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Site Details
   
Pitchi Richi Sanctuary
Permanent Declaration
Place
Pitchi Richi Sanctuary, located in Alice Springs, is of significance to the Territory as it is valued by the community for its historical and social associations, and as a long-standing tourist icon of the Centre. Established by Leo Corbet in 1955, Pitchi Richi Sanctuary was the first man-made tourist attraction developed in Alice Springs in the post-war tourism boom. For many years it was a major tourist drawcard in the Centre and contributed to the development of the Central Australian tourism industry. Initially proposed as a bird sanctuary, Pitchi Richi became better known for its collection of sculptures by William Ricketts, displays of geological specimens and historic artefacts relating to the pioneering days, located in a tranquil park-like setting. Reflecting Corbet's philosophy that Pitchi Richi should be `for the people', the site continues to be of particular importance to the local community owing to its associations with Corbet, considered by many to be an early environmentalist, as the town's early tourist destination and for the role the site has played in the social lives of many Centralians.


Within the Pitchi Richi Sanctuary is Charles H Chapman House. The Chapman House was built in the late 1940s by Charles H Chapman, a wealthy miner and founder of the Centralian Advocate, and a key figure in the development of mining at The Granites. Charles Chapman constructed the two-storey house for his `retirement' on a man-made rise overlooking the Todd River and the-now Pitch Richi Sanctuary. Charles H Chapman's house was the first two-storey building in Alice Springs and its design is in response to the local arid living conditions of Alice Springs. The ground floor comprises masonry walls, louvre windows, and stone wall construction supporting an upper floor, which is constructed of timber-framed walls and corrugated metal roof. Chapman's house also incorporates a deep pool, which was built by Chapman to store ground-water and gravity-feed water to his large citrus orchard. Whilst rising salts devastated the orchard, Chapman's house is a legacy of Chapman's contribution to Alice Springs and Central Australia in the post war era and in particular the development of the `Farms Area' south of Heavitree Gap.
26/08/2003
12/09/2003
07/09/2007
Comment sought
26/11/2008
11/04/2009
08/01/2009
HAC2003/0014
Historic
Alice Springs Municipality
Photo
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewRIMG1056.JPGPitchi Ritchi photo 121/SEP/07
ViewPitchi Ritchi -1 1969.jpgPitchi Richi 221/SEP/07
ViewPitchiRichi_LR1.jpgCharles Chapman House15/FEB/16
ViewPitchiRichi_LR22.jpgEarly Mining15/FEB/16
ViewPitchiRichi_LR24.jpgSign15/FEB/16
ViewPitchiRichi_LR12.jpgPitch Richi 315/FEB/16
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Scan
   
NameDescriptionDate Added
ViewInstrument.pdf - 12/FEB/09
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Further Information
   
no data found
Approximate Location
   
LAIS KeyStreet NumberStreet NameSuburbLocation CodeLot NumberLTO PlanPartTenure
010 00336 47PALMROSS010336 - - Special Purpose Lease
010 00428 55PALMROSS010428 - - Special Purpose Lease
010 01028 65PALMROSS0101028 - - Special Purpose Lease
010 01050 123PALMROSS0101050 - - Special Purpose Lease
010 01242 111PALMROSS0101242 - - Special Purpose Lease
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Status Explanations
   

Nomination Period - a nomination has been accepted by Heritage Branch, but has not yet been accepted by the Heritage Council; OR a nomination has been accepted by the Heritage Council but the place/object has not yet been subject to a heritage assessment.

Assessment Period - a nomination has been accepted by the Heritage Council and the place/object is in the process of being assessed.

Consultation Period - Heritage assessment has been completed and s24 of the Act has been instigated, ie comment has been sought on a proposal to declare the place/object.

Recommendation Period - the Heritage Council has made a recommendation to declare the place/object and the Minister's final decision is awaited.

Not Recommended - a decision has been made by the Heritage Council not to recommend to the Minister that a place/object be declared

Declared - the Minister has made a decision to declare the place/object

Refused - the Minister has refused to declare the place/object