An outstanding selection of books highlighting the Northern Territory’s history has been announced as the shortlisted candidates for the 2016 Chief Minister’s Northern Territory History Book Awards. 

Northern Territory Library Director Patrick Gregory said the annual award recognised the most significant historical book in the Northern Territory, published in 2015.

“The Northern Territory Library received 13 strong entries – more than double the number of last year’s candidates,” Mr Gregory said.

“This year’s entrants recognised many periods of Northern Territory’s diverse history from the Bombing of Darwin and Cyclone Tracy to activism for Aboriginal Rights and the history of local football.”

The judging panel includes a Northern Territory Library official and three Darwin-based historians and archivists.

 A spokesperson from the judging panel said this year’s judging was very close with an exceptional field of entries.

 “The number and quality of entrants reflects the level of public interest in Northern Territory history which is fantastic,” the spokesperson said.

 The shortlisted entries for 2016 are:

•  Silent Pearls : Old Japanese Graves in Darwin and the History of Pearling by John Lamb
• The Pearl Frontier: Indonesian Labor and Indigenous Encounters in Australia's Northern Trading Network by Julia Martinez and Adrian Vickers
• Different White People: Radical Activism For Aboriginal Rights 1946 – 1972 by Deborah Wilson
• Gulf Country Songbook: Yanyuwa, Marra, Garrwa and Gadanji Songs by Yanyuwa, Marra, Garrwa and Gadanji families with Karin Riederer

 The winner of the 2016 Chief Minister’s Northern Territory History Book Award will be announced on Tuesday 28 June at Northern Territory Library in Parliament House.

Media Contact: Jordan Raymond-Monro, 8999 4726