Historical Society of the Northern Territory

26/10/2026

Our 8th Oration was held at History House on Sunday 25 October 2026. Our guest speaker was Dr Jeff Swann on his 2024 Canning Stock Route trip

The Canning Stock Route runs from Halls Creek, Western Australia to Wiluna in the mid-west region. With a total distance of around 1,850 km. The stock route is named after Alfred Canning, a surveyor with the Western Australian Department of Lands and Surveys who surveyed the route.
Although Jeff’s qualifications are orthodontist he has a strong interest in Australian history.
His 4WD trip over the Canning Stock Route took 10 days. Heavy corrugations were the worst part of the journey and tyre pressures were reduced to 20psi. There were also the fine sand & dune crossings to contend with. The route took in 50 wells which remarkably had many remnants. Jeff and his group were still able to draw water from some of the wells. The scenery along the route was spectacular, especially the colours of the outback, the stunning rocky outcrops and the unusual shaped spinifex. The journey ended at Wolfe Creek Crater which was in flood and this offered an additional photogenic opportunity

25/10/2026

Historical Society President, Derek Pugh donated a bottle of Chateau Hornsby w**e from his personal collection to the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT. History Curator, Jared Archibald accepted it.

25/10/2026

History Talks - Annual History Colloquium held by the Professional Historians Association was held on 24 October 2026

17/10/2026

Launch of Territory Treasures: Our Search for Kilwa Coins and Other Centuries Old Artefacts in Australia's Top End on 16 October.
About 100 people attended the launch on the beautiful grounds of Burnett House.
Yiwarr McGrath, Member for Mulka spoke on his hypothesis on how the coins found their way to Arnhemland and launched the book.

13/10/2026

Museum & Art Gallery of the NT Backroom tour
Our wonderful guides Jared and Paige showed us a variety of interesting objects – such as Darwin glass soft drink bottles with “marbles” dating back to the 1900s, Nurse Ellen Kettle’s uniform, Ludmilla Holtzes’ shawl, a Cashmans wrapper, a Chateau Hornsby w**e label, a small hand gun that had been buried for many years and o***m bottles.

left: Bev Phelts, Frieda Evans, Derek Pugh, Jeff Swann, Paige Taylor, Penny Baird, Heather Boulden, Marnie Cameron, Sharleen, Jeremy Hemphill, Jared Archibald, Sachiko Hirayama. Photo courtesy MAGNT

13/10/2026

29/09/2026

Come along to the Professional Historian Association NT annual Colloquium on Saturday 24 October at NT Library & Archives opposite Woolworths, Cavenagh Street, Darwin. Entry is free.
The Program is available at this site https://lant.nt.gov.au/system/files/uploads/files/2026/2026%20History%20Colloquium_Program_A5.pdf

20/09/2026

Friday 16 October – Book Launch at National Trust Burnett House at 5pm

The Society’s newest publication "Territory Treasures: Our Search for Kilwa Coins and other Centuries Old Artefacts in Australia’s Top End".
The book is about the discovery of medieval African coins in Arnhem Land from Tanzania which is a great mystery. The coins were found by an Australian serviceman during World War2. Since 2013, the authors have been searching for clues on this rare discovery. By what means, and how did these coins find their way to Arnhem Land 10,000km away. This book offers a range of hypotheses and demonstrates that the Yolngu of Arnhem land were involved in maritime trading well before the arrival of the Macassan trepangers during the 1700s.
The book written by Ian McIntosh et al. will be launched by the PastMasters. The book will be on sale for $35 CASH preferred.

01/09/2026

21/08/2026

VALE Dr Albert Foreman OAM - 1931-2026
Albert was a long term Historical Society member and only had just closed his ear, nose and throat practice in Brinkin at the age of 95. He marked 50 years of medical practice and before that as a civil engineer in Central Australia and the Barkly. He wanted to spend his retirement writing a book. There was no stopping him!

For more information about his remarkable career, see the ABC’s story on this iconic Territorian.

We are deeply sadden to hear of his passing in his sleep on 20 August. He and Jenny will be sorely missed at our functions and our annual book sale.

Albert's funeral will be held on Friday 4 September, 9.30am at Christ Church Anglican Cathedral in Darwin, corner of Smith St and the Esplanade