Labor]]. However, these trends were dramatically altered at the [[2016 Northern Territory general election|2016 election]]. Former Chief Minister and Alice Springs resident [[Adam Giles]] lost Braitling to Labor, Araluen was retained by CLP-turned-independent [[Robyn Lambley]], and Namatjira and Stuart fell to Labor. As a result, the CLP was completely shut out of Alice Springs for the first time ever. The CLP regained Braitling and Namatjira in 2020, while Lambley retained Araluen for her party at the time, the [[Territory Alliance]].

In the [[Australian House of Representatives]], Alice Springs is part of the [[Division of Lingiari]], which includes all of the Territory outside the Darwin/Palmerston area. Lingiari is currently held by Labor member [[Marion Scrymgour]].

==Economy==
[[File:Todd Mall, 2015 (11).JPG|thumb|Todd Mall is a major commercial and retail area.]]
[[File:Alice Plaza, 2015 (02).JPG|thumb|Alice Plaza]]
Alice Springs began as a service town to the pastoral industry that first came to the region. The introduction of the rail line increased its economy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/freight/submissions/sub012/sub012main.pdf|title=Submission to the Productivity Commission: Road and Rail Freight Infrastructure Pricing|last=Great Southern Rail (Australia)|author-link=Great Southern Rail (Australia)|date=May 2006|website=Productivity Commission|publisher=[[Australian Government]]|access-date=20 April 2019}}</ref> Today the town services a region of {{convert|546046|km2|sqmi}} and a regional population of 38,749.{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}} The region includes a number of mining and pastoral communities, the Joint Defence Space Research Facility at [[Pine Gap]] and tourist attractions at [[Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park]], [[Watarrka National Park]] and the [[MacDonnell Ranges]].

The largest employer in Alice Springs is the Northern Territory Government, with 8% of employed people working in government administration, 7% in school education, and 4% in the Alice Springs Hospital.<ref name="06census" /> The economy of Alice Springs is somewhat reliant on domestic and international tourism, with 4% of its workforce employed providing accommodation.<ref name="06census" /> Several major tour companies have a base in Alice Springs, as well as numerous local operators offering tours to sites in the region, including Uluru and the MacDonnell Ranges.<ref>[https://northernterritory.com/alice-springs-and-surrounds Alice Springs and Surrounds] Alice Springs Visitor Information Centre, Tourism NT. Retrieved 12 March 2023.</ref>

A dispatch centre for the [[Royal Flying Doctor Service]] operates here.<ref>[https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/sant/ The RFDS in SA/NT > Alice Springs RFDS Base] Retrieved 12 March 2023.</ref>

==Education==
<!--- Yirara College links to this section for now--->
{{further|List of schools in the Northern Territory}}
Education is overseen territory-wide by the Department of Education and Training (DET). It works to continually improve education outcomes for all students, with a focus on Indigenous students.<ref>[http://www.detent.gov.au/education/ Department of Education and Training – About the Department] {{dead link|date=November 2010}}</ref>

Alice Springs is served by a number of public and private schools that cater to local and overseas students.

[[Alice Springs School of the Air]] delivers education to students in remote areas.

There are 10 private schools.<ref>{{cite web | title=Alice Springs Private Schools | website=Private Schools Guide | url=https://privateschoolsguide.com/alice-springs-private-schools | access-date=9 December 2022}}</ref> [[Yirara College]] is a co-educational secondary boarding school catering for around 200 Aboriginal students run by the [[Finke River Mission]]. It has another campus in [[Kintore, Northern Territory|Kintore]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Hermannsburg Historic Precinct and Finke River Mission Today | website=Hermannsburg Historic Precinct | url=https://hermannsburg.com.au/stories/hermannsburg-mission-today | access-date=9 December 2022}}</ref> (Walungurru), which has four rooms and caters for around 30 students.<ref>{{cite web | title=Kintore Campus (Walungurru) | website=Yirara College | url=https://yirara.nt.edu.au/about-us/kintore | access-date=9 December 2022}}</ref>

The Alice Springs Campus of [[Charles Darwin University]] offers courses in [[TAFE]] and higher education. The Centre for Appropriate Technology was established in 1980 and provides a range of services to encourage and help Aboriginal people enhance their quality of life in remote communities.

