Ly Underdown

The Alice Springs township, at this point, experiencing a period of growth with the arrival of the railway line and, alongside his parents Underdown developed the store site into a hotel.

Underdowns father would also establish the Capitol Theatre on Gregory Terrace (opposite the hotel) which was an open-air picture theater.

[8] The population of Alice Springs expanded significantly during World War II and Ly and his mother Daisy decided that, with all the word of mouth and publicity from the soldiers there would be a tourist boom in the town.

[9] This was a very modern building for its time and was known for never ending additions including its roof-top cricket pitch which Underdown, a keen sportsman, had insisted on.

[6] Underdown donated significant collections of materials to Library & Archives NT which are held in Alice Springs.