The Chief Minister's Northern Territory History Book Award is the premier prize for written works pertaining to the history of the Northern Territory of Australia.

Establishment

The award began in 2004. It was created to recognise "the scholarly, literary and creative achievements" of Australian writers and to encourage the documenting of history of the Northern Territory. The inaugural winner was Dr David Bridgman for "Acclimatisation: architecture at the Top End of Australia.

The award is administered by Northern Territory Library.

Winners and finalists Past winners and finalists include: 2026WinnerMartin Thomas — Clever Men : How Worlds Collided on the Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land of 19482025WinnerClare Wright — Naku Dharuk : The Bark Petitions2024WinnerLiam M. Brady and John Bradley — Jakarda Wuka (Too Many Stories)2021Winner Sally May, Laura Rademaker, Donna Nadjamerrek and Julie Narndal Gumurdul — The Bible in Buffalo Country: Oenpelli Mission 1925–1931Highly Commended Maisie Austin and Matthew Stephen — The Cummings Family: Family, Belonging and Connection to CountryFinalists Derek Pugh — Port Essington: The British in North Australia 1838–49 Brian Reid — Power and Protection: The contest between the Government Residents and the medical Protectors of the Aborigines in South Australia's Northern Territory2020 (not awarded) 2019Winner Lyndon Megarrity — Northern Dreams: The Politics of Northern Development in AustraliaFinalists Laura Rademaker — Found in Translation: Many Meanings on a North Australian Mission Maggie Brady — Teaching "proper" drinking? Clubs and pubs in Indigenous Australia 2018Winner Kathy De La Rue — A Stubborn City: Darwin 1911-1978Finalists Steven Farram — Charles James Kirkland: The Life and Times of a Pioneer Newspaperman in the Top End of Australia Pam Oliver — The Intrepid Hilda Abbott: Author, Designer, Red Cross Officer, Political Wife, 1890-1984 Sid Anderson, John Kean, Professor Fred R Myers, Lisa Nolan, Dr Benedict Scambary, Luke Scholes, Long Jack Phillipus Tjakamarra, Michael Nelson Tjakamarra, Joseph Jurrah Tjapaltjarri, Bobby West Tjupurrula, Desmond Phillipus Tjupurrula and Margie West — Tjungunutja: from having come together 2017Winner Stuart Traynor — Alice Springs: From Singing Wire to Iconic Outback TownFinalists Deborah Bisa — Remember Me Kindly: A History of the Holtze Family in the Northern Territory Claire Lowrie — Masters and Servants: Cultures of Empire in the Tropics Charlie Ward — A Handful of Sand: The Gurindji Struggle, After the Walk-Off 2016Winner Adrian Vickers and Julia Martinez – The Pearl Frontier: Indonesian Labor and Indigenous Encounters in Australia's Northern Trading NetworkFinalists John Lamb - Silent pearls: old Japanese graves in Darwin and the history of pearling Deborah Wilson - Different White People: Radical Activism For Aboriginal Rights 1946 – 1972 Yanyuwa, Marra, Garrwa and Gudanji families with Karin Riederer - Gulf Country Songbook: Yanyuwa, Marra, Garrwa and Gudanji Songs 2015Winner Dick Dakeyne – Radar GunnerFinalists Sophie Cunningham – Warning – The Story of Cyclone Tracy Steven Farram - A History Written in Metal 2014Winner Helen Bond-Sharp – ManingridaFinalists Robyn Smith – Antecedents: the history of Ward Keller Tom Lewis – Carrier Attack Darwin 1942 2013Joint Winners Jennifer Isaacs – Tiwi: art, history, culture and Darrell Lewis – A Wild History: life and death on the Victoria River frontierFinalists Jane Lydon – The Flash of Recognition: photography and the emergence of indigenous rights Noah Riseman – Defending Whose Country? : Indigenous soldiers in the Pacific War 2012Joint Winners Anthony Cooper – Darwin Spitfires: the Real Battle for Australia Jack Cross – Great Central StateFinalists Murray Seiffert – Gumbuli of Ngukurr: Aboriginal Elder in Arnhem Land 2011Winner Dr Mickey Dewar – Darwin – No Place Like HomeFinalists Alan Powell – Northern Voyagers: Australia’s Monsoon Coast in Maritime History Matthew Stephen – Contact Zones: Sport and Race in the Northern Territory, 1869–1953 2010Winner Peter Grose – An Awkward TruthFinalists 2009Joint WinnersBanduk Marika – Yalangbara: art of the Djang’kawu Vivien Johnson – Lives of the Papunya Tula ArtistsFinalists 2008Winner Philip Jones – Ochre and RustFinalistsAlex Kruger & Gerrard Waterford – Alone on the Soaks Philip Jones & Anna Kenny – Australia's Muslim Cameleers Baiba Berzins – Australia's Northern Secret: Tourism in the Northern Territory Robert Foster & Amanda Nettlebeck – In the Name of the Law Andrew McMillan – An Intruder's Guide to East Arnhem Land Darrel Lewis – The Murranji Track 2007Winner Pam Oliver – Empty North: the Japanese presence and Australian reactions 1860s to 1942FinalistsGlenice Yee — Through Chinese eyes: the Chinese experience in the Northern Territory 1874–2004 Liam Campbell — Darby: one hundred years in a changing culture 2006Winner Tony Roberts — Frontier Justice: A History of the Gulf Country To 1900 , Reviews: FinalistsMarge Duminski — Southport Northern Territory 1869–2002 (Historical Society of the Northern Territory, 2005) Claire Henty-Gebert — Paint Me Black Pearl Ogden — People of the Victoria River Region: An Album 2005Winner John Mulvaney — Paddy Cahill of Oenpelli Reviews:FinalistsKathy de la Rue — The Evolution of Darwin 1869–1911 Peter Monteath (ed) — The Diary of Emily Caroline Creaghe, Explorer 2004Winner David Bridgman — Acclimatisation: architecture at the top end of Australia FinalistsGeraldine Byrne – Tom and Jack: A Frontier Story Ivan Jordan – Their way: Towards an Indigenous Warlpiri Christianity Brian Reid – The Menzies School of Health Research: Establishment, 1978–1997

Notes

See also New South Wales Premier's History Awards List of history awards List of Australian literary awards Victorian Community History Awards Australian History Awards Prime Minister's Prize for Australian History Western Australian Premier's Book Awards

External links Northern Territory Library