Central Australia

Alice Springs

Spanning 40% of the Territory and located at the geographical centre of Australia, this 600,000 km² region of expansive desert plains and ancient cultural value is often known as the Red Centre.

The Central Australia region contributes an estimated AU$2.9 billion to the NT gross state product, driven by mining, tourism, and primary industries, underpinned by government funding for regional service delivery and defence.

Alice Springs, the second largest town in the Territory and the region’s major economic, business, and service hub, has a population of around 28,000 and services a total regional population of 41,000, as well as parts of South Australia, Western Australia, and Queensland. With deep spiritual origins dating back more than 30,000 years, Alice Springs is rich in culture and history.

Beyond Alice Springs, a large percentage of the region’s population lives in outlying communities, including the Yulara township, which provides accommodation and services for the tourism industry at the world-famous Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, home to the culturally significant landmark Uluru. Yulara’s population of just over 1,000 people swells with visitor numbers to around 300,000 each year.

Rich in minerals, there has been an increase in evidence of the region’s mineral exploration and development potential.

Economic opportunities

• Agriculture
• Tourism
• Mining.