==Recreation and culture==

===Events and festivals===
<!---redirects target this section--->
==== Parrtjima − A Festival in Light====
[[Parrtjima  − A Festival in Light]] (pronounced ''par-chee-ma''<ref name=news>{{cite web | last=McMillan | first=Isabel | title=Stunning scenes from unique Aussie festival | website=[[news.com]] | date=8 April 2023 | url=https://www.news.com.au/national/northern-territory/spectacular-scenes-from-opening-night-of-parrtjima-a-festival-in-light/news-story/aa67b13757479a09156e4d3b6b46edc8 | access-date=9 April 2023}}</ref>) subtitled − A Festival in Light, takes place over 10 days each April in the desert outside Alice Springs. The name means "shedding both light and understanding" in the local [[Arrernte language]], and the festival aims "to celebrate the oldest continuous cultures in the world through the latest technology". It includes light shows, artworks, storytelling, and other manifestations of [[Aboriginal Australian culture]],<ref name=tg/> and both [[Alice Springs Desert Park]] and at the [[Araluen Arts Centre]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Festival Venues – Parrtjima | website=Parrtjima | date=15 March 2023 | url=https://parrtjimaaustralia.com.au/information/venues/ | access-date=9 April 2023}}</ref> are also venues for interactive workshops, Indigenous music and dance, films by Aboriginal filmmakers, and talks. The festival, which has free admission,<ref name=tg>{{cite web | title=Alice Springs Events: Parrtjima – A Festival in Light | website=Alice Springs Travel Guide | url=https://www.alicesprings.com/events/parrtjima-a-festival-in-light | access-date=9 April 2023}}</ref><ref name=news/> has run annually since 2016.<ref>{{cite web | last=Bremer | first=Rudi | title=Parrtjima: A Festival in Light | website=[[ABC Radio National]] |format=audio + text| date=8 April 2023 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/awaye/parrtjima-a-festival-in-light/102199118 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409054638/https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/awaye/parrtjima-a-festival-in-light/102199118 | archive-date=9 April 2023 | url-status=live | access-date=9 April 2023}}</ref>

In 2022, the festival was curated for the fifth time by [[Rhoda Roberts]]. It featured a {{convert|2|km|adj=on}} stretch of light installations; musical acts [[Dan Sultan]], [[BARKAA]], and [[King Stingray]]; and a [[retrospective]] of the work of Indigenous filmmaker [[Warwick Thornton]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Parrtjima Festival Lights Up the MacDonnell Ranges With Aboriginal Art, but It's More Than "Vivid in the Desert" | website=[[Broadsheet (website)|Broadsheet]]| date=15 March 2022 | url=https://www.broadsheet.com.au/national/travel/article/parrtjima-festival-lights-macdonnell-ranges-aboriginal-art-its-so-much-more-vivid-desert | access-date=9 April 2023}}</ref>

In 2023, Roberts once again curated Parrtjima. The festival featured the artwork which women artists of [[Mutitjulu#Art centre|Mutitjulu]] had created for the ''[[Uluru Statement from the Heart]]'',<ref name=rn>{{cite web | title=Parrtjima light festival kicks off in Alice Springs | website= [[ABC News (Australia)]]| format=video | date=8 April 2023 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-08/parrtjima-light-festival-kicks-off-in-alice-springs/102202474 | access-date=9 April 2023}}</ref> led by [[Rene Kulitja]], as a huge immersive light installation. The theme of the festival is "Listen with the heart", and musicians performing at the festival include [[Richard Frankland]] and [[JK-47]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Parrtjima Festival in Light returns | website=[[National Indigenous Times]] | date=28 February 2023 | url=https://nit.com.au/28-02-2023/5120/parrtjima-festival-in-light-returns | access-date=9 April 2023}}</ref>

==== Other events ====
[[File:CamelCup3162.jpg|thumb|Camel Cup, Alice Springs]]
The town's focal point, the [[Todd Mall]], hosts a number of Aboriginal art galleries and community events. Alice Springs' desert lifestyle has inspired several unique events, such as the Alice Desert Festival, the Red Centre NATS, Blacken Open Air music festival, the [[Camel Cup]], the [[Henley-on-Todd Regatta]], the [[Beanie Festival]], and the [[Finke Desert Race]]. The Finke Desert Race is a "there and back" challenge from Alice Springs to [[Aputula]] (Finke) Community, covering a {{convert|460|km|adj=on}} round trip.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://finkedesertrace.com.au/about-us|title=About Us - Contact, Business, Media, Membership, Sponsors, Volunteers - Tatts Finke Desert Race|publisher=Finke Desert Race Inc.|access-date=4 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802125116/https://finkedesertrace.com.au/about-us|archive-date=2 August 2017}}</ref>

=== Arts and entertainment ===
[[File:Araluen Arts Centre.JPG|thumb|[[Araluen Cultural Precinct|Araluen Centre for Arts and Entertainment]] ]]
===={{anchor|art}}Galleries and museums====
Alice Springs is home to many local and Aboriginal art galleries.<ref name="General Information"/> Several galleries showcase [[Indigenous Australian art]]. Trade in Aboriginal art soared after the painting movement began at [[Papunya]], a Central Australian Aboriginal settlement, and swept other Indigenous communities. Central Australia is the home of some of the most prominent names in Aboriginal art, including [[Emily Kngwarreye]], [[Minnie Pwerle]], [[Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri]], [[Albert Namatjira]], and [[Wenten Rubuntja]].
[[File:Alice Springs Convention Centre, 2015.JPG|thumb|Alice Springs Convention Centre]]
The Museum of Central Australia / Strehlow Research Centre<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nretas.nt.gov.au/arts-and-museums/ascp/mca|title=Museum of Central Australia - NRETAS Internet Site|date=26 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426081721/http://www.nretas.nt.gov.au/arts-and-museums/ascp/mca |accessdate=6 April 2023|archive-date=26 April 2012 }}</ref> features some of the most important natural history and archival materials tied to the history and culture of the region. The Strehlow Archives, containing the work of [[Carl Strehlow]], also contain materials linked to the Arrernte people of Central Australia.

