Great Territory Lifestyle. A Territory Government InitiativeCelebrated Rich History
The Northern Territory has a fascinating and relatively unexplored history which is vastly different to the rest of Australia.
European settlement occurred late in the 19th century and the richness and diversity of Indigenous culture and community provides an additional depth to our understanding of place and time.
Preserving the past is an important part of understanding both who we are and where we are going. The Territory Government is committed to preserving our unique history and understands the importance of maintaining and protecting our heritage sites.
Darwin’s role in World War II has shaped our identity and the Territory Government wants to ensure that heritage is properly preserved for locals and visitors. The East Point Military Museum will be the heart of Darwin’s World War II commemorative sites under a five-year $11.5 million plan.
On 24 December 1974 Cyclone Tracy virtually destroyed Darwin in Australia’s worst natural disaster. This unforgettable episode in the Territory’s history is commemorated through the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, the Northern Territory Library and the Northern Territory Archives Service.
The Territory Government provides funding to encourage and support original research about the Territory’s history through the annual Northern Territory History Grants Program.
The stories of individual families have the power to bring Territory history to a wider audience by personalising the journey. Social history is also a compelling way to demonstrate the diversity of the Territory’s population and to highlight the contributions that multiculturalism has made to the development of the Territory.
The Territory Government has committed $160,000 towards a Remembering Territory Families Project, fulfilling a 2008 election commitment.
Download the Celebrated Rich History fact sheet (pdf 124Kb).
