The Northern Territory Archives Service (NTAS) is responsible for the preservation and management of Territory records, both government and non-government. The collection includes diaries, manuscripts, photographic prints and slides, scrapbooks, maps, letters, personal papers. reports, minutes of meetings, correspondence, policy files, publicity material, journals, legal documents, plans, posters and oral history recordings and transcripts.
The Araluen Arts Centre was opened in 1984, with a 500 seat theatre, two gallery spaces and a function room. A further two galleries were added to the Art Centre in 2001. The Araluen Arts Centre is the key Centre for visual and performing arts activity in Alice Springs and the Central Australian region.
The Department of Lands Planning and the Environment works with the community to conserve and promote the Territory's natural and cultural heritage. It ensures that the Heritage Act is administered effectively, supports the Heritage Council, assists the owners of heritage places, promotes heritage and encourages good conservation practice, and oversees the Conservation Program for NT Government-owned heritage assets.
The Northern Territory contains a rich and diverse range of Aboriginal archaeological places, which are evidence of the occupation of the Northern Territory by Aboriginal people for tens of thousands of years. In the Northern Territory, all Aboriginal and Macassan archaeological places and objects are automatically protected by the Heritage Act. This reflects the importance of such places to Aboriginal people and to the wider community, including for their scientific value.
The NT Heritage Register is established under the Heritage Act and contains details about all declared heritage places and objects, as well as those subject to provisional protection under the Act.
The Northern Territory Library has been enriching the lives of Territorians for over 30 years. Our services help Territorians connect with the past, contribute to the present, and learn for the future.
Northern Territory Library's online exhibitions seek to showcase our collection and engage audiences with a rich variety of topics including WWII, Bombing of Darwin and Cyclone Tracy.
Find information on Managing Northern Territory Shipwrecks, Shipwrecks and the law, The Northern Territory Shipwreck Database, Historical Shipwreck Profiles and Diving around NT Shipwrecks.
The World War II Shipwrecks are a direct result of the first Japanese air raid on Australia, which occurred in Darwin on 19 February 1942. The wrecks are memorials to those who lost their lives in the first bombing raid on Australia and for those who defended Darwin. Thirty two years later Darwin was again attacked. On Christmas Day 1974 Cyclone Tracy struck Darwin and caused major havoc.