_ _ _….. That’s 95 if you’re not fluent in Morse code! The iconic Ghan celebrated her 95th Birthday in style on Sunday at the historic Telegraph Station in Alice Springs, where the train and Morse code helped bring the vast and remote country closer together. Karryon’s Dani Tuffield was there to savour the special moments.
Beyond the glamour and romance of The Ghan lies the real heartbeat of what it means to the travellers, the staff and the communities visited.
Described as one of the world’s greatest passenger trains, The Ghan started life as a connector 95 years ago, following in the pioneering footsteps of the Afghan camel drivers.
Originally, it was named the Afghan Express. Being true Aussies, however, it’s rumoured that the original crew back in 1923 soon nicknamed her The Ghan. Which, by the way, when pronounced, officially rhymes with fan, not barn!
Don’t get me wrong; romance is still such an important part of what makes this iconic train so special. The classic red engine and the elegant lounge cars with a well-stocked bar and delicious food go a long way toward timelessly transporting you to a travel experience like no other.
It is perhaps the best way to journey through the wide-open expanse of our Great Southern land, offering a beautifully blended combination of comfort and adventure.
I was lucky enough to be invited to celebrate The Ghan’s 95th Birthday. We were able to tour Alice Springs and its surrounding areas, and as a first-time visitor, I was blown away by the stunning scenery and, as always, in the NT, the fascinating people that you meet.
I had been to Uluru and the Top End but had somehow not made it to Alice Springs yet. The area is absolutely stunning, and I was able to immerse myself in the beauty and the immediate connection to Country you feel in spiritual places like Simpsons Gap and Standley Chasm.
The landscapes, stories and people were vibrant and fascinating. For thousands of years, Arrernte people have met in this region for ceremonies and the local word for the area is Mparntwe.
This brings me back to connection. Much more than just linking cities and towns, the Ghan helps to connect people, communities and cultures. It connects us to history, the good and the uncomfortable. It connects young and old, locals and travellers, and creates a beautiful environment that reminds us all that we are a part of something so much bigger than ourselves and that travel really is, or at least should be, transformative.
Staying with the connection theme, we celebrated 95 years of The Ghan at the historic Telegraph Station with dinner, drinks and dancing in the desert. The Telegraph Station was set up after the explorer John McDouall Stuart led an expedition through the centre of Australia.
The South Australian (SA) Government began the construction of the overland telegraph line in 1871, which was in itself a huge engineering feat. Fun fact: Alice Springs was named after Mrs Alice Todd, the wife of Charles Todd, who won the tender to construct the overland telegraph line. He mapped out the area for the station based on the natural spring in the river system and built the station there.
The only problem is that it was not, in fact, a spring but just a leftover water hole from when the river had flowed and left in the dry river bed! Alice Water Hole doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.
Journey Beyond invested in the Telegraph Station in early 2024 and the dinner here is included as an incredible off-train experience. You really feel like you are in the outback, sitting outside under a canopy of stars in the red dirt and being welcomed to the area by a local Arrernte woman and a smoking ceremony.
We ate, drank and danced in the desert. It was an occasion worthy of a National Treasure.
From all of us, Karryon, we wish The Ghan a happy 95th. Thanks for inviting us to be a part of the celebration. Here’s to many more years of experience and wonder.
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