Arltunga Historical Reserve

The historic Arltunga Gaol at the Arltunga Historical Reserve in Central Australia.

Arltunga is a deserted gold rush town located 110 km (68 miles) east of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory of Australia.[1]

History

Gold was observed by South Australian explorer, David Lindsay in 1887 as he trekked from Port Darwin to the coast of South Australia. Subsequently, miners flocked to the area and Arltunga became the first substantial European settlement in Central Australia.[2] The town was kept alive for a while after the initial gold rush when the South Australian Government built the Government Battery and Cyanide Works in 1898, but with the Battery's closure in 1916, the population declined to 25 by 1933.[3]

A mission for Aboriginal people called the Sacred Heart Mission was established at Arltunga in 1935 by Father P. Moloney.[4] It was moved to a more 'suitable' site at Phillipson's Block southeast of Alice Springs in 1952.[5]

Arltunga Historical Reserve was established in 1975 and comprises 5,000 ha.[2] Owing to the harshness of the climate, and the fact that local stone was used in the construction of buildings, the town is well preserved.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Arltunga Historical Reserve" (PDF). Parks and Wildlife Commission NT. Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Arltunga". Sydney Morning Herald. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Arltunga, NT". Aussie Towns. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  4. ↑ ""ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA HAS BEEN THE WAY THE BLACKS OF THE CENTRE HAVE ACCPETED THE FAITH AND LET IT SINK DEEP INTO THEIR HEARTS"—(Ft. T.) FATHER MOLONEY'S "HUNCH" HAS PAID OFF". Southern Cross. LXIV, (3247). South Australia. 12 December 1952. p. 11. Retrieved 17 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Native Mission Moves to Better Site". Advocate. LXXXV, (5064). Victoria, Australia. 14 August 1952. p. 8. Retrieved 17 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.


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