The [[Araluen Centre for Arts and Entertainment]] presents world-class ballets and orchestras, as well as local performances.

The Women's Museum of Australia (formerly [[National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame]]) is located in the grounds of Old Alice Springs Gaol in the Heritage Precinct. Here women's stories from across Australia are presented with the lives of outback women as well as stories from the Old Gaol and Labour Prison. Objects include a large "Signature" quilt<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wmoa.com.au/collection/objects/npwhf1291-signature-quilt|title=NPWHF1291 - Signature Quilt &#124; Women's Museum of Australia|website=wmoa.com.au|accessdate=6 April 2023}}</ref> with signatures of over 300 women first in their field and a 4.2 m long Aviatrix tapestry celebrating the high flying lives of Australia's women aviators.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wmoa.com.au/herstory2017/exhibition?category=aviatrix-tapestry|title=Women's Museum of Australia|website=wmoa.com.au|accessdate=6 April 2023}}</ref>

The town has some excellent small museums. The extensive collection at the Old Timer's Traeger Museum on the North Stuart Highway includes artefacts from the town's early Afghan and German residents, traditional Aboriginal artefacts and objects which show the early fusion of European and Aboriginal cultures, such as a [[Spinifex resin|spinifex]]-handled glass-bladed knife. Included in the collection are [[soapstone]] carvings by Arrernte artist [[Erlikilyika]].<ref name=Megg>{{cite web|url=https://territorystories.nt.gov.au/10070/671315/0/0 |hdl=10070/230199 |first=Megg|last=Kelham|title=A Museum in Finke: An Aputula Heritage Project|pages=1–97|date= November 2010|access-date=11 May 2019}}</ref>
[[File:Alice Springs Public Library.jpg|thumb|[[Alice Springs Public Library]]]]

====Library, archives, and other collections ====
Alice Springs is home to the [[Alice Springs Public Library]], also known as the Nevil Shute Memorial Library.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About the l|url=https://alicesprings.nt.gov.au/recreation/library|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Alice Springs Town Council|language=en-AU}}</ref> The library, in addition to its general borrowable collections (including e-resources), is also home to two special, not-for-loan, collections. These are the Alice Springs Collection and the Akaltye Atheme Collection, both of which specifically collect Central Australian content, including Aboriginal language resources (from around 16 local languages) and cultural heritage information.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Catalogue and Research|url=https://alicesprings.nt.gov.au/recreation/library/catalogue-and-research|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Alice Springs Town Council|language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Senior|first=Denise|date=March 2007|title=Giving Indigenous Knowledge: The Akaltye Antheme Collection, Alice Springs Public Library |url=https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/ielapa.347150294724689|journal=Australasian Public Libraries and Information Services|volume=20 |issue=1 |pages=28–33 |language=EN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Blackburn|first=Fiona|date=2009-08-01|title=Learning on the job: collection management, and aspects of cross-cultural provision|journal=The Australian Library Journal|volume=58|issue=3 |pages=312–325|doi=10.1080/00049670.2009.10735908|issn=0004-9670|doi-access=free}}</ref> The Alice Springs Collection also holds a significant digital collection, including PDF copies of the ''[[Centralian Advocate]]'' from 1947 to 2015, and over 6000 images, primarily from the Central Australian Historical Images Collection.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Alice Springs Collection - Directory of Archives in Australia |url=https://directory.archivists.org.au/index.php/alice-springs-collection|access-date=2021-05-24|website=directory.archivists.org.au}}</ref>

