Arltunga Historical Reserve
| Arltunga Historical Reserve Hart, Northern Territory | |
|---|---|
The Arltunga Gaol at the Arltunga Historical Reserve | |
| Coordinates | 23°26′51″S 134°43′02″E / 23.4475°S 134.7172°E |
| Managing authorities | Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory |
Arltunga Historical Reserve, known also as Arnerre-ntyenge is a deserted gold rush town located in the Northern Territory of Australia in the locality of Hart about 110 kilometres (68 mi) east of Alice Springs. It is on the lands of the Eastern Arrernte people, who are the traditional owners.
The name Arltunga comes from the Eastern Arrernte name for the nearby waterhole Arnerre-ntyenge (a-na-ra n-tunga-a) which translates roughly as 'stinking water' as animals were known to get stuck in there and die. Alternatively there is speculation that the name comes from a corruption of the Kukatja dialect (Luritja language) word aldolanga which means 'easterners'. The European name for this waterhole is Paddy's Rockhole.
It is of major historical significance as the first major European settlement in Central Australia.
It is nearby to the Winnecke Goldfield which followed a similar history.