References
When Europeans first entered the land we now know as the Northern Territory, they were shown the way by Aboriginal people. The route taken by John McDouall Stuart north from the Centre to the Arafura Sea became the path of the Overland Telegraph Line.
This exhibition follows the path of the 1872 Overland Telegraph Line. The Line passed through the Repeater Stations at Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Katherine and finally Port Darwin.
This online exhibition is not intended to present a political or economic history of the Territory. It does not aim to comprehensively cover the vast sweep of events in the Territorys past as explored by writers such as Ernestine Hill, Douglas Lockwood, or more recently Alan Powell.
Remembering Territory families provides an opportunity to hear the stories of everyday life in the Territory from some of the people who call this place home.
This exhibition gives voice to the people not usually heard in the conventional narratives of Territory history.
Using elements of the cultural collections of the Northern Territory Library and the Northern Territory Archives Service, along with other research, viewers to this exhibition can see the snapshots and hear the voices of the Territory's past. These are the stories from some of the families who have lived and worked in the Territory for generations.
This exhibition represents a small part of the unique and wonderful histories from the people of our region.
Please find below links to further information referencing the image and audio files used in this online exhibition. If you are using the original material on this website for research purposes, please cite comprehensively, including weblinks.
Remembering Territory Families home page:
The Jeffs family at Railway Hill, Darwin, 1928, PH0116/0002, R.A. Jeffs Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/5418
Gorey family, 1931?, PH0723/0007, Gorle Collection
Northern Territory Library, http://hdl.handle.net/10070/1651
Aboriginal family, PH0413/0030, Karilyn Brown Collection
Northern Territory Library, http://hdl.handle.net/10070/30794
Darwin Section:
Darwin, capital of the north
Cavenagh Street, Darwin in the 1930s (Gordon's Don Hotel on the right is currently the site of the ABC), PH0233/0012, Harold Snell Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/13311
Fort Hill, Port Darwin, 1870, PH0238/0029, Peter Spillett Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/15479
Gwalwa Daraniki means "our land" in Larrakia, (L-R) Bob Secretary, Fred Waters, Bill Parry, Keith Chulung, PH0052/0003, W.B. Day Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/32544
Houses in the Darwin suburb of Casuarina after Cyclone Tracy, Darwin, January 1974, PH0821/0014, Ken Doust Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/176328
Darwin Aristocracy
NTAS NTRS TS605 James Watts, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219929
The Jeffs family at Railway Hill, Darwin, 1928, PH0116/0002, R.A. Jeffs Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/5418
'Greek Town'
NTAS NTRS 226 TS802 John Magriplis, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219935
NTAS NTRS226 TS662 George Haritos, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219933
The Vestey Meatworks under construction, Bullocky Point, Darwin, n.d. c.1915, PH0781/0080, Darwin 1914-1916 Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/1650
'Took us in…'
NTAS NTRS 226 TS793 Hilda Muir, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219946
Children in line, Part Aboriginal children at the Kahlin Compound, Myilly Point during the 1920s, PH0171/0063, John Oxley Library Collection.
