Library & Archives NT

18/06/2026

The 30th, and sadly final, Alice Springs Beanie Festival is almost here. As the festival prepares to celebrate its last year, we’ve been reflecting on its remarkable legacy of bringing people together through craft and culture. Our team recently shared some of their own treasured Beanie Festival keepsakes – teapot beanies (or cosies!) included – and explored some of the festival materials preserved in the Library & Archives NT collection.

If you’re not able to make it to the Red Centre you can still uncover stories of the Beanie Festival through our collections. Search for “Beanie Festival” in our Library Catalogue to discover a colourful collection of publications documenting the festival’s history alongside stunning photography. You can also explore Territory Stories at territorystories.nt.gov.au to see some of the vibrant posters that helped promote the festival across its 30-year journey.



Alice Springs Beanie Festival

11/06/2026

It’s International Archives Week!

Archives connect us to the stories, experiences and decisions that have shaped our communities. At Library & Archives NT, we care for archival collections that span from today back to the earliest days of European settlement in the Northern Territory. The oldest collection in our archive is a notebook relating to the Port Essington settlement, kept by John McArthur (Jnr) and dated from 1838.

Our unique and irreplaceable records are used every day for a wide range of purposes, from helping someone prove their identity for a passport application, to providing historical detail for books, films and research projects.

Archives preserve the stories of those who came before us, while also capturing the moments that will help future generations understand our lives today.

This International Archives Week, we’d love to hear from you. Have our archives helped you uncover a story, solve a mystery or connect with your past? Share your story in the comments.



Image:
[Extracts], LANT, NTRS 862, McArthur John (Jnr), Notebook relating to the Port Essington settlement, circa 1838-1850.

04/06/2026

The long weekend is almost here, and with cool weather settling in across the Territory, it’s the perfect time for a road trip or an outdoor adventure, maybe you’re even heading along to Barunga Festival.

However you choose to spend the weekend, Library & Archives NT wishes you a safe and joy-filled break.

Please note all Library & Archives NT locations will be closed on Monday 8 June for the public holiday.

Normal opening hours will resume on Tuesday 9 June. Happy long weekend!

To see our full opening hours, please visit: lant.nt.gov.au/visit-us



Image: ‘Shirley and Peter Jones in toy car’, Library & Archives NT, Peter Jones Collection, PH0331/0050, https://hdl.handle.net/10070/324857

03/06/2026

Did you catch the May edition of Library & Archives NT’s e-news? 📰

Last month, we shared news about exciting new additions to LANT’s collections, highlighted a fantastic collaboration with Charles Darwin University that is helping multilingual students build confidence in their English communication skills and showcased our upcoming events.

Catch up on the latest stories, discoveries and opportunities at Library & Archives NT.

Read the full May newsletter here: https://bit.ly/May-lant-e-news

And become a subscriber to stay up to date:
https://bit.ly/lant-subscribe



Image: Steve Lorman, ‘Reading data from a monitor’, 1965, Library & Archives NT, Northern Territory. Dept. of Lands Collection, PH0139/0974, https://hdl.handle.net/10070/939209

27/05/2026

🎭 Don’t miss the launch reading of 'Subscribe Please' at Library & Archives NT!

Written by award-winning NT playwright Sean Guy, this bold new ensemble comedy is funny, chaotic and full of heart, exploring friendship, identity, love and growing up q***r.

Follow a group of newly graduated teens chasing one last unforgettable weekend before university… and attempting to film an amateur adult movie in the hope of going viral and funding their futures. What could possibly go wrong?

Recommended for ages 16+ due to mature themes and humour.

🎟️ Book your tickets today!

This play has been developed thanks to the support of Arts NT and the Small Projects arts funding.

When: Wednesday 17 June from 5.30pm
Where: Library & Archives NT, L2, Danala, 54 Cavanagh Street, Darwin City
Tickets: $15 (General Admission) | $10 (Concession)
Book Online: https://events.humanitix.com/subscribe-please-play-reading

27/05/2026

21/05/2026

Take your lunchbreak beyond the ordinary with thought-provoking conversations and inspiring storytelling at Library & Archives NT, as part of this year’s NT Writers Festival program.

Join us for two special Lunchtime at the Library events:
📆 Thursday 28 May, 12.30pm – 'Counternarratives and Social Change' with Djon Mundine and Maurice O’Riordan
📆 Friday 29 May, 12.30pm – 'Out of the Margins' with Ifa Shiddiq, Maurice O’Riordan and Sandra Thibodeaux

Hear from leading writers and creative thinkers as they explore identity, representation, social change and the power of sharing stories.

Location: Library & Archives NT, L2, Danala, 54 Cavanagh Street, Darwin City
Book online: https://www.ntwriters.com.au/nt-writers-festival/tickets/ #/
Cost: FREE

NT Writers' Centre