ALICE TOURIST BUREAU
PARSONS ST
ALICE SPRINGS NT 0870

PHOTOS: ANDREW MECPHEE       
In the architect’s words:

“ In 1972 I designed a building in Parsons Street for the NT Housing Commission but they were building it mainly for the NT Tourist Bureau.

I used precast off form concrete main structural columns which enables interesting profiles and the Central Australian red sandstone but no one in Alice seemed to appreciate the finesse of this building.  The suspended floor slabs were ‘waffle slab’ construction supported only on the external perimeter so that internal walls could be moved about at will making maximum flexibility for future use.

The ABC television rented the top floor and installed the first TV station in Alice.  We got yesterday’s news today and all other programs a week later.  They broadcast from a video machine and the tapes were flown up from Adelaide.

Since leaving Alice the building was sold to PKF Accountants and they have put ‘bull nosed’ verandahs across the front to ‘Australianize it’ and it now looks totally kitsch.”






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