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/19133
Stolen Generation children Kahlin Compound. Aboriginal or part-Aboriginal children - possibly Sunday School at the Kahlin Compound. Clergyman with trumpet on left, on older man standing to the right, 1921. PH0238/2149, Peter Spillett Collection
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/15844
Feeding Darwin
NTAS NTRS 226 TS212 Ray Foskey, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219952
NTAS NTRS 226 TS98 Jacqueline O'Brien, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219950
Canton Café, Cavenagh Street, Darwin, n.d. c.1940s, PH0261/0005, Clark Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/13334
A Merry Xmas at the Canton Café, Darwin, 1939, PH0169/0046, John W. Clancy Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/11338
Pre-war Darwin
NTAS NTRS226 TS613 Jim Fawcett, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219960
Pupils, Darwin public school, n.d. c.1930s, PH0129/0003, Val Fletcher Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/18420
Postcard, Darwin Public School, n.d., PH0094/0189, Duncan Jenkins Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/11157
Café Society
NTAS NTRS 226 TS98 Jacqueline O'Brien, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219958
NTAS NTRS 226 TS123/1 Lou Stewart, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219957
NTAS Lucy and Steve Entner, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219959
Zero in the Tropics café, Darwin, 1943, PH0377/0344, Coburg Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/33189
Joe's Snack Bar, Darwin, n.d. c.1950s, PH0770/0014, Gunn Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/1566
Family and guests, Chin wedding, Oriental Café, Darwin, n.d. c.1960s, PH0553/0109, Darwina & William Fong Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/37791
After the war
NTSD NTRS226 TS620 Des Nudl, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219965
NTAS NTRS226 TS81 Les Liveris, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219964
NTAS NTRS226 TS141 Frank Wise, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219962
NTAS NTRS226 TS630 Ken Frey, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219963
Graffiti and bullet damage on the Gordon Don Hotel, Darwin, 1942, PH0808/0025, Darwin Bombing Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/151399
Bombed houses, Darwin, n.d. c.1940s, PH0402/0035, R. Bradbrook Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/25235
Building a 'government grey' at Fannie Bay, Darwin, n.d. c.1950s, PH0132/0007, Clem Gullick Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/14286
Larrakia country - the Mills family
NTAS interview with Robert Mills 14 November 2009,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219966
The Mills Sisters performing on tambourine, bush bass, T-Box, guitar. (L-R) Barbara; Violet; Alison; June
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/31537
Aboriginal protest, Fort Hill, Darwin; crosses in memory of those Darwin Larrakia who have passed on, 14 July 1972, PH0052/0002, W.B. Day Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/28816
Katherine Section:
The Katherine
Alfred Giles and family, with Springvale Homestead in the background, 1894, PH0025/0003, M. Voller Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/4279
Katherine Post Office, lineman's room and kitchen, PH0315/0076, Carl E. Schultz Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/27106
Railway bridge. Men repairing the Katherine railway bridge after flooding, PH0200/0131, Mayse Young Collection, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/13451
Australian soldiers in Katherine, 1944, PH0459/0037, Ashley David Magarey Collection,
Northern Territory Library, http://hdl.handle.net/10070/33989
Eric Izod, on left with Ena Ryan in front of the car, following the "Rejex" Trial from Darwin to Katherine, Izod Collection PH0748/0024, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/5306
Building Bridges
NTAS NTRS 226 TS 147 William Allcorn, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219895
Train crossing Katherine River Bridge, n.d. c.1930s, PH0233/0020, Harold Snell Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/14416
Emungalan, north of the Katherine River
NTAS NTRS 226 TS 1187 Allan Chong-Fong, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219897
Car parked outside George Lim's store in Katherine, n.d. c.1930s, PH0224/0004, Alec Fong Lim Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/14061
'A Three Course Meal…'
NTAS NTRS226 TS333 Eileen Stott, Northern Territory Library [no Audio available, see Kath Mahony]
NTRS 226 TS 446 Kath Mahony, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219896
The O'Shea family, who owned hotels in Katherine, Birdum and Borroloola in Birdum , n.d. c.1930s, PH0346/0021, C.W. MacPherson Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/26379
O'Shea's Billiard Room and Dining Room at Emungalan, c.1920s, PH0268/0019, Katherine Historical Society Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/31067
Pre-War Katherine
NTAS NTRS226 TS647 Bert Nixon, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219898
