Alice Springs Town Camps


Alice Springs Town Camps, officially called Alice Springs Community Living Areas, are Aboriginal communities within Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia. Their origins vary. Many were originally designed to accommodate people visiting Alice Springs from remote communities but, for many, they have become a permanent and often generational home.

Background

Alice Springs Town Camps began as early as the 1880s when Europeans first came to Central Australia following John McDouall Stuart's expedition, which was soon followed by pastoralists and, from 1872, the telegraph line and the establishment of the Alice Springs Telegraph Station. As a direct result this Aboriginal people were forced from their lands and their camps, then called fringe camps, initially served as convenient ration distribution points and labour camps.
By the 1900s opposition to the camps grew and various measures were attempted to remove them, including forced 'evacuations' to surrounding missions, like the Sacred Heart Mission at Arltunga, 1929 and 1960. The township of Alice Springs was also declared a prohibited area for Aboriginal people from 1929-1960.
However, things changed in the 1970s when town campers begun demanding land tender, shelter and services and, in 1977, when they established the town camp governing body Tangentyere Council. Tangentyere is an Arrernte word meaning 'all speaking together'.
There are now between 1600 - 2000 people living in town camps permanently, many of whom receive many visitors from remote communities. The number of people living in the camps can almost double during major events in Alice Springs like the football carnival and the Alice Springs Show.
Each camp is a distinct Aboriginal community, based on language and kinship groups.

Existing Town Camps

The following aims to be a comprehensive list of town camps:
Town Camp NameAlternative NamePronunciationMeaningLanguageTenure
MpwetyerreAbbotts, BPUM-BUTCHER-RAHPlace nameArrernte, Warlpiri, Luritja, PitjantjatjaraSpecial purpose lease
Basso's FarmPlace nameArrernte, Kaytetye, Anmatyerre, AlywarreSpecial purpose lease
Anthelk EwlpayeCharles Creek, KunothUN-DERLK OOL-PIEGum leafArrernte, AnmatyerreSpecial purpose lease
Ilperle TyatheWarlpiriILP-ERL-A-CHATATa Away/Ti TreeWarlpiriSpecial purpose lease
KarnteKARNTAWomen's head dressLuritja, PitjantatjaraCrown lease
Hoppy'sWarlpiriSpecial purpose lease
AkngwertnarreMorris SoakUK-NOORT-NARAPlace NameArrernte, WarlpiriSpecial purpose lease
AnthepeDrive InUN-DUPPADreamtime dance, women's dancingArrernte, Warlipiri, Luritja, PitjantatjaraSpecial purpose lease
Aper-AlwerrkngePalmer'sUPPER AL-OORK-NASinewy gumArrernteSpecial purpose lease
Ewyenper AtwatyaHidden ValleyOO-YEN-PER-A TWAH-JASpearbush gapArrernte, WarlpiriSpecial purpose lease
IlperenyeOld TimersILL-PA-RINYAGreen beetleArrernte, Warlpiri, Luritja, PitjantatjaraSpecial purpose lease
InarlengeLittle SistersINN-ARLUNG-AHPorcupine, EchidnaArrernte, Warlpiri, Luritja, PitjantatjaraCrown lease
Mount NancyPlace nameArrernte, Kaytetye, Amatyerre, AlywarreSpecial purpose lease
Yarrenyty-ArltereLarapintaYARR-WRENCH ARL-DER-AHWhite devil dogArrernte, Pertame, LuritjaSpecial purpose lease
NyewenteTrucking YardsNEW-OONDAPlace nameArrernte, LuritjaSpecial purpose lease
IlparpaIL-PAR-PAYam, Bush tuckerArrernte, Pertame, LuritjaSpecial purpose lease
Ilpiye IlpiyeGolder'sILP-EE ILP-EENeedlewood bush, Women's head dressArrernte, KaytetyeSpecial purpose lease
Lhenpe ArtnweAnmatyerreLUN-PA ART-NWEEmu feathers, decoration in arm pitArrernte, Warlpiri, AnmatyerreSpecial purpose lease
AnhelkeNamatjira's/Driffen'sUN-EARL-KAFull of corkwood honeyArrernteUnofficial town camp
IrrkerlantyeWhite GateEAR-KER-LUNGEKitehawkArrernteUnofficial town camp

Notable people