John Flynns Grave

John Flynns Grave

John Flynn's Grave is one of the must see spots in this Australian township of Alice Springs. This historic grave-the ashes of John Flynn placed underneath a huge boulder is situated 5 km west of Alice Springs on Larapinta Drive. John Flynn who was the founder of the Flying Doctor service is one of outback Australia's most loved characters.

With the heading 'Flynn of the Inland', the lines on his gravestone appropriately sums up his life and vision: "His vision encompassed the continent. He established the Australian Inland Mission and founded the Flying Doctor Service. He brought to lonely places a spiritual ministry and spread a mantle of safety over them by medicine and radio". John Flynn died in 1951.

Flynn was accused of selfishness and racialist attitudes. His widow was annoyed with these charges. Today, despite a dynamic campaign by the Uniting Church, there is still some doubt about Flynn's attitudes. The unusual 8.13 tonne granite rock used on the grave was taken from the 'Devils Marbles'.

There was a sign near his grave which read: "The Very Reverend John Flynn (1880-1951) Presbyterian Minister and Missionary first visited the Northern Territory in 1912 at the time when the Inland two-thirds of Australia had no minister of religion, no doctor and no nurse". However this line was removed because it was considered as wrong.

Hotels in Alice Springs
Hotel Alice Spring Plaza	Heavy Tree Gap Outback Resort
Desert Palms Resort	Hotel All Seasons Oasis
Hotel Novotel Outback	Hotel Aurora

Book Alice Springs hotels now