Owen Springs is significant for a number of reasons:
- The Waterhouse Ranges (Urenhe Pwetere in Central Arrernte) are full of Aboriginal sacred sites, Dreaming Stories, rock art and occupation sites, and remain sacred to the Arrernte (Aboriginal) people of this area today
- Charles MacDouall Stuart came through here on his trans-continental crossings, following the Hugh River
- The original Overland Telegraph Line came through the Waterhouse Ranges and then turned east to Alice Springs from here
- The first European homestead in Central Australia was established here in 1873.
The Old Owen Springs Homestead marks the site of the first and second homesteads built on the property by William Gilbert, who took up the lease in 1873. The original homestead on this site was built of wood and mud, and was later replaced by the stone building which still stands today. The property was bought and sold a number of times over the years, and its owners included Sir Thomas Elder (of Elders Rural fame), the cattle king, Sir Sidney Kidman, and more recently, the Hayes family, who are related to the Hayes racehorse training/owning family. The Hayes family held the propoerty until it was purchased by the Northern Territory Government in 2000. The Owen Springs Reserve was opened to the public in April 2003.
To access this cache, you will need to enter the Owen Springs Reserve from either Larapinta Drive in the north, or the Stuart Highway in the south. A 4WD Track (quite easy) runs for 50km through the reserve, and you can easily make a round caching day trip from Alice Springs. Bring a picnic lunch or do what we do, and camp inside Lawrence Gorge - true outback bush camping with no facilities and no fees!
The cache itself is a mini decon container, with a log and room for small geocoin-sized swaps.
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN PEN & DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS CACHE IN A 2WD.
Congratulations for FTF to Shazcol from Tasmania