Peanut farmer, Katherine, n.d. c.1940s, PH0355/0008, Charles Pole Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/29351
The White Russians
NTAS NTRS 226 TS595 Erina Tokmakoff-Hill, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219899
Main Street of Katherine, n.d., PH0546/0032, Alexander Fleetwood Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/2933
'The Katherine Express'
NTAS NTRS 226 TS471 Nadia Pascoe, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219919
NTAS NTRS219 TS930 Peg MacFarlane, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219921
Old Railway Hotel, Katherine, n.d. c.1930s, PH0136/0258, Northern Territory Government Photographer Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/10166
Nursing sisters, Katherine Hospital 1949-50, PH0245/0009, L.W. Alderman Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/18273
World War II Frontline
NTAS NTRS 226 TS634 Ernest Fong, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219912
NTAS interview with Kath Mills, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219914
NTAS NTRS 226, TS 965 and NTRS 219, TP 1073, Mim McGinness, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/221158
Evacuation of the McGinness family 1942, PH0546/0025, Alexander Fleetwood Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/8398
Scan of telegram closing Katherine school 27 March 1942, Northern Territory Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219928
Growing the Katherine - the Tapp family
NTAS interview with Toni Tapp-Coutts 4, 13 November 2009,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219926
View of Katherine with swag under tree, 1960, PH0510/0014, Harney McCaffery Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/35834
Tennant Creek Section:
The golden heart of Tennant Creek
Tennant Creek Overland Telegraph staff n.d., PH0238/0380, Peter Spillett Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/12483
Tennant Creek near the Police Station. Jack Gorey has always been noted for his clean and well laid out camps, 1935, PH0175/0040, Richards Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/13690
Joe Cazinski at Tennant Creek, 1930s, who named the mine he helped discovered after his little dog, Peko, PH0209/0035, Hilda Tuxworth Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/18768
Harold Williams store, Tennant Creek. Shows signs on tin shed advertising Len Tuits bus service, newspapers and Pioneer Cinema Poster. Blinds pulled down on verandah. Lettering under verandah reads A. F. Campbell and Co. General Store. PH0021/0005, Hilda Tuxworth Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/1257
The Hangover nugget from the dolomite mine, Tennant Creek, c.1980s, Warren Gottaas Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/27040
Getting there
NTAS NTRS TS89 Nancy Mannion, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219885
Bogged ute near Ti-Tree Well, 1937, PH0254/0049, E.K. Leslie Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/15222
Frontier Town
NTAS NTRS TS254 Len Kittle, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219886
Tennant Creek, 1930s, PH0316/0020, Sister O'Keefe Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/25390
A Home of One's Own
NTAS NTRS 226 TS284 Clara Mills, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219887
Having a bath in Tennant Creek in 1952 with water costing 5/- per 100 gallons, PH0733/0010, Savage Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/567
Stores and Supplies
NTAS NTRS TS38 Eunice Deen, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219888
Camels travelling from Oodnadatta to Alice Springs loaded with the government mail, n.d. c.1920s, PH00147/0063, J Graeme Bucknall Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/19073
Butcher's Shop, Tennant Creek, 1934, PH0209/0023, Hilda Tuxworth Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/18139
Social Life in the 1930s
NTAS NTRS TS834 Camelia Meyers, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219889
John and Elsie Bohnings wedding, Tennant Creek, 1931, PH0209/0069, Hilda Tuxworth Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/13975
Men, Women and Alcohol
NTAS NTRS 226 TS835 Margot Miles, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219891
NTAS NTRS 226 TS577 Ruby Reed, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219892
Christmas dinner, Tennant Creek, 1934, PH0209/0036, Hilda Tuxworth Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/16041
A Wild Man of Tennant
NTAS NTRS TS787 Alf Chittock and Peter Gunner,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219890
Noble's Hotel, Tennant Creek, n.d. c.1930s, PH0282/0029, PictureNT Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/31443
The voice of Tennant - the Affianos family
NTAS interview with Jasmine Affianos 14 October, 2009,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219893
Office of the Tennant and District Times, Tennant Creek, 1984, PH0104/0206, Peter Forrest Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/223
The front page of the Tennant Creek Times, Friday, May 25th 1956, Northern Territory Library Newspaper collection.