[[Library & Archives NT]] also has offices in Alice Springs, located at Minerals House on Hartley Street, which holds archival collections relating to Central Australia, including [[Tennant Creek]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=About the Library {{!}} Northern Territory Library |url=https://ntl.nt.gov.au/about-library|access-date=2021-05-24|website=ntl.nt.gov.au|archive-date=9 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609163549/https://ntl.nt.gov.au/about-library|url-status=dead}}</ref> Collections held here include community collections and government archives.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our Services {{!}} Northern Territory Library |url=https://ntl.nt.gov.au/our-services|access-date=2021-05-24|website=ntl.nt.gov.au |archive-date=24 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524120300/https://ntl.nt.gov.au/our-services|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[AIATSIS Central Australia]] provides access to the major online repositories held by the [[Canberra]]-based [[Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies]], including family history, photographs, and other publications and artefacts.<ref name=allison2024/><ref name=revitalise/><ref name=brennan2024>{{cite web | last=Brennan | first=Dechlan | title=AIATSIS expansion sees priceless collection of Indigenous artefacts on display in Mparntwe for the first time | website=[[National Indigenous Times]] | date=2 February 2024 | url=https://nit.com.au/02-02-2024/9585/aiatsis-expansion-sees-priceless-collection-of-indigenous-artefacts-on-display-in-mparntwe-for-the-first-time | access-date=7 February 2024}}</ref>

Other collecting institutions, excluding schools, include:
* Arid Zone Research Institute (AZRI) Library<ref>{{Cite web|last=Government|first=Northern Territory|date=2018-03-05|title=Library services|url=https://industry.nt.gov.au/publications/primary-industry-publications/library-services|access-date=2021-05-24|website=industry.nt.gov.au|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education]] Library, Desert Peoples Centre Campus Library<ref>{{Cite web|title=Batchelor Institute » Library|url=https://www.batchelor.edu.au/library/|access-date=2021-05-24|website=www.batchelor.edu.au}}</ref>
* [[Central Land Council]] Library<ref>{{Cite web|title=Central Land Council Library -- Central Land Council|url=https://librarytechnology.org/library/35212|access-date=2021-05-24|website=librarytechnology.org}}</ref>
* [[Charles Darwin University]] Library<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alice Springs library|url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/library/opening-hours/alice-springs-library|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Charles Darwin University|language=en}}</ref>
* NT Department of Health Library<ref>{{Cite web|last=McKey|first=A'Mhara|title=Health Library: LIBRARY WEBSITE: Home|url=https://library.health.nt.gov.au/libraryservices/home|access-date=2021-05-24|website=library.health.nt.gov.au|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Strehlow Research Centre]] Library<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Strehlow Research Centre {{!}} Araluen Arts Centre |url=https://araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au/strehlow-research-centre|access-date=2021-05-24 |website=araluenartscentre.nt.gov.au}}</ref>

===Outdoors===
Leisure and entertainment activities include hiking in the nearby [[MacDonnell Ranges]] and driving the four-wheel-drive tracks at [[Finke Gorge National Park]].

====Parks and gardens====
The [[Alice Springs Desert Park]] was created to educate visitors about the many facets of the surrounding desert environment. The arid climate botanic garden, [[Olive Pink Botanic Garden]], is a short distance from the town centre. They were named after anthropologist, naturalist and artist [[Olive Pink]], who lived in the town for almost 30 years and died in 1975. She was well known locally and referred to by all as Miss Pink. The [[Alice Springs Reptile Centre]] is located in the town centre.

====Sport====
{{Main|Sport in the Northern Territory}}

{{cite section|date=December 2022}}

[[File:Traeger Park 4916.jpg|thumb|right|Traeger Park, Alice Springs]]

Alice Springs has a high rate of participation in many different sports, including [[Australian rules football|Australian rules]], baseball, basketball, boxing, [[cricket]], [[Association football|football]], golf, hockey, [[rugby union|rugby]] and tennis.

Australian rules is a particularly popular sport in Alice Springs in terms of both participation and as a [[spectator sport]]. The [[Central Australian Football League]] formed in 1947 has several teams. The sport is particularly popular in Indigenous communities. The local stadium, [[Traeger Park]], has a 10,000 seat capacity and was designed to host (pre-season) [[Australian Football League|AFL]] and was the home to the [[Northern Territory Thunder]] until 2019. In 2004, an AFL pre-season Regional Challenge match between [[Collingwood Football Club]] and [[Port Adelaide Football Club]] attracted a capacity sell-out crowd.

[[Association football]] is popular among the younger community. A high number of children play the game. It is also played frequently by amateur adults in different divisions. There is also an all-African league in Alice Springs. 

Both codes of Rugby are played in Alice Springs. [[Rugby union]], managed by the Central Australian Rugby Union Association (CARU) is played in conjunction with the Northern Territory Rugby Union calendar which runs during Darwins dry season. The [[Central Australian Rugby Union]] administers a four team competition based in Alice Springs with matches played between October and March at [[ANZAC Oval]]. The First Central Australian Club Competition commenced in 1986. There are four senior teams; Dingo Cubs Rugby Union, Kiwi Warriors Rugby Union, Eagles Rugby Union and Devils Rugby Union.

[[Rugby league]] has been a part of the local sporting scene since 1963. The Australian Rugby League has held a number of pre-season games in Alice Springs, at [[ANZAC Oval]]. The local competition is the [[Central Australian Rugby Football League|Central Australian Rugby League]] and sanctions both Junior and Senior Rugby League matches. The season usually kicks off around March/April and runs through to Late August. There are four senior teams in Alice Springs: Wests, Memo, United and Vikings. Matches are held during the winter months at ANZAC oval on Saturday afternoons.

