William Whitfield Mill came across this waterhole on 11th March 1871. It isn't actually a spring, it's a depression in the riverbed where water gets trapped on top of some granite, however...
He wrote this report to Charles Todd, the Superintendent of Telegraphs;
'I was successful in finding a pass about 30 miles east of Stuart's track with numerous waterholes and springs, the principal of which is the Alice Spring which I had the honour of naming after Mrs Todd'.
No doubt he got his promotion, but sadly Mrs Todd never visited Alice Springs.
I read the book "A Town Like Alice" by Neville Shute when I lived in Malaysia in the early 70s and always wanted to visit it. Maybe one day now I have retired I will get the chance!
Fabulous photo Graham - Alice Springs looks lovely and lush. I think there is a similar story to how the Katherine Gorge got its name as well - named after somebody's daughter (the story escapes me at the moment.)
