Most people who cross the world in search of adventure imagine sun-drenched beaches, bustling cities, or lush rainforests. But for one Irishwoman, the call of the outback, a sledgehammer, and a path of broken rocks led her to Alice Springs. And she never left.
Nine years ago, LJ Devlin arrived in the heart of Australia, fresh from the remote west coast of Ireland, expecting to spend three months shifting stones and laying pathways at Standley Chasm – Angkerle Atwatye. Instead, she found a place that resonated with her soul – a remote desert town with a community as tight-knit as the tiny village she left behind.
A professional musician and seasoned event producer, LJ had already lived in cities and travelled the world. Yet, Alice Springs offered something different: a community spirit that felt oddly familiar.
“I grew up in a place with about 60 people, where everyone knew everyone, and you didn’t just pass through unless you had a reason to be there. Alice Springs is kind of the same – it’s remote, it’s wild, but it has this incredibly strong sense of belonging,” she says.
Initially, the summer heat chased her south to work at music festivals, but by April, she was back in Alice. The plan had been three months. Now, nearly a decade later, she’s still here, deeply entrenched in the region’s event scene and a driving force in its cultural life.
After years of working in events, LJ saw a gap in the local industry: interstate productions would swoop in with their own crews, overlooking the talent Alice Springs had to offer. In 2021, she and a group of like-minded professionals decided to change that. They created a local events company, giving the town’s professionals a banner to unite under, ensuring that Alice Springs’ own industry could compete on a national stage.
“We started as a handful of sole traders, but now we’ve got 18 people on the books,” she explains. “And there’s something special about being known as ‘the Alice crew’ when we go to festivals down south. We’ve built a reputation.”
Her company, Triptic, now plays a major role in some of the region’s most prominent cultural events, from Parrtjima – A Festival in Light to Music NT showcases and major First Nations-led gatherings. The business has grown beyond just managing events – it’s about championing the town’s creative potential and keeping talent rooted in Alice Springs.
As the events scene evolves, so too does her vision. With a passion for showcasing both local and visiting artists, she is pushing for new events that energise Alice Springs and reframe how people see it. One of her latest projects is an ambitious youth-focused arts and sports festival, aiming to bring in skaters, street artists, and musicians to turn Alice into an adventure destination.
Though event production keeps her busy, music remains an integral part of her life. She fronts two bands – one a raucous, fiddle-driven folk ensemble, the other a raw, post-punk outfit that has carved a name for itself across the Territory.
“I’ll always be a musician first,” she says. “But when you’re running a business, music sometimes has to take a backseat. Still, whenever I can, I grab a guitar, pull together a crew, and we play.”
For all its challenges, Alice Springs is home now. LJ talks about it with the kind of reverence usually reserved for old friends or childhood haunts.
“Yes, it’s remote, and yes, it has harsh elements. But that vastness, that sense of being in the middle of something so ancient and powerful – it shifts your perspective. And the people, the community, that’s what makes it impossible to leave.”
