Alice Springs Town Centre. Araluen Cultural Centre. Araluen Cultural Centre - Alice Springs Central
Araluen Centre
Araluen Arts and Gallery centre.
 Museum
The Museum of Central Australia.
 Araluen Map
 'Araluen' is the aboriginal word for 'place of water-lilies', and was adopted as the name of Eddie Connellan's property in Larapinta Drive, from where he would operate The Centre's first airline (see separate story, Eddie Connellan).
The property, some 25 hectares, was the heart of Connellan Airways from its inception in 1939 until 1968 when the company operations moved to the existing airport.
The structures on the property were a substantial house, adjacent flats, staff flats on the northern side of the hill in the centre of the property, hangars and administration buildings. A citrus orchard and vegetable garden were nearby the house. A smaller house near the main homestead is now the headquarters for the Central Australian Folk Club. In the mid 1970's the Town Management Board proposed a sub-division on the site involving housing and high-rise flats; the creation of a park area, and retention of the Araluen Homestead and Connellan Hangars. The proposal met with strong public opposition and in 1975, 1,300 signatures were gained on a petition against the proposal by the newly formed Araluen Foundation. The foundation was successful in its compromise proposal and in 1978, two million dollars were allocated by the Government for the project which involved restoration of the Araluen Homestead, the Creation of the Central Australian Aviation Museum (which opened in 1980), and eventual construction of an Arts Centre. A Trust Director, Jonah Jones was appointed to co-ordinate the development.
In 1982 work began on the cultural centre and theatre complex, and it opened in 1983.
The Araluen Centre provides a cultural complex for the pursuit of live theatre, the arts, and craft. It is administered by the Araluen Trust. It has exhibition galleries an art gallery, a sculpture garden, and an art-craft studio.
Araluen is now part of the Alice Springs Cultural Precinct which comprises 7 distinct attractions. These are:- The Alice Springs Cultural Precinct is covered by a single entrance fee which covers all attractions which are open from 10am to 5pm daily except Chistmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day and Good Friday.
A precinct pass costs $7 adults, $4 concession, and $18 family.
Enquiries: 8951 1122

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