Alice Springs was our base for exploration of the center, so we figured that it was right and proper to spend a day seeing the sights of this town of 25,000. “The Alice” was founded in the 1870s when the overland telegraph line was constructed to link Australia with the rest of the world… and interestingly enough, while the telegraph station was called “Alice Springs” the town surrounding the station was called Stuart. The name of the town was officially changed in 1933, the year after the telegraph station went out of operation.

We visited the telegraph station historical reserve which tells the story of those who came to Alice Springs to work at the station. The interactive displays are fun… especially the one where you can try your hand at tapping out Morse code. (It’s really not as easy as it sounds!)

We also ventured out to the Adelaide House (a former hospital/hostel) that now houses the John Flynn Memorial museum. A Presbyterian minister and intellectual, John Flynn was “posted” in the outback as a recent seminary graduate and worked in numerous ways to improve the lives of those living in rural outback communities… or isolated farms. He is credited with founding the royal flying doctor service and his grave is just outside Alice topped by one of the devils marbles brought down from Tennant Creek. A pretty impressive man…. we wish that we’d had the opportunity to meet him!

Our exploration of the Alice included a climb of Anzac Hill and a good wander through the town. We visited several local dining establishments and would highly recommend the counter meals at the Todd Tavern. (The pub side is less expensive than the pub caf for the exact same servings… plus you get to hang out with the locals!) we saw a movie (Win a Date with Tad Hamilton) which lived down to our very low expectations and had our first experience (it was awful!!) with bed bugs at Melanka Lodge! (We moved hostels the next day to Elkes – much better!)