Devils Marbles Hotel to Alice Springs

A few spots of rain fell on the caravan as we packed up this morning, but there was no rain during the day though there have been some storm warnings. Today's drive was 400kms so we made a couple of stops. The first was at Barrow Creek were there was a lovely area of green grass for Blue to enjoy some exercise. There is an historic telegraph station and the graves of the station master and linesman killed by "natives".



The scenery on approach to Barrow Creek from the north was spectacular, but there was nowhere to pull over to admire it. Anita took this photo while we were driving but it doesn't capture the beauty of the rocks on the hills. The view from Barrow Creek is not so good but the water tower and windmill are old icons associated with the outback, while the caravan and the Toyota represent current day reality.



I saw no monument recognising the 70 Aboriginals massacred at Barrow Creek in 1928. A white dingo trapper was killed by Aboriginals and the local police constable organised a reprisal posse to round up and kill local Aborigines. He was charged but acquitted in the Darwin court.

Barrow Creek was also where Joanne Lees and Peter Falconio stopped to refuel the night Falconio was murdered. As they drove north from Barrow Creek they noticed a car following them so they slowed to let it overtake. Bradley John Murdoch pulled alongside and waved them to stop. He told them sparks were coming out the back of the Kombi. Falconio went with Murdoch to look and Lees heard a loud bang. Murdoch then appeared at the side of the Kombi with a pistol and tied her up. She escaped into the bush and was later picked up by the driver of a road train. Part of the evidence resulting in Murdoch's conviction was DNA on Joanne's T-shirt.

We topped up our fuel at Ti Tree and drove through to Alice Springs. The strong wind was blowing up dust. At the caravan park we set up under gum trees which lost many leaves and small branches.  The strongest gust was recorded as 78kph. I went to town for food supplies and captured a couple of images. The mural is much larger than this small selection. One of the busiest intersections in town is beside this striking hill.












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