The Reserve is an area of low rugged terrain dominated by small rocky hills up to 40 metres high and is traversed by the Todd River. The Southern parts of the reserve provide a scenic backdrop to nearby urban areas of Alice Springs. The Alice Springs Granite dominates the surface geology of the reserve. It contains numerous Quartz and Pegmatite veins. Sadadeen and Gniess is the other major rock type. Recent Quaternary alluvium overlies these rocks along the Todd River and adjacent terraces.

Within the Reserve there are several small stands of the vulnerable MacDonnell Ranges Cycad – Macrozamia macdonnellii , occur in the rocky hills of the reserve's south. The reserve also contains a population of the small shrub Plumbago zeylancia , which is found across the northern half of the Northern Territory, but is considered rare in Central Australia.

A relatively diverse and abundant native animal population also occupies the Reserve with some of the larger mammals such as Euros, Black-footed Rock-wallabies and Dingo's being commonly sighted. Over 125 species of Birds and 40 species of Reptiles have been documented. Three of the reptiles found on the reserve, The Quartz Gecko – Diplodactylus galeatus , The Eastern Brown Snake – Pseudonaja textiles and the Four-fingered Skink – Carlia triacantha , are little known and considered uncommon.

Seven of the Station's early main buildings remain today. These are the Barracks, Station Master's Residence, Kitchen, Post and Telegraph Office, Battery room, Blacksmith's and Buggy shed. All are built of local stone. They have been restored and reconstructed to approximate their appearance during the Telegraph Station era, as represented by the decade 1895 – 1905. Some ancillary structures from this era, such as stockyards have been rebuilt.

The Reserve also includes the cemetery which contains five early graves, an old timber lined well, the original ‘Alice Springs' waterhole and several historic trees.

The significance of the Alice Springs Telegraph Station Historical Reserve is derived from its cultural and natural heritage. The Reserve is valued by the community for its historic and social associations with the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line, the subsequent roles it played in the exploration and settlement of Central Australia, and later as the institution known as the ‘Bungalow', that provided education for Aboriginal children of mixed descent.

The Reserve is also important to Arrernte people, not only because of the latter role played by the Telegraph Station buildings, but also because of the important ongoing spiritual associations they have with the area, through the presence of a number of sacred sites recorded across the Reserve.

The Reserve also derives significance from its associations with F.J. Gillen who, in collaboration with Baldwin Spencer, made important contributions to the discipline of anthropology. The natural beauty of the Reserve is appreciated and enjoyed by local residents and visitors alike.

Clune, F. (1955). Overland Telegraph: an epic feat of endurance and courage. Angus & Robertson Publishers: Sydney.

Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory. n.d. Telegraph Stations of Central Australia NT Government Printer: Darwin.

Fortowski, Dennis. Henderson, John (1988). . ‘ The Geological Heritage of the Northern Territory'. Geological Society of Australia.

Mills, E.W (1993). ‘ William Whitefield Mills' , Lutheran Publishing House

Mulvaney, D.J (1989). ‘Encounters in Place', University of Queensland Press.

Muriff, J.J (1897). . ‘From Ocean to Ocean, across a continent on a bicycle', George Robertson and Co.

Taylor, Peter (1980). ‘An End to Silence', Methuen of Australia