The first sitting of the new Northern Territory Legislative Assembly concluded this week. The very first Legislative Assembly, sat in some very different conditions back on 19 March 1975. Just a few months after Cyclone Tracy, the assembly was forced to meet in a badly damaged chamber. Galvanised iron can be seen in the lower right foreground. It was placed to drain off rain water entering through the roof. Former Member for Barkly Ian Tuxworth said “the power was off more often than on; and water ran through the place. The first sittings were noteworthy for their informality. Borrowed clothing, footy shorts, singlets and T-shirts, thongs and sandshoes.” But they got to work passing legislation about the reconstruction of Darwin.

Picture: N. Gleeson Collection, Northern Territory Library

Published: 30 October 2016