Old Telegraph Station, Telegraph station in Alice Springs, Australia
The Old Telegraph Station comprises limestone buildings arranged around a natural water source, housing offices, residences, and maintenance structures in a compact layout. The complex reveals how the facility balanced operational requirements with accommodation for staff working in this remote location.
The station was established in 1872 and operated until 1932 as part of the Overland Telegraph Line, which linked Darwin to Adelaide and dramatically sped up communication with London. After closure, it was repurposed as a residential and educational facility serving a different purpose for many years.
The site holds special meaning for the Arrernte Aboriginal people due to Turiara, a water source central to their ceremonial life. This spring drew people to the place long before the telegraph buildings arrived.
The site welcomes visitors daily and offers the choice to explore the buildings at your own pace or join a guided tour for more detailed context. Bring plenty of water as the location sits in a hot, dry region with limited shade throughout the grounds.
After the telegraph operations ceased, the compound became known as The Bungalow, serving as a residential and educational space from 1923 to 1963. This second chapter of the site's story reveals how colonial infrastructure was repurposed in unexpected ways.
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