CDU start project to uncover Darwin’s ‘forgotten’ literary history, bring into national spotlight

A new project is aiming to turn the page on Darwin’s ‘forgotten’ literary prowess, bringing the Northern Territory capital into the spotlight. Find out how.

A new research project is aiming to turn the page on Darwin’s “forgotten” literary prowess, bringing the Northern Territory capital into the spotlight. Picture: Charles Darwin University

A new research project is aiming to turn the page on Darwin’s “forgotten” literary prowess, bringing the Northern Territory capital into the spotlight.

The project – Re-Mapping the Lost Literary Capital: Darwin / Larrakia Nation – will uncover the scores of novels, plays, short stories, poems and genre fiction titles that portray Darwin from federation to the present day.

Funded by the Australian Research Council, the project is a collaboration between Charles Darwin University, University of Queensland (UQ) and Flinders University.

CDU’s associate professor Adelle Sefton-Rowston and UQ’s associate professor Stephen Carleton. Picture: Charles Darwin University

Early indicators from the research show early literature produced about Darwin discussed race, culture and colonialism, while later literature reflected Darwin’s multiculturalism.

After the team analyses the literature, they will work with the UQ-hosted AustLit and Flinders University-hosted AusStage databases to offer a series of public lectures and exhibitions at the NT library, as well as guided literary tours of Darwin.

The team also plans to produce a textbook introducing the literature of Darwin and Larrakia Nation for future educators, students and researchers.

CDU’s associate professor Adelle Sefton-Rowston and UQ’s associate professor Stephen Carleton. Picture: Charles Darwin University

UQ’s associate professor Stephen Carleton, one of the project’s investigators, said he hoped the research would revive interest in Darwin’s literary history.

“As someone who grew up here and who went to school in Darwin, there was never a novel in the curriculum, never a play, never a short story set in Darwin”, he said.

“We were always reading about other places.”

“This is about remembering and creating opportunity and contributing to the city’s cultural life.”

CDU’s associate professor Adelle Sefton-Rowston, said she hoped the research would encourage Australians to better understand Darwin as a literary capital.

“I’ve taught English in high schools here and literary studies at CDU, and I’ve had to make deliberate efforts to represent Darwin,” she said.

“We want this project to appeal to everyone across the country … [and give people] a sense of what it could be like to live in Darwin.”

Originally published as CDU start project to uncover Darwin’s ‘forgotten’ literary history, bring into national spotlight