In Conversation on the Bombing of Darwin

On 19 February 1942, Darwin came under attack for the first time by Japanese forces. Two air raids were launched that day, the start of the many attacks endured between 1942 -1943. While Darwin bore the brunt of those attacks, other parts of the Northern Territory were also a target. Arnhem Land, Batchelor, Adelaide River, Katherine, Millingimbi also suffered.

77 years later, countless books have been written to recount the events and delve into a moment in history that had a significant impact on the shaping of our community. In the 2018 Chief Minister’s History Book Award, there were seven entries including a play and a children’s book that used stories and historical elements from the bombing of Darwin as the focus for their work.

Join us for a conversation with historians Dr. Tom Lewis (OAM) and Dr. Wendy Beresford-Maning and playwright Sandra Thibodeaux in conversation with ABC’s Kristy O’Brien. Together we will explore the history of Darwin’s bombing through the stories told and writing styles used to gain a better understanding of how an event so long ago remains relevant for historians, researchers, storytellers alike.

Book Tickets

Image credit: Smoke rising from harbour, ‘Boat in flames’. M. R. Bradbrook Collection. PH0402/0031