| Heavitree Gap | |
|---|---|
| Ntaripe[1] | |
 This view shows the transport links passing through Heavitree Gap | |
| Traversed by | Stuart Highway,Adelaide–Darwin railway |
| Location | Alice Springs |
| Range | MacDonnell Ranges |
| Coordinates | 23°43′35″S133°51′56″E / 23.7263°S 133.8656°E /-23.7263; 133.8656 |
  Location in Northern Territory | |
TheHeavitree Gap, orNtaripe in theArrernte language,[1] is awater gap in theNorthern Territory ofAustralia in theMacDonnell Ranges. It is the southern entrance to the city ofAlice Springs and in addition to theTodd River it carries the main road and rail access to the south.
The Gap is an important sacred site for theArrernte people[1][2][3] and its use as a thoroughfare was avoided by women prior to the construction of the road and laterCentral Australia Railway.
The Gap was named byWilliam Mills, theOverland Telegraph line surveyor who discovered the location for Alice Springs.[4][5] It was named after his former school inHeavitree, Devon.[4]
On the southwest side of The Gap is the historicHeavitree Gap Police Station.[6]
The Gap has been painted by numerous artists includingAlbert Namatjira,[7]Oscar Namatjira,[8]Basel Rangea,[9] andJohn Borrack.[10]
Doris Stuart (centre) explains the significance of Heavitree Gap (Ntaripe) during a recent sacred sites tour
Heavitree Gap is Arlperenye Beetle Dreaming
.. believed by Arrernte people to be formed where the ilperenye beetle savaged the ayepe-arenye [caterpillars] and chewed off their heads.
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