The Territory’s most prolific cartoonist has donated a collection of more than 10,000 cartoons to Library & Archives NT.

Colin Wicking has been sketching his take on the Territory since the early 1980s when he arrived in Darwin for a two-week holiday but stayed for the next 40 years.

Following a stint with the now-defunct Darwin Star, in 1988 Wicking became the Editorial Cartoonist for the NT News and Centralian Advocate, a position he still holds today.

As Wicking’s collection of comical commentaries has grown, so too has his reputation as one of the Northern Territory’s most colourful characters.

In 2004, the National Trust declared Wicking’s collection of hand-drawn cartoons as a Cultural Heritage Icon.

Wicking has initially signed over 30 years of work to Library & Archives NT, from 1988 to 2018, but has agreed to add works to the collection incrementally.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chansey Paech:

“Wicking is a legendary social commentator who has held people, politicians, crocodiles and even dingoes to account for decades.

“Personally, I love his work and I’m excited to receive this collection into Library & Archives NT because it is of enormous social, cultural and historical significance to the Territory.

“There are some brilliant works that have been tucked away in boxes for many years that can now be catalogued and properly preserved.

“I’m looking forward to hosting an exhibition of Wicking’s witty works in the not-too-distant future.”

Media contact: Jasmin Afianos – 0419 361 127