Cricket is a popular sport in Alice Springs and is primarily played at Traeger Park. The [[Imparja Cup]] Cricket Carnival first was played in 1994 and attracts Indigenous teams from all across Australia. The four main clubs are Federal Demons CC, Rovers CC, RSL Works CC and Wests CC.

Organized baseball has been played in Alice Springs since the mid-1950s. Currently under the national organisation of the [[Australian Baseball Federation]], the Alice Springs Baseball Association organises baseball competitions for youth players aged 5 to 18 and an adult competition played at Jim McConville Park and on Lyel Kempster Field at Traeger Park. As part of the worldwide [[Little League]] network, Alice Springs players and compete in the Australian National Little League competitions.

The [[Alice Springs Golf Course]], an 18-hole championship layout golf course designed by the architects Thomson Wolveridge, was opened in 1985 by a challenge match between top professionals Greg Norman and Johnny Miller. The course record of 64 is held jointly by, amateur members, Leigh Shacklady and Kerryn Heaver, beating professional Stuart Appleby's 65. Adam Scott won the Australian Boys Amateur Championship held there in 1997.

The Traeger Park sporting complex also hosts tennis, baseball, boxing, swimming, [[canoe polo]], hockey, basketball, squash, badminton, gymnastics and skateboarding.

A unique sporting event, held annually, is the [[Henley-on-Todd Regatta]], also known as the [[Todd River]] Race. It is a sand river race with bottomless boats and it remains the only dry river [[regatta]] in the world. Another unusual sporting event is the [[Camel Cup]]. The annual Camel Cup is held in July at Blatherskite Park, part of the Central Australian Show Society grounds. It is a full day event featuring a series of races using [[camel]]s instead of horses.

Every year, on the Queen's Birthday long weekend, the annual [[Finke Desert Race]] is held. It is a gruelling off-road race that runs from Alice Springs to the Finke community, then back again the next day. The total length of the race is roughly {{convert|500|km|mi|-1}}. It attracts spectators, who camp along the whole length of the track, and roughly 500 competitors, buggies and bikes, every year, making it the biggest sporting event in the Alice Springs calendar.

Drag racing is held at the [[Alice Springs Inland Dragway]] which in June 2013 hosted a round of the national Aeroflow Sportsman Drag Racing Championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://andra.com.au/series/calendar.html |title=ANDRA Drag Racing Series and Aeroflow Sportsman Championship |access-date=7 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817073336/http://andra.com.au/series/calendar.html |archive-date=17 August 2013 }} Australian National Drag Racing Association Calendar</ref> In September 2017 12 people were injured when burning fuel sprayed from a drag-racing car onto a crowd of spectators at the [[Red CentreNATS]] competition.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-41144129|title=Burning fuel hits crowd at Australia event|work=BBC News|date=4 September 2017|access-date=20 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803123718/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-41144129|archive-date=3 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Alice Springs is also home to the [[Arunga Park Speedway]], a 402-metre [[Oval track racing|dirt oval]] speedway. The speedway runs from August to March and caters to cars, [[Motorcycle speedway|solos]] and [[Sidecar speedway|sidecars]]. Located just off the Stuart Highway on the northern edge of the town, Arunga Park hosted the [[Australian Sidecar Speedway Championship|Australian Sidecar Championship]] in 1985 and the [[Australian Individual Speedway Championship|Australian Solo Championship]] in [[1991 Australian Individual Speedway Championship|1991]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arungaparkspeedway.com.au/index.php|title=Acquiring a Bike Permit|work=Arunga Park Speedway –Motorbikes|access-date=26 September 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130926091310/http://www.arungaparkspeedway.com.au/index.php|archive-date=26 September 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Crime ==
{{Main|Crime in the Northern Territory#Alice Springs}}

[[File:Law Courts, Alice Springs, 2015.JPG|thumb|Law Courts building]]

Property crime and violent crime, including [[domestic violence]], often linked to [[alcohol and crime|alcohol and drug abuse]], has been a significant social issue in Alice Springs in the 21st century, with most of the victims being residents of the town. Many approaches and programs have been tried over the years, with varying levels of success. After crime in the town rose dramatically since the [[Northern Territory Government]] lifted alcohol bans for many communities in 2022,<ref>{{Citation |title=Alice Springs crime rate soars after alcohol ban lifts |date=2023-01-22 |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/crime/alice-springs-crime-rate-soars-after-alcohol-ban-lifts/video/3b15315ab5ee71208b19bc9bb35807a7|access-date=2023-01-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-22 |title=Northern Territory MP blasts state government inaction as crime wave sweeps Alice Springs |url=https://www.3aw.com.au/northern-territory-mp-blasts-state-government-inaction-as-crime-wave-sweeps-alice-springs/ |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=3AW }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-20 |title=NT government issues ultimatum to alcohol retailers amid Alice Springs crime wave |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jan/20/nt-government-issues-ultimatum-to-alcohol-retailers-amid-alice-springs-wave |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> the bans were reintroduced in early 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last=Collard |first=Sarah |date=6 February 2023 |title=NT reinstates alcohol bans in effort to curb crime surge in Alice Springs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/06/nt-reinstates-alcohol-bans-in-effort-to-curb-surge-in-alice-springs |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=6 June 2023}}</ref>

