Out and about in "The Alice" - Standley Chasm and other highlights

Friday 3rd June, 2005
Alice Springs N.T.

A leisurely breakfast before heading up town for the items we were unable to locate yesterday. It’s a beautiful sunny day. Took care of the washing early and then ventured up to town to get a few personal items. We went to the old telegraph station and found it had an impressive makeover. All the buildings had been refurbished again and security glass fitted to the doorways so you could view but not enter. The self-guided walk was interesting and informative.


The old barracks building has been turned into a stolen generation display centred around the stations use as a “school” for half cast children forcible removed back in the 1930’s. There were also 1000 primary school kids gathered on the reserve next door for a carnival of some description so you could imagine the noise.

Later we took a walk around town checking out the many galleries all of which were bursting at the seams with original indigenous artworks, most at outrageous prices. Mostly all were the “dot” type works with very few original line or skeleton drawings. Often wonder just how much of the actual outrageous process charged actually end up with the creator and how much is syphoned off to the promoter/director/mentor (Usually named Fabian or Xavier and wearing a caftan or hat to add a degree of eccentric sophistication to their immaculate attire “Darling you can almost feel the lizard dreaming“).

A cup of coffee in the Todd Street Mall, back to camp for lunch and then out into the western McDonnell’s to Standley Chasm. A lovely walk and not to many about so plenty of opportunity for photographs. Took in Flynn’s grave on the way home and then picked up dinner at the local supermarket. Lamb Rogan Josh with cucumber and coriander raite.