Gemtree Caravan Park Information

Gemtree is a locally owned business. Cameron and Carmel Chalmers purchased Gemtree in April 2006 with Cameron's youngest brother, Alex, who is the IT Security Manager for IBM Asia Pacific and based in Darwin. The Chalmers family has a great pioneering history in Central Australia, stemming from Cameron and Alex's grandfather, Charles (CO) Chalmers. 'CO' was a teacher and taught in many outback NSW schools before choosing a pastoral life for his family. In 1921 he, his wife, Cora, and their four children left Mungindi on the NSW/QLD border and travelled more than 2300km through QLD to Central Australia. Cora drove the horse-drawn covered wagon with Jessie (3) and Donald (6), while CO drove 400 sheep, 13 horses and a few goats with the help of his older children Jean (11) and Mac (8) on horseback. After a two-year trek they settled on land north of what is now known as the Plenty Highway, and the children in turn raised their families in the area. Since their arrival in the 1920s, the Chalmers family have shared a close relationship with the local aboriginal people built on mutual respect and friendship. Cameron and Carmel's daughter Kate and son-in-law Aaron McMaster help out at Gemtree whenever they can, especially on weekends when the campoven kitchen operates during peak season. Son Callum also helps out from time to time, but works as a mine supervisor in Queensland. Kate has continued the legacy of her great grandfather by becoming a teacher. After a period as Principal in an Aboriginal community nearby she is now teaching in a school in Alice Springs while Aaron manages BBQs Galore. Cameron plans to introduce local history day tours for Gemtree guests this year, visiting family cattle stations in the area and offering general information about the flora and fauna, mining, pastoral and Aboriginal history of the NE Alice Springs district.