Our Story

Standley Chasm – Angkerle is proudly 100% Aboriginal-owned and operated by the Western Arrernte people through the Iwupataka Land Trust and managed by the Angkerle Aboriginal Corporation.

Long before it became known as Standley Chasm, this place was known as Angkerle – a significant cultural site for the Western Arrernte people. For thousands of years, Traditional Owners have maintained a deep connection to this Country, caring for the land and passing down knowledge, stories and traditions through generations.

Today, we are proud to be recognised as one of Australia's first registered Aboriginal tourism businesses, making Standley Chasm one of the country's longest-running Aboriginal-owned tourism enterprises. For decades, we have welcomed visitors from around the world while remaining true to our purpose of protecting Country, sharing culture respectfully, and creating meaningful opportunities for our local community.

Every visitor who walks through Angkerle contributes directly to the ongoing care and protection of this special place. Tourism revenue supports local employment, Aboriginal training and leadership opportunities, site maintenance, and the preservation of both the cultural heritage and natural environment that make Standley Chasm so unique.

Our vision is to ensure that future generations of Arrernte people continue to care for Country, strengthen culture, and share the beauty and significance of Angkerle with visitors from across Australia and around the world.

The towering walls of the Chasm tell an even older story. Formed over millions of years, Angkerle was shaped by rainfall, floodwaters and natural erosion, carving a spectacular passage through the sandstone of the West MacDonnell Ranges (Tjoritja). The Chasm was once part of the ancient Finke River system, recognised as one of the oldest river systems in the world.

During the pastoral era, the area became known as Gall Springs, an important watering point for cattle while it formed part of Owen Springs Station. In the early 1900s, the site was renamed Standley Chasm in honour of Ida Standley, the first school teacher in Alice Springs and matron of The Bungalow at nearby Jay Creek. The name was proposed by Ernest Eugene Kramer, who believed the remarkable beauty of the Chasm deserved wider recognition.

Today, we respectfully acknowledge both names. While many visitors know us as Standley Chasm, our Traditional Owners continue to know this special place as Angkerle a place of deep cultural significance that has been cared for by Western Arrernte people for countless generations.