Many old photographs and stories of the history of Darwin
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The Stories
Image and Description: Robert Porter.
Building the Charles Point lighthouse in 1893. This was prefabricated in Birmingham U.K and shipped to Australia in crates.
Posted 2-August-2022
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Group at the Palmerston Archery Club, Palmerston c. 1887
Photo number: PH0238/2104
Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/741235
Peter Spillett Collection
Description:
Sitting 2nd from left Ludmilla Holtze;
others unidentified. Matthew Stephen [18 July 2015] noted the presence of an Aboriginal youth in the back, probably a servant and also pointed out that the Foeslche photograph from the Palmerston Archery Club c. 1886, Paul Foelsche,
State Library of South Australia, B24245, appears to be a more formal photograph
of the same event
Posted 3-August-2022
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Photographer: Foelsche, P. (Paul), 1831-1914
Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/436144
Description:
The Estelle at Southport Jetty 1878 . Depicts the the boat at the jetty and a number of store buildings at left.
Posted 5-August-2022
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Image Source: Tony Stokes 28 Dec-2021
Six debutants, Darwin Catholic Ball.1940
Tony Stokes 28 Dec-2021
While spending time with my wonderful 97 yo aunt, Joyce Wheatley nee. Bowman, over Christmas I showed her this photo from her photo collection. She features in it as one of six debutants presented at the 24 July 1940 Darwin Catholic Ball. Also appended is the 'Northern Standard' article two days later about the
Ball (with thanks to TROVE). Joyce identified people in the photo as follows:
Left to Right:
Flower Girls: Margaret Lyons and Joy Lord;
Seated:
Esme Finniss, Maureen O’Brien, Sheila Spain (not in article), Dorothy Lyons, Charles Abbott (NT Administrator), Hilda Abbott, James Fairbairn (Minister for Air), Father William Henschke, unidentified (probably Edna Ackroyd), Joyce Bowman, Pauline Conanan,
Standing:
George Thomas, Brian Rawling, unidentified, Peggy Smyth, Bill West, Jack Bowman, John Perez
Notes:
(1) The newspaper got the name of Joyce's partner of the night wrong. It was her brother, Jack Bowman, who is standing behind her.
(2) The article also fails to mention Sheila Spain as a debutant.
(3) Minister Fairbairn died tragically with nine other people 3 weeks later on 13 August as
their aircraft was coming in to land at Canberra Airport.
Posted 6-August-2022
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Image Source:
Creator: Bleeser, Florenz A. K., 1871-1942
Title: Township showing cyclone damage, Palmerston [i.e. Darwin], 1897 [picture] / Florenz Bleeser Call Number: PIC/9981/32 LOC Cold store PIC BLE Created/Published: 1897
Andrew King:
The 15th July. On this day in Darwin History 1893
On 15th July 1893 was the first official execution in the Northern Territory. The condemned man was a Queensland ‘half-caste’ named Charlie Flannigan. On the evening of the 19th Flannigan left the card game he was playing and returned a few minutes later with a Snider rifle. Accounts vary as to whether there had been an argument between Sam Croker and Flannigan, or whether there was an old enmity between them, but in any case, Flannigan shot Sam dead. The following morning he helped bury Croker in the station cemetery and then fled to Ord River Station where he was talked into giving himself up. Tried in Darwin, Flannigan was convicted of Sam Croker’s murder and sentenced to death. He was hanged at Fannie Bay Gaol on 15th July 1893.
On the 6-7 Jan 1897, Palmerston as Darwin was then known then was hit by a cyclone that caused a lot of damage. Florenz Bleeser took a number of photographs of the damage.
Posted 8-August-2022
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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/717746
Denise Garside Collection.
Description:
Ruth Boyce with daughters Lea and Denise at the Darwin Wharf. 1955
Posted 10-August-2022
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SLSA B 9749
https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+742/5/82
Photographer: Samuel Sweet
Goyder survey party Fort Point Port Darwin. 1869.
Basically at the base of Hughes Avenue at Goyder Park.
Posted 11-August-2022
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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/710561
Collection: Izod Collection
Description:
The new Izod Motors during the construction process, Knuckey and Cavenagh Street.
Posted 12-August-2022
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Image Source: N/A
1902 On the 12th July 1902 the ceremony for the laying of the foundation stone for the Church of England in Smith Street occurs and is later reported in the Northern Territory Times and Gazette. The stone was laid on the Saturday but on Sunday night was disturbed by person or persons unknown looking for valuables under it.
Joyce Davis:
Did you all know that my grandfather (William Drysdale a stonemason), built the first Church of England Church in Smith Street. He and his Chinese Labourers as well as others in Darwin would take the boat out towing flat topped other boats at high tide from Darwin Wharf around the point to Nightcliff.
Then at low tide they would select the stone that William wanted and mark out the rectangles to cut the stone into blocks. At each corner of the rectangle they would drill holes into the tone and hammer in wooden pegs. When they were all finished they would light a big bonfire on top of the rocks and wait for the high tide to reach them.
