JAUSTRALIA
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 2 February 1987
JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY THE ACTING PRIME MINISTER, MR BOWEN
AND THE CHIW MINISTER OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY, MR HATTON
The Acting Prime Minister, Mr Bowen and the Chief Minister
of the Northern Territory, Mr Hatton today announced joint
Commonwealth/ State Bicentennial funding for three projects
in Central Australia.
The three prujects are the restoration of the Hermannsburg
mission settlement, the Ghan Railway preservation project
and the Alice Springs Telegraph Station.
The Hermannsburg mission settlement represents a unique and
fairly well preserved example of missionary contact and
influence on Aboriginal life in Australia from 1877.
The Ntaria L. and Trust and Council, who are the owners and
managers of the site, have undertaken to restore the
historic structures in recognition of their significance as
part of the cultural heritage of all Australians.
Australian Bicentennial commemorative funding will allow the
restoration and interpretation of the major historic
structures at the Hermannsburg mission settlement.
The old Ghan played an important role in the development of
Central Australia and is of ma3or historical significance to
the Northern Territory and South Australia. On 6 August,
1929 the first old Ghan train service arrived in the then
town of Stuart. The narrow gauge service was replaced in
1980 by the standard gauge line which connects Alice Springs
to Adelaide.
Some 30 kilometres of the old Ghan railway between
macdonnell Siding and Ewaninga Siding is being restored with
the support of Australian Bicentennial funding. Its
operation as a tourist attraction will commence in 1988 on
the 59th anniversary of the inaugural old Ghan service.
The Alice Springs Telegraph Station project will provide the
opportunity for a 24 hour live-in experience for school
classes at the old telegraph station, five kilometres from
the centre of Alice Springs.
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Activities for school children will provide an authentic
historic experience in demonstrating an important facet of
early development in the Alice Springs area. The facilities
will also continue to be available to all sections of the
community and visitors to the Northern Territory.
Mr Boweli said that the Commonwealth was pleased to support
three such diverse and distinctive projects in the Alice
Springs region which will preserve important facets of the
region's development.
Mr Hatton said that the projects represent significant
aspects of the region's history. It is also pleasing to
note that the restoration of the Hermannsburg mission
settlement will be undertaken by the Ntaria Council. i LI