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219894
Alice Springs Section:
Alice Springs and Central Australia
The Bungalow float in the first Bangtail Muster, Alice Springs, 1951, PH180/0026, Alice Springs Collection,
Northern Territory Library, http://hdl.handle.net/10070/1090
Alice Springs Telegraph Station, 1890s, PH0764/0006 Boerner Collection,
Northern Territory Library, http://hdl.handle.net/10070/3153
Mr Peer Mahomet, Central Australian 'Afghan' cameleer, who came from Peshawar, North Pakistan and who died in 1940, PH0057/0056, John Blakeman Collection,
Northern Territory Library : http://hdl.handle.net/10070/33120
Army tents in Alice Springs, taken from Anzac Hill, 1940s, PH0425/0013, World War II Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/32746
Growing up - the 1900s
NTAS NTRS 226 TS474 Eileen Park, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219846
Children playing, the Bungalow, Alice Springs, 1937, PH0254/0063, E.K. Leslie Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/16669
Alice in the late 1920s
NTAS NTRS 226 TS1130 Bern Kilgariff AM, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219849
'Afghans' and camels, Alice Springs, n.d., PH0723/0011, Gorle Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/3602
Wallis' Store, Alice Springs, c.1920s, PH0764/0051, Boerner Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/5118
To Jay Creek and Back
NTAS NTRS 226, TS 660 Emily Liddle, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219847
The Bungalow, Alice Springs, 1927, PH0180/0026, Resonians Automobile Tour Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/16219
Arriving on the Old Ghan
NTAS NTRS 226 TS835 Margot Miles, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219850
The Ghan at the railway station at Stuart, Alice Springs, c.1929, PH0764/0124, Boerner Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/6571
Greetings from Alice
NTAS NTRS 226 TS702 Stan Cawood (1930's),
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219851
NTAS NTRS 226 TS702 Stan Cawood (1950's),
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219852
Palm Valley party, Tuit's Tours, n.d., PH0770/0038, Gunn Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/3620
Advertisement, Tuit's Coach Services, Centralian Advocate, 22 July 1955, from the newspaper collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219859
Ayers Rock Christmas card, n.d. c.1960s, PH0430/0018, Margaret Bell Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/29774
A Town Like Alice
NTAS NTRS 226 TS859 Reg Harris, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219853
NTAS NTRS 226 TS520 Howard Truran, Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219854
Scan of book cover: A Town Like Alice, by Neville Shute, from the Northern Territory Library Special Collection.
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219858
The 'new' Pioneer Picture Theatre, Alice Springs, c. 1940s, PH0459/0110, Ashley David Magarey Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/30085
Jedda's Leap
NTAS NTRS 226 TS501 Rosalie Kunoth Monks,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219855
'Color, Excitement at Premiere Hundred flock to see Jedda', Northern Territory News, 6 January, 1955, Northern Territory Library newspaper collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/220124
Rosalie Kunoth Monks at the Darwin premier of Jedda, PH0141/0169, Steve Lorman Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/10344
Bob Tudawali signing autographs at the Darwin premier of Jedda, Star Picture Theatre, PH0141/0167, Steve Lorman Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/15503
Pioneering pastoralists - the Hayes family
NTAS interview with Jim and Richard Hayes 17 October, 2009.
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219856
Jim Hayes and son Richard Hayes, NT Library,
Northern Territory Library Collection http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219857
Central Australian Pastoral Leases owned by Hayes family in 1922, Australia. Dept. of Home and Territories. Northern Territory Branch, General map of the Northern Territory of Australia [cartographic material] 1922
Northern Territory Library Rare Map 28 http://hdl.handle.net/10070/219860
Maryvale Station, PH0180/0014, Resonians Automobile Tour Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/12775
Car stopped between the two oaks near Deep Well, PH0386/0049, Bill Littlejohn Collection,
Northern Territory Library http://hdl.handle.net/10070/50867