Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 08-8981 5522;
www.brownsmart.com.au
;
12 Smith St)
This historic venue (a former min-
ing exchange) features live theatre performances, music and short films.
7
Shopping
You don't have to walk far along the Smith St Mall to find a souvenir shop selling lousy
NT souvenirs: tea towels, T-shirts, stubbie holders and cane-toad coin purses (most of it
made in China). Also in oversupply are outlets selling Aboriginal arts and crafts (be in-
formed about reliable operators). However, Darwin's fabulous markets sell unique hand-
crafted items such as seed-pod hats, shell jewellery, kites, clothing and original photos.
Framed
ART, DESIGN
(
www.framed.com.au
;
55 Stuart Hwy, Stuart Park)
Surrounded by sex shops, car yards and
plumbing supply outlets, Frames presents a surprisingly classy range of NT arts and
crafts. The eclectic and always changing range is typically tropical, and includes contem-
porary Aboriginal art, pottery, jewellery and some exquisitely carved furniture.
Casuarina Square
MALL
OFFLINE MAP
(
www.casuarinasquare.com.au
; 247 Trower Rd, Casuarina)
This massive shopping complex has
170 mainstream retail outlets, plus cinemas and a food court. Good air-con on sticky af-
ternoons in the Wet. Buses 4 and 5 travel the 20 minutes north of Darwin.
BUYING ABORIGINAL ART
Taking home a piece of Aboriginal art can create an enduring connection with Aus-
tralia. For Aboriginal artists, painting is an important cultural and economic enter-
prise. To ensure you're not perpetuating non-Indigenous cash-in on Aboriginal art's
popularity, avoid buying cheap imported fridge magnets, stubbie holders, boomer-
angs or didgeridoos. Make sure you're buying from an authentic dealer selling ori-
ginal art, and if the gallery doesn't pay their artists upfront, ask exactly how much
of your money will make it back to the artist or community.
A good test is to request some biographical info on the artists - if the vendor
can't produce it, keep walking. An authentic piece will come with a certificate indic-
ating the artist's name, language group and community, and the work's title, its
story and when it was made.
