Site Details

Name

Heavitree Gap Police Station

Status

Permanent Declaration

Type

Place

Description

Statement Of
Heritage Value

The former police station site at Heavitree Gap, Alice Springs, has special significance to the Territory as a focal point in demonstrating a way of life of the early police and their task of applying law and order in a remote and sometimes hostile environment. Although an initial police camp had been established in 1879 at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, the move to the site at Heavitree Gap on 21 April 1886 determined the first officially regarded permanent police presence in Central Australia.
As custodians of law and order, the police duties were widely varied and involved undertaking patrols of long duration and covering large tracts of land, most of which was sparsely inhabited. Up to this point, accommodation facilities provided for both police and prisoners were minimal, consisting of tents supplemented by bough sheds.

When constructed in 1889 the two roomed thatched dwelling became the focal point for a gradual change in living conditions for all concerned which ultimately led to its abandonment when it no longer met those requirements.

Becoming, in 1904, the first offical gaol, prison and house of correction in Central Australia until closed in 1909, the site has had a chequered career degenerating to an abandoned ruin till its complete restoration as a historic building in 1971.

Nominated

02/04/1993

Nomination Refused

Nomination Accepted

10/05/1993

Provisional Declaration

Assessment Report
Considered

21/09/1993

Report Action

Comment sought

Report Comments

Recommended

Not Recommended

Refused By Minister

Referred Back

Signed By Minister

06/01/1994

Publish notice of
declaration

15/02/1994

Gazetted

19/01/1994

Revoked

Destroyed

File No

H93/0015

Value

Historic

Conservation Policy

LGA

Alice Springs Municipality

Comments

Photo

	Name	Description	Date Added
View	HTreeGapPoliceStn_LR1.jpg	Heavitree Gap Police Station	15/FEB/16
View	HTreeGapPoliceStn_LR2.jpg	Sign	15/FEB/16

1 - 2

Scan

	Name	Description	Date Added
View	Instrument and Gazettal.pdf	-	05/FEB/09

1 - 1

Further Information

	Name	Description	Date Added
View	Heavitree Gap Police Station.pdf	Factsheet	15/DEC/11

1 - 1

Approximate Location

LAIS Key	Street Number	Street Name	Suburb	Location Code	Lot Number	LTO Plan	Part	Tenure
010 01044	205	LEN KITTLE	ILPARPA	010	1044	-	-	Reserve

1 - 1

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