Australia: The Land Where Time Began

A biography of the Australian continent 

Emily & Jessie Gap Nature Park

10 km west of Alice Springs

These small gaps in the range are the first noticeable features of the East MacDonnells. They contain interesting Aboriginal paintings and are important spiritual sites to the Eastern Arrernte Aboriginal people. Many places in the landscape are associated with the same Dreamtime story. Together these places form a 'dreaming trail'. Emily and Jessie Gaps are associated with the caterpillar trail. Emily Gap is probably the most significant as this is where the caterpillar beings of Mparntwe (Alice Springs) originated. These caterpillars formed Emily Gap and many of the topographic features around Alice Springs, then radiated out to the edge of the Simpson Desert. Emily Gap is a registered sacred site. A large rock painting depicts the caterpillar dreaming. In recent years the art has been severely damaged by vandals. We ask that visitors respect the site and do not touch any Aboriginal art. The first European sighting of Emily and Jessie Gap was in 1871. It was thought that 'Emily' and 'Jessie' were the daughters of Sir Charles Todd, but this was found to be untrue. The basis on which the names are derived is unknown.

Sources & Further reading