In 2024, a [[2024 Alice Springs curfews|series of curfews]] were introduced to combat crime.

==In popular culture==
* The TV series ''[[Pine Gap (TV series)|Pine Gap]]'' (2018) is set around the Australian and American joint defence intelligence facility at [[Pine Gap]], located near Alice Springs.
* [[Liz Phair]] included a song called "Alice Springs" on her 1994 album ''Whip Smart''.
* The group [[Midnight Oil]] mention Alice Springs in their songs "[[Red Sails in the Sunset (album)|Kosciusko]]" and "[[The Real Thing (Midnight Oil album)|Warakurna]]" ('There is enough in Redfern as there is in Alice'); and they mention Pine Gap in "[[Power and the Passion (song)|Power and the Passion]]".
* The well-known Australian song "[[My Island Home]]" was originally written about the experience of an islander living "west of Alice Springs", and this is mentioned in the lyrics of the original [[Warumpi Band]] version of the song.
* [[Nevil Shute]]'s novel ''[[A Town Like Alice]]'', and the resulting film and television mini-series, take their name from Alice Springs, although little of the action takes place there, because part of the story is set in Willstown (possibly modelled on Burketown) situated north of Alice Springs, near the [[Gulf of Carpentaria]]. The heroine, Jean, wants to change Willstown into a town "like" Alice. The local library in Alice Springs is named after Nevil Shute: the [[Alice Springs Public Library|Nevil Shute Memorial Library]].
* Lasseters Casino in Alice Springs is the destination for the drag queen protagonists in the Australian [[road movie]] ''[[The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert]].'' The movie [[Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (musical)|became a hit West End show]], before transferring to Broadway.
* The [[Western film|Western genre]] film ''[[Quigley Down Under]]'' was filmed on location in Alice Springs.
* Alice Springs is featured in [[Bruce Chatwin]]'s 1987 [[Travel literature|travelogue]] ''[[The Songlines]]'', recounting the author's retreat into the [[Australian Outback]] in search of the [[Australian Aborigines|Aboriginals]]' [[The Dreaming|Dreaming-tracks]].
* Alice Springs is featured in [[Bill Bryson]]'s 2000 travelogue ''Down Under'' (also known as "In a Sunburned Country"). Bryson visits and describes the scenes of Alice Springs including the Telegraph Office, the Springs, and his trip to Uluru from Alice Springs.
* [[Dick Diver]] released a song called "Alice" on the 2013 album ''Calendar Days''.
* The opening track of [[Mystery Jets]]' 2011 album ''[[Serotonin (album)|Serotonin]]'' is entitled "Alice Springs", inspired by a tour in Australia.
* [[Ian Moss]] released a song called "Such a Beautiful Thing" on the 1988 album ''Matchbook'', which contains the lyrics "thinking back to Alice Springs". He has stated that he wrote the song as a tribute to the Northern Territory.

* The 2011 video game [[Resistance 3]] features a multiplayer map set in Alice Springs in a post-apocalyptic alternate history version of 1957

==Media==
{{Update|section|date=July 2015}}
[[File:Imparja Television building, Alice Springs, 2015.JPG|thumb|Imparja Television studios]]

Alice Springs is served by both local and national radio and television services. The government-owned [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] provides five broadcast radio stations; local radio [[783 ABC Alice Springs|ABC Alice Springs]] and the national networks [[Radio National|ABC Radio National]], [[ABC NewsRadio|ABC News Radio]], [[ABC Classic]] and [[Triple J]]. The national Christian radio network [[Vision Christian Radio|Vision Radio]] broadcasts on 88.0 FM.

Commercial radio stations are [[8HA]] [[900 AM#Australia|900]] [[Hertz|kHz]], [[Sun 96.9]] [[Megahertz|MHz]] and [[Tourist Gold|Gold]] 98.7 [[Megahertz|MHz]]. The sports station [[RadioTAB|TAB Radio]] can be heard on 95.9 [[Community radio]] is provided by [[8CCC]] [[102.1 FM#Australia|102.1]] and [[Indigenous Australians|Indigenous]] broadcaster [[Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association|CAAMA Radio]] [[100.5 FM#Australia|100.5]]

Alice Springs is home to Australia's largest Indigenous media company. The Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association (CAAMA) consists of a radio station (CAAMA Radio), music recording label (CAAMA Music), television and film production company (CAAMA Productions) and CAAMA technical. CAAMA serves to record and promote Indigenous talent across its own radio network (one of the largest transmission footprints in the world), and through sales of CDs and screening of CAAMA movies and documentaries on national broadcasters.

