The Chief Minister today presented Mr Stuart Traynor with a $1000 cash prize as the winner of the 2017 Chief Minister’s Northern Territory History Book Award at a presentation ceremony at the Northern Territory Library, Parliament House.

The Department of Tourism and Culture CEO Mr Alastair Shields congratulated Mr Traynor on the award and his contribution to remembering the Territory’s history. 

“The 2017 Chief Minister’s Northern Territory History Book Award recognises the most significant contribution to Northern Territory history published during 2016,” Mr Shields said.

Mr Traynor’s book, Alice Springs: From Singing Wire to Iconic Outback Town, was one of four finalists from a total field of 15 entries. 

The judging panel agreed that this work is a substantial addition to the genre, and commented favourably on the book’s potential to become a standard text in the study of Central Australian history.

The ‘singing wire’ refers to the Overland Telegraph; the development of this important early communications infrastructure becomes the narrative thread for Traynor’s exploration of the deeper history of Alice Springs and the region.

The panel’s statement reads: “It seems amazing that there hasn’t been an in-depth history of Alice Springs written before this.  The last definitive work was Alice on the Line, by Blackwell and Lockwood in 1965.  Mr Traynor’s work is very detailed, accurate, well-referenced, comprehensive and authoritative. It fills a big gap in Northern Territory scholarship.  A worthy winner, it shows clear pride from an Alice Springs local and will be an important reference in years to come.”

Stuart Traynor lived in Alice Springs for many years and spent eight years researching and writing this book.  He is well-known for his work in community education with the Parks and Wildlife Commission and as a weekly guest on ABC local radio. 

A special mention was also awarded to Jones’ Store, Newcastle Waters, Northern Territory: a social history of an outback store by Peter Jones. The judging panel felt that this book was a warm, accessible family history and worthy of special recognition.

The four shortlisted books vying for the Award included:

o  Remember Me Kindly: A History of the Holtze Family in the Northern Territory – Deborah Bisa

o  Masters and Servants: Cultures of Empire in the Tropics – Claire Lowrie

o  A Handful of Sand: The Gurindji Struggle, After the Walk-Off – Charlie Ward

o  Alice Springs: From Singing Wire to Iconic Outback Town – Stuart Traynor

The Chief Minister’s Northern Territory History Book Award has been administered by the Northern Territory Library since its creation in 2004.

Mr Stuart Traynor will be delivering a talk on his winning book Alice Springs: From Singing Wire to Iconic Outback Town at 5.15pm this evening at the Northern Territory Library.

For more information and to view past winners visit www.nt.gov.au/history-book-award