When this happened the cold water would swell the wooden dowels and the hot rocks would split in perfect rectangles to the size they wanted then at low tide again they would carry the rocks out and load them on to the barges ready for the next high tide to allow them to sail around to the Darwin wharf again, unload them onto a Chinese mans' bullock wagon to be transported up to the site of the building. The church was built in 1902 without the outside porch of latter years. The porch was added by navy men during the war years.
My grandfathers initials were carved in one of the stones at the back of the church. I and my eldest sister Jean were married in this church. Sadly CT blew all of it down except for the front wall that had the porch the navy built attached.
I think my niece Judy Beard may have posted photos of the church before and after the porch was added so I won't double up on that. The contract to build the church was in V V Brown's name but as he was related through marriage to William Drysdale if one or the other had not finished one contract when another was due to be started they would swap contracts, so that is how V V had the contract but William actually carried it out.
Posted 13-August-2022
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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/629259
Copyright owner: Library & Archives NT
Collection: Robert Monteith Collection
Description:
Robert Monteith with a group of people dressed in theatre clothes
Posted 14-August-2022
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Image Source:
https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+70782/62
Bond's employees, Kevin Harris (left) and Eric Altorfer, pictured in front of one of the buses in Darwin. 1947
Posted 15-August-2022
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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/786778
Charles Micet Collection ;
Description:
Darwin ANA Day, 1937. McFarland, Farrel, Kaufy and Sol Green, with Charles Micet. The parade float is a toilet on the back of truck, registration plate "DDW30".
Posted 17-August-2022
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https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+11348/11
Portrait of George G. MacLachlan, surveyor on the Northern Territory Survey Expedition.
On 23rd July, 1870, one month after the "Bengal" brought news of the Overland Telegraph, George McLachlan, Senior Surveyor, rode out southward from Port Darwin in search of a route for the telegraph line. With him were five men named Wells, Dean, Ringwood, Mason, and Rix. They took a course that brought them to the Mary, McKinlay, and upper Katherine rivers, partly following Stuart's route. They found two horses Stuart had left behind eight years before. The explorers then returned to Darwin.
Posted 18-August-2022
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Image Source: N/A
On 18th July 1952 the Northern Territory administration took over Brown's Building (the Mart) from the Navy. The acting Government Secretary noted that the building had no lavatory accommodation and the water supply was not connected. The Crown Law Officer advised that he would require the whole building for office accommodation for himself, legal officers, clerical and typing staff, law library and retiring room.
Posted 19-August-2022
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Picture: Australian War Memorial
27 Feb 1942: A Cowra Breakout leader, Sgt Hajime Toyoshima (left). He was the first Japanese prisoner-of-war captured on Australian soil in World War 2 during 19 Feb air raids on Darwin. (Holding the fighter pilot's service pistol is Sgt Leslie J. Powell, 23 Field Coy, Royal Australian Engineers.) On 5 Aug 1944, he was one of 231 Japanese POWs killed when 1,100 broke out of a camp near Cowra.
Posted 20-August-2022
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https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/B+26194
1920 Collection
Woman and two small children standing at the entrance to Palm Avenue.
Posted 21-August-2022
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https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22316449
Ref: WA-15442-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
/records/22316449
Darwin street scene including the Star Theatre and Cashmans, Australia. 1948.
Posted 22-August-2022
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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/734791
Copyright owner: Library & Archives NT
Collection: Roger Nott Collection
Description:
Vice-regal visit of Sir George Le Hunt, then Governor of South Australia, in 1905.
Standing Oscar (or Lloyd) Herbert, Aide de camp, sitting Mr. Justice Herbert, Lady Le Hunt, Sir George Le Hunt, Mrs Herbert, Pauline Herbert seated in front, photo taken in garden.
Posted 23-August-2022
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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/717164
Brinkin Casuarina Beach Dripstone Caves
Copyright owner: Library & Archives NT
Description:
Dripstone Rocks, Casuarina Beach
A range of photo's taken whilst in Darwin with 107 Australian General Hospital (AGH) Darwin 1944/45
Posted 24-August-2022
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Image Source: The Haritos Family.
The Haritos brothers, from left to right, Nicholas, Michael, George, and Jack outside their store on Cavenagh Street, Darwin, dressed to meet Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on the royal yacht HMY Britannia in 1963.
Posted 25-August-2022
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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/333926
Buscall Collection ;
Description:
McMillan Bros residence, section 386, Cavenagh Street, Darwin.
Approx half way between Knuckey and Peel Streets.
Posted 26-August-2022
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Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/720734
E. J. Nielson Collection ;
Description:
Children of Villiess Clarence Murray Presley, Darwin's Mayor, at Myilly Point home, Larrakeyah. Clarence, Janet, Edward, Duncan. Shows four outside house, their clothes indicative of the era.
Posted 27-August-2022
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Image source: N/A
The RSL on the corner of Smith and Knuckey Streets Darwin 1924 Next to what is now Raintree Park.
Built by Harold Snell, was under construction in 1922, and opened in 1923. Suvived the war, and was used for dances in the 1950s.
Posted 28-August-2022
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Image source: N/A
Fort Hill Camp 1869-70 looking towards the early town of Palmerston. The
beginnings of the residency can be seen on the hill on the left.
Posted 29-August-2022
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