Ryan Well Historical Reserve

About Ryan Well Historical Reserve

Ryan Well Historical Reserve is a things to do venue in Alice Springs, Northern Territory.

It comprises two parcels of lands situated on opposite sides of Stuart Highway and its road reserve. The west parcel contains the remains of Ryan Well, a well excavated in the 19th century to provide water to livestock moving along the Overland Telegraph Line.

On the east side of the highway is the Glen Maggie Homestead, built in 1917 of local stone, which served as a post office and turning-off point for the Granites gold rush in 1932. Ryan’s Well was listed and recognized as a significant historical site in 1980.

It is one of the surviving wells dug by overland telegraph teams to provide water for men working on the telegraph and for livestock needed to provide meat for the telegraph staff. Glen Maggie Homestead clearly demonstrates the characteristics of a vernacular structure built of local materials.

The Ryan Well Historical Reserve was initially awarded protected area status as “a place of historic interest.” It was declared on 30 April 1974, under section 103 of the Crown Lands Ordinance 1931-1971, by the Australian government for the western parcel of land, and was given the name Reserve No.

1343. On 30 June 1978, it was declared as Reserve No 1343 (Ryan Well Historical Reserve) under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Act.

Finally, on 10 September 1979, it was renamed as Ryan Well Historical Reserve. The historical reserve was listed on the now-defunct Register of the National Estate on 21

Good to know

• Type: Things to Do
• Area: Alice Springs, Northern Territory
• Phone: (08) 8951 8250
• Website: visit ↗

Frequently asked questions

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