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History
Marla, or Marla Bore as it is sometimes known, was surveyed and established by the State Government in 1981 as a service point on the re-aligned and sealed Stuart Highway at a point where it paralleled the new standard gauge railway line to Alice Springs completed in 1980. It now also marks the northern termination of the Oodnadatta Track from Marree, via William Creek and Oodnadatta.
It was designed and laid-out to provide accommodation, fuel and services to road travellers and police and Government services at the nearest point on the Stuart Highway to the Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal Lands in the north-west.
With a population of about 140 it still provides those services today while also providing a jumping-off point to the Mintabie opal fields to the west and the developing Seven Waterholes fields to the north east.
Tourist services
Marla is essentially a comfortable stop-over point with good accommodation, a public swimming pool, supplies, services and repairs. It is within a half-day drive of Alice Springs.
There is an all-weather, night-capability airstrip there which is maintained as the major emergency service clearance strip on the northern Stuart Highway.
Community Economic Development Plan 
PDF
