Marla

Marla is a small town and locality in the north-west of South Australia. It is located approximately 970 kilometres north-west of Adelaide and about 400 kilometres south of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. Due to its remote location, Marla serves as an important service stop for travellers crossing central Australia.

History

Marla was officially established as a government town in May 1981 and later gazetted as a locality in February 2001, with boundaries largely matching the original town area. The town’s name originates from nearby Marla Bore and is believed to be derived from the Aboriginal word marlu, meaning “kangaroo.”

The town was proclaimed to provide essential services to people travelling across the continent and to function as an administrative centre for the north-west of South Australia. This included support for surrounding remote regions such as the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands and the Mintabie Opal Field.

Transport

The Stuart Highway runs along the south-western edge of Marla, making it a key stop on the major road linking South Australia and the Northern Territory. The Adelaide–Darwin railway line also passes nearby, although Marla is not a scheduled stop for passenger rail services. The northbound The Ghan does, however, pause near Marla for a breakfast experience.

Facilities & Services

Despite its small size, Marla offers essential facilities for residents and travellers. These include the Marla Clinic, operated by the Royal Flying Doctor Service on behalf of the South Australian Government, as well as a regional police station.

The town is also home to the Marla Travellers Rest, a privately operated complex providing accommodation, dining, fuel, groceries, a caravan park, and other traveller services. In addition, Marla operates as a Licensed Post Office for Australia Post.