Pitchi Richi Sanctuary

Pitchi Richi Sanctuary, located approximately 4 km south of the Alice Springs town centre, is a heritage listed, and now closed, tourist attraction.

[1] The Pitchi Richi Sanctuary, just south of Heavitree Gap, is set on 12 acres (4.9 ha) of land that were purchased by Leo Corbet in 1955 following the death of Charles 'Pop' Chapman, an eccentric Alice Springs legend, who had named the property 'The Pearly Gates'.

It is not known exactly when Corbet changed the name to Pitchi Richi but he told a friend "the Pearly Gates might seem a bit presumptuous coming from me".

[3] William Ricketts, a close friend of Corbets, built a kiln on the site shortly after it was purchased and his sculptures were displayed from the time that the sanctuary opened.

[2][4] At its opening in August 1956 the sanctuary held an exhibition by landscape artist, Robert Johnson, the proceeds of which went to the Australian Inland Mission.