Mparntwe is the Arrente aboriginal tribal name for Alice Springs. This area is a significant cultural and survival place for the adjoining Aboriginal tribal and clan groupings. Alice Springs telegraph station was established in 1871 on the banks of the Todd river. It was believed to be a fresh water spring. A dry sand bed today. This was a repeater station for the telegraph line connecting Australia to England via Dutch Indonesia, India and British possessions in Middle East and Europe. Quite the technical advancement at this time from 4 months to about 12 hours to send a message. Alice Springs has quite the history and some not very pretty. This is rugged territory sporting quite harsh weather and conflict between the white men to the indigenous people. A topic to read more if you are interested.
Dinner tonight at our hotel. Tomorrow lots on deck so be sure to read the next episode!
Beautiful GUMS....ask about the boat races on the Todd !!!
ReplyDeleteExcuse me..your drinking ginger beer?? (Good ginger beer though)