Today marks the 150th anniversary of the establishment of permanent European settlement in the Northern Territory, by South Australian Surveyor-General George Goyder.
Surveyor-General Goyder and his team arrived on 5 February 1869, and set up camp in an area just below where Government House sits today.
Goyder’s team surveyed a new town on the escarpment above Goyder’s Camp, which was known as Palmerston. This became the modern city of Darwin.
Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture, Director of Heritage Branch, Michael Wells, said the Government has worked with the City of Darwin, National Trust, Larrakia Nation, and many other stakeholders to provide a diverse range of opportunities for people to engage with the story of Goyder’s arrival.
“We can all recognise the achievements of Goyder and his team, however, it is important to remember that the place where Goyder landed was not unoccupied. It was the traditional lands of the Larrakia people,” Mr Wells said.
“Interactions between the Traditional Owners and the survey team in the first few months were a complex mix of friendliness, curiosity, suspicion, and occasional hostility.
“In time, European settlement in the Territory brought dramatic changes to Aboriginal society. It is critical that we acknowledge this, as we mark the 150th anniversary of Goyder’s arrival.”
Here are some of the events and activities:
· Exhibition at Roadmaster’s House: An exhibition entitled ‘In the Footsteps of Goyder’ is open now at the historic ‘Roadmaster’s House’, which is located at the ‘Stella Maris site’, not far from the City of Darwin offices. The exhibition runs until October 2019. Opening hours: 10.00am – 1.00pm every day except Monday and Saturday.
· Exhibition at NT Archives: The NT Archives is hosting a small exhibition of material associated with George Goyder, from 1 February until 28 February 2019. The NT Archives is located in Kelsey Crescent, Millner. Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8.00am – 4.30pm.
· Exhibition, Northern Territory Library: The NT Library will host an exhibition entitled ‘Schultze and Hoare: the Collector and the Illustrator’ from 5 – 24 February 2019. This unique exhibition displays images of plant specimens collected by naturalist Fredrick Schultze, and prints of watercolours by Doctor’s assistant W W Hoare. Both men were on Goyder’s expedition. The NT Library is located at Parliament House and opening hours are Tuesday 10.00am – 5.00pm; Wednesday 10.00am – 8.00pm; Thursday and Friday 10.00am – 5.00pm; Saturday and Sunday 1.00pm – 5.00pm. The Library is closed on Mondays.
· Talk at NT Archives: Historian Derek Pugh will be giving a talk entitled ‘A Good Place for Landing’ at the NT Archives on Thursday 7 February 2019. The NT Archives are located in Kelsey Crescent, Millner. Bookings essential.
Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture media manager: 0476 844 832
