Anmatjere Country

Located on the Stuart Highway, about 135 km north of Alice Springs and some 370 km south of Tennant Creek, is Aileron, a welcoming roadhouse rest stop in Anmatjere Country, offering outback hospitality including meals, accommodation, supplies and fuel.

For those passing through you are welcomed to at the Aileron Roadhouse stop for breakfast, lunch or dinner. If you are seeking accommodation there are motel style rooms or camping and caravan grounds.

Aileron is also home to the striking giant figure of the ‘Anmatjere Man’. Erected on 11th December 2005, the sculpture by Mark Egan stands at 12 metres high (the figure) with the spear tip taking it to 17 metre. Weighing 8 tonne the sculpture is made from a steel frame, mesh wire and ferris cement. He strikes an impressive figure as he overlooks Aileron and the surrounding region. The project included the Hollywood style Aileron sign and together with the figure took approximately 18 months to complete.

Artist Mark Egan stated during the raising of the Anmatyerr Man that he hoped the statue would ‘…. get them (tourists) to think a little bit about how the Aboriginals live in this country …’

Source: The World Today – Monday, 12 December, 2005, Reporter: Sara Everingham

After 3 long years by himself, ‘Anmatjere Man’ finally had a family. Also created by the same sculptor Mark Egan, ‘Anmatjere Man’ was joined by a wife and child in December 2008. Unlike the original piece which took Mark Egan a year to create, ‘Anmatjere Woman and Child’ took only four months.

The Anmatjere people have named the sculpture after Charlie Quartpot – a rainmaker who once lived in this area. Further information about Anmatyerr Man and Charlie Quartpot can be found in a great document in the Northern Territory Library titled: The Anmatyerr Man Of Ywerternt by Teresa McCarthy, August 2009.

Following YouTube video ‘Raising Charlie Quartpot’ by welcometv…

‘Raising Charlie Quartpot’
  • Aileron Walks
    You can pick up the walking track brochure from the Aileron Roadhouse.
    • There are a number of walks that offer the opportunity to take in the wildlife, panoramic views of the Station, airstrip, roadhouse and surrounding ranges.
    • Oatley Walking Track — Walking times is approximately 35 minutes. Starts on the left hand side of the hill, the track goes around the hill on the south eastern side.
    • Colsen’s Walk — Walking time is approximately 35 minutes. Named after previous owner Fred, this walk starts on the right hand side of the hill. Follow the road around to the left to pas the Aileron Race Course.
    • Mark’s Walk — Up the guts! Walking time 16 minutes. The walk is a bit more challenging as you make your way up a rough track. It takes you up to the ‘Anmatjere Man’.

Distance to Aileron
KmKm
— Alice Springs135— Mataranka940
— Darwin1,362— Ti Tree58
— Katherine1,046— Tennant Creek373
Above are some approximate distances by road to Aileron.
Distances given are only approximation, they should be verified with the appropriate maps.

  • Other Attractions
    • Ryans Well Historical Reserve
      The reserve is named after Ned Ryan who was a stonemason who became an expert at sinking wells. The well was hand-dug in 1889 to supply water for travellers.

      The historic importance of reserve lies in its significant part of the Northern Territory’s development, particularly the watering systems associated with stock movement along the Overland Telegraph Line.

      The Reserve contains a well, the storage tank stand and the ruins of Glen Maggie Homestead. The Homestead ruins are associated with the Nicker family and the Central Australian personality “Cloudy” Beale. It also provides evidence of the way of life of pastoral settlers during the early part of the Twentieth Century and shows how local materials were used. The whole well system shows how stock were watered in those early days.

Aileron – Anmatjere Country | Anmatjere Woman and Child


Northern TerritoryCentral Australia Aileron Alice Springs Binns Track Chambers Pillar Historical Reserve Ernest Giles Road Finke Gorge National Park Henbury Meteorites Conservation Reserve Hermannsburg Historic Precinct Ilparpa Claypans Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve MacDonnell Ranges Mount Connor Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary Owen Springs Reserve Red Centre Way Drive Standley Chasm Tnorala (Gosse Bluff) Conservation Reserve Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Watarrka National Park & Kings Canyon Wurre / Rainbow Valley