Indonesia and the Northern Territory of Australia: A Long History of Interactions

Geography dictates that Australia and Indonesia will forever be neighbours, but Jakarta is a long way from Canberra. On the other hand, north Australia and eastern Indonesia are literally adjacent to each other, and many interactions have taken place in this region over a long period of time. This has occurred despite the fact that these are some of the least developed and sparsely populated locations in both countries. However, people from north Australia have also made connections in Indonesia beyond the eastern islands. These interactions have included trade and social activities, they have taken place in wartime and in peace, and have involved official exchanges, and more personal connections. This paper concentrates on interactions between Indonesia and the Northern Territory, on whose shores many of the earliest activities took place.

Biography

Steven Farram completed his PhD in 2004 on the topic of the political history of West Timor, 1901-1967. His research interests include the history of northern Australia and Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and Timor-Leste. He also has a strong interest in the 1960s popular culture of the region, especially music. Steven has published extensively in these areas and is also a regular contributor of book and exhibition reviews to various journals. His most recent publications include: ‘The Tiwi of Melville Island, the Portuguese of Timor, and slavery’ (2022); Paolo Fabris and Steven Farram, Wild Dogs of Song: Palmerston (Darwin) Dingo Glee Club, 1895-1905 (2022); and ‘Pahlawan, Pengkhianat, atau Penjahat (Hero, Traitor or Villain): A Personal Journey Through Indonesian History’ (2024).