Five broadcast television services operate in Alice Springs – commercial stations [[Imparja Television]] ([[callsign]] IMP-9), [[QQQ|Seven Central]] (QQQ-31) and [[CDT (TV station)|10 Central]] (CDT-5), along with the Government-owned [[ABC TV (Australian TV channel)|ABC TV]] (ABAD7) and [[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS TV]] (SBS28). Imparja Television has a commercial agreement with the [[Nine Network]]. Seven Central is an owned and operated station of the [[Seven Network]]. 10 Central transmits programming from the [[Network 10|10 Network]].

[[Imparja Television]] is operated from studios in Alice Springs. It has a program affiliation contract with the [[Nine Network]]. The programming schedule on Imparja is the same as Nine Darwin [[NTD (Australian TV station)|NTD-8]] and Channel 9 Brisbane, with variations in Imparja's schedule for [[Association football|football]], [[cricket]], [[rugby league]] and [[Australian rules football|Australian rules]]. The children's show ''Yamba's Playtime'', news, regional weather, and other programs produced in Alice Springs by the station. Infomercials are shown in place of Home Shopping and other programs overnight and in some daytime timeslots. [[National Indigenous Television|NITV]] is broadcast on the second channel allocated to Imparja by the Federal Government.

Indigenous community TV station [[Indigenous Community Television|ICTV]] is also broadcast in Alice Springs as retransmitted on digital channel 37.

From June 2020 until August 2023 no local newspaper was published in Alice Springs, following the closure of the ''[[Centralian Advocate]]'' after 76 years of publication.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page5331619|title=Centralian Advocate|website=National Library of Australia|publisher=Centralian Advocate}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-26/last-printed-edition-of-alice-springs-local-paper-hits-stands/12395230|title=Alice Springs Centralian Advocate paper hits the stands for the last time after more than 70 years' circulation|website=ABC News|date=26 June 2020 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> The rival ''Alice Springs News'' ceased being printed in 2011, but continues publishing occasional articles online and maintains an article archive.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://alicespringsnews.com.au/about-us/|title=About us - Alice Springs News|website=Alice Springs News|date=31 May 2020 |access-date=3 September 2023}}</ref> In June 2023 the Today News Group announced it would start publishing a new weekly newspaper serving Alice Springs,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-21/centralian-today-newspaper-to-launch-in-alice-springs/102495582|title=The Centralian Today, based in Alice Springs, to launch as newspaper and online news service|last=Robinson|first=Lee|date=21 June 2023|website=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=3 September 2023}}</ref> and on 31 August 2023 the inaugural edition of ''The Centralian Today'' was published.<ref>{{cite web|date=31 August 2023|title=The Centralian Today - 31st August 2023|url=https://centraliantoday.com.au/all-digital-editions/the-centralian-today-31st-august-2023/|website=The Centralian Today}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==

===Transport===
[[File:Ghan at Alice Springs.jpg|thumb|''[[The Ghan]]'' at [[Alice Springs railway station]]]]
[[File:Alice Springs airport (3335054258).jpg|thumb|[[Alice Springs Airport]]]]
[[Alice Springs railway station]] is served by ''[[The Ghan]]'' on its weekly journey from [[Adelaide Parklands Terminal|Adelaide]] to [[Darwin railway station|Darwin]].<ref>[https://www.journeybeyondrail.com.au/guest-information/timetables/the-ghan-2024-timetable/ The Ghan 2024/2025 Timetable] [[Journey Beyond]]</ref>

The [[narrow gauge]] [[Central Australia Railway]] opened to Alice Springs in 1929.<ref>The Demise of the Central Australia Railway ''[[Australian Railway History|Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]]'' issue 699 January 1996 page 10</ref> It was replaced by the present [[Darwin railway line|standard gauge line]] in 1980 which was extended to Darwin in 2004.<ref>Standard Gauge Reaches Alice Springs ''[[Network (periodical)|Network]]'' November 1980 page 5</ref><ref>Ceremony marks new service to the Alice ''[[Australian Transport]]'' January 1981 page 14</ref><ref>Australia's last frontier is conquered ''[[Railway Gazette International]]'' February 2002 page 77</ref>

