The Big Books
Height
Unknown
Year Built
Address
Alice Springs, NT 0870
The Lowdown
The Big Books stand proudly in Alice Springs, the Red Centre's largest town and a vital hub for outback education and literacy. This oversized stack of books celebrates the importance of reading and learning in remote communities, where access to education has historically been a challenge. Alice Springs has long been a centre for distance education, with the School of the Air pioneering remote learning via radio and now satellite internet. The Big Books remind visitors that knowledge travels everywhere, even to the most isolated corners of Australia, and that literacy is the foundation of opportunity.
Did you know?
"Alice Springs School of the Air covers 1.3 million square kilometres"
History
Alice Springs has been central to outback education since the Alice Springs School of the Air began in 1951, teaching children on remote stations via two-way radio. Today, the school uses satellite internet to connect students across 1.3 million square kilometres - an area larger than most countries. The Big Books celebrate this educational legacy and the importance of literacy in connecting isolated communities to the wider world. Alice Springs also houses the extensive collection of the Strehlow Research Centre, preserving Indigenous cultural knowledge.
More Fun Facts
- •Alice Springs School of the Air covers 1.3 million square kilometres
- •The school was the world's first to use radio for remote education
- •Alice Springs is almost exactly in Australia's geographic centre
- •The Royal Flying Doctor Service also began its outreach from Central Australia
- •Alice Springs' library services extend to remote cattle stations
Visiting Tips
- 💡Visit the Alice Springs School of the Air Visitor Centre
- 💡The Alice Springs Public Library has fascinating local history collections
- 💡Uluru is about 450km southwest of Alice Springs
- 💡Explore the MacDonnell Ranges for spectacular gorges
Opening Hours
Outdoor sculpture accessible at all times.
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