Historian Peter Forrest awarded CDU honorary doctorate

One of the great chroniclers of Territory history has been awarded an unexpected academic honour. Read what it is.

Prominent Darwin historian Peter Forrest has been awarded an honorary doctorate from Charles Darwin University for his work recording and narrating the Territory’s history.

Mr Forrest first visited the Territory in 1961 and moved to Darwin in 1978 as the first Director of the National Trust.

In 1982 he began work as a freelance writer, broadcaster and heritage consultant and over the next 20 years delivered innumerable broadcasts for the ABC, which dubbed him its “resident historian”.

In 1996 he began writing a weekly, widely-read series of history features for the NT News. The features were focused on the life experiences of Territorians and were enlarged by special supplements about historical subjects of topical interest.

CDU honorary doctorate recipient Peter Forrest.

Since 1983 Peter, often in collaboration with his wife Sheila, has written and published 35 books, predominantly focused on northern Australian history.

In addition he scripted and produced five historical performances that were presented to full houses at Darwin Entertainment Centre and scripted and narrated short films, documentaries and interviews.

Mr Forrest, 82, thanked the university for the honour.

“I feel greatly honoured and I am very grateful to the University for acknowledging my

work in the Territory,” he said.

“I have been fascinated by the Territory’s people and places since I first visited here in 1961. It is a very special place and I have been privileged to be able to make its history the focus of my life’s work.

Historian Peter Forrest with his wife Sheila.

“My objective has always been to take history off the shelf and make it accessible to

everyone. I don’t write or speak for the academic common room, I try to make my

meaning plain, clear and direct. People tell me I have succeeded in that and I am glad.”

While at the National Trust, he tried to develop the Territory community’s recognition and understanding of its historic places.

“One of my early successes was to persuade the Everingham government that the piles of rubble along the Esplanade that before Cyclone Tracy had been the old courthouse and police station should be reconstructed and put to use as offices for the Administrator. Today the site is one of Darwin’s proudest adornments.”

Mr Forrest said he would continue writing and researching the Territory for as long as he can.

“I have just completed one book and there is another one in the pipeline,” he said. “The Territory’s special place in Australia’s story must be recognised and recorded, and I want to play my part in that.”