Central Australia

Central Australia/Alice Springs Region is one of the five regions in the Northern Territory. The term Central Australia is used to describe an area centred on Alice Springs in Australia. It is sometimes referred to as Centralia; likewise the people of the area are sometimes called Centralians. The region is located in the southern part of the Northern Territory spanning from the west on Western Australia Border and to the east on the Queensland border.

History

George Pearce, Minister for Home and Territories in the Federal Parliament in the 1920s, thought that the Northern Territory was too large to be adequately governed, and thus for a short time a separate territory named Central Australia existed.

Central Australia, like the Northern Territory, had its own Government Resident and administration. The division was along the line of 20 degrees south, down to the South Australian border, and took effect on 1 February 1927 through the "North Australia Act 1926". However the territory lasted for less than five years, and was reincorporated into Northern Territory on 12 June 1931.

Area

The main township in "Central Australia" is Alice Springs, however this area also includes all of the desert lands surrounding it. Whilst a few of these townships (such as Barrow Creek) are stations (ranches), the vast majority of them are indigenous Australian communities. The region covers an area of 546,046 km² which is 40% of the Northern Territory.

The centre of Australia

There is no official centre of Australia. The concept has intrigued various people from the time of early European exploration. Central Mount Stuart, for example, was so-named because it was believed to stand at the geographical centre of Australia. Today, different calculations give varying results but in general they agree on the area within 200 kilometres south of Alice Springs.

Population

Alice Springs, the main focus of Central Australia, is predominantly Anglo-Celtic Australian, with approximately 25% Aboriginal population, however the surrounding communities which make up Central Australia are almost exclusively Aboriginal. Therefore, the total population of the area known as Central Australia is approximately 50% Aboriginal. This population is estimated to be approximately 60,000 people.

Local Government

The Alice Springs Region contains 19 local government areas these include:
*Aherrenge Association Incorporated Council
*Alice Springs Town Council
*Anmatjere Community Council
*Aputula Housing Association Council
*Arcyonga Council Incorporated
*Aritarlpilta Community Council
*Ikuntji Community Council Incorporated
*Imanpa Community Counccil
*Jilkminggan Community Council
*Ltyentye Purte Community Council
*Ntaria Community Council
*Nyirripi Community Incorporated Council
*Tapatjatjaka Community Council
*Urapuntja Community Council
*Wallace Rockhole Community Council
*Walungurru incorporated Council
*Watiyawanu Community Council
*Yuelamu Community Incorporated Council
*Yuendumu Community Council

ee also

*Eastern states of Australia
*Northern Australia
*Southern Australia

External links

* [http://www.nt.gov.au/business/documents/general/Central%20Region%20Snapshot%20Nov%202006.pdf Alice Springs Region Info]
* [http://www.nt.gov.au/business/services.cfm?cat5id=31 Alice Springs Region]
* [http://www.alicespringsfilmtv.com.au/_sum.asp Alice Springs Film and Television]
*cite web | author= | year=2004 | url=http://www.ga.gov.au/education/facts/dimensions/centre.htm#fivecentres | title=Centre of Australia, States and Territories | format= | work=Education/Fab Facts | publisher=Geoscience Australia | accessdate=2006-02-13 | accessyear=