The Stuart Arms Hotel was established by pioneer pastoralist William Benstead, who received his publican's license in 1888.

[1] The hotel was erected on lot 78, "a modest structure of stone and iron, about the size of an average house".

[3] In 1914 "The Bungalow" was built at the rear of the hotel, sharing the lot, where Topsy Smith and Mariah McDonald, cared for "halfe-caste" children in a galvanised iron shed that Robert Stott had built; 16 children were living there by November 1914.

[5] Mona Minahan, Alice Springs' first barmaid, began work at the Stuart Arms in 1931.

[3] This building was demolished over the weekend of 11–12 January 1986,[1] so that a shopping centre, Alice Plaza, could be built on the site.