[[Greyhound Australia]] operate express coach services from Alice Springs to [[Adelaide Central bus station|Adelaide]] and Darwin.<ref>[https://documents.greyhound.com.au/common/timetables/Adelaide-Alice_Springs.pdf Adelaide - Alice Springs timetable] [[Greyhound Australia]]</ref><ref>[https://documents.greyhound.com.au/common/timetables/Alice_Springs-Darwin.pdf Alice Springs - Darwin timetable] Greyhound Australia</ref> Local bus services are operated by [[CDC Northern Territory]].<ref>[https://cdcnorthernterritory.com.au/travel-info/timetables-and-maps/alice-springs/ Alice Springs] [[CDC Northern Territory]]</ref>

The [[Stuart Highway]], running north from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs, is Northern Territory's most important road. The distance from Alice Springs to Adelaide is {{convert|1530|km|mi}} and to Darwin is {{convert|1498|km|mi}}.<ref>The Stuart Highway ''[[Truck & Bus Transportation]]'' December 1977 page 67</ref>

Flights from [[Alice Springs Airport]] to [[Adelaide Airport|Adelaide]], [[Brisbane Airport|Brisbane]], [[Darwin Airport|Darwin]], [[Melbourne Airport|Melbourne]] and [[Sydney Airport|Sydney]] are operated by [[Airnorth]], [[Alliance Airlines]], [[Qantas]] and [[Virgin Australia]].<ref>[https://www.alicespringsairport.com.au/traveller/flights/airlines Airlines] [[Alice Springs Airport]]</ref>

Alice Springs is a base for the [[Royal Flying Doctor Service]].<ref>[https://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/sant/ Alice Springs RFDS Base] [[Royal Flying Doctor Service]]</ref>

==Sister cities==
* {{flagicon|Afghanistan}} [[Paghman]], Afghanistan, since January 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/news/newsItem.asp?date=050809&txt=Ali |title=Alice Springs – Sister city media release |publisher=Alice Springs Town Council |date=9 August 2005 |access-date=5 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820223023/http://www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/news/newsItem.asp?date=050809&txt=Ali |archive-date=20 August 2006 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{portal|Australia|Oceania}}
*[[Adelaide House (Alice Springs)]]
*[[Alice Springs Correctional Centre]]
*[[Alice Springs Juvenile Holding Centre]]
* [[Joint Geological and Geophysical Research Station]]
* [[Kings Canyon (Northern Territory)]]
*[[Women's Museum of Australia|National Pioneer Women's Hall of Fame]]
*[[Pioneer Theatre]]
*[[St. Mary's Hostel (Alice Springs)]]
*[[Stuart Arms Hotel]]
*[[Stuart Town Gaol]]
*[[The Bungalow]]
* [[The Residency, Alice Springs|The Residency]]
*[[Totem Theatre]]
* [[List of films and TV series shot in Alice Springs]]
* ''[[Socrates in Love|Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World]]''—Japanese film using Alice Springs as a location
* {{C|Suburbs of Alice Springs}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name="06census">{{Census 2006 AUS|id=LGA70200|name=Alice Springs (T) (Local Government Area)|access-date=14 January 2009|quick=on}}</ref>

<ref name="Climates and Weather Explained">{{cite book | last = Linacre | first = Edward | author2 = Geerts, Bart | title = Climates and Weather Explained | publisher = Routledge | location = London | year = 1997 | page = 379 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=mkZa1KLHCAQC&pg=PA379 | isbn = 978-0-415-12519-2 | access-date = 21 September 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160624104916/https://books.google.com/books?id=mkZa1KLHCAQC&lpg=PA379&pg=PA379 | archive-date = 24 June 2016 | url-status = live }}</ref>

<ref name="General Information">{{cite web|title=General Information |url=http://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/cec/mediaevents/ATRAA-2010/general-info.html |work=Clean Energy Council |access-date=7 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100901012533/http://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/cec/mediaevents/ATRAA-2010/general-info.html |archive-date=1 September 2010 }}</ref>

<ref name="ausgeorc">{{cite book |title=The Australian Geographic Book of the Red Centre |last=Stanton |first=Jenny |year=2000 |publisher=[[Australian Geographic]] |location=Terrey Hills, New South Wales |isbn=978-1-86276-013-4 |page=75 }}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
{{wikivoyage|Alice Springs}}
* [https://alicesprings.nt.gov.au/ Alice Springs Town Council]
* {{Citation  | author1=Miller, Bob.  | title=Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 1994  | year=1994  | section=10 photographs  | publisher=  | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-142235517 | via=Trove}}
* [https://web.acma.gov.au/pls/radcom/site_search.site_lookup?pSITE_ID=53447 Radiocommunications licences in Alice Springs] on ACMA website
* [https://stratocat.com.ar/bases/4e.htm History of the stratospheric balloon launch base located in the Alice Spring airport and records of balloons launched there]

{{Northern Territory}}
{{Suburbs of the Town of Alice Springs|state=collapsed}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Alice Springs| ]]
[[Category:1872 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1872]]
[[Category:Springs of Australia]]
[[Category:Towns in the Northern Territory]]
[[Category:Former Australian capital cities]]