From the top: local difference and issues of heritage identity in the formulation of music policy for Darwin

In November 2004 Ian Buchanan, Professor of Cultural Studies at Charles Darwin University (Darwin), arranged for me to meet Dr Rolf Gerritsen, Director of Economic Policy in the Department of the Chief Minister, Northern Territory Government, to discuss his idea for the development of Darwin as a 'creative city' along the lines suggested by Richard Florida (2002, 2005). The particular aspect of Gerritsen's plans that interested me was his desire for music culture to play a strong role in establising and promoting that identity. During the discussion with him I made strong arguments that any such development should be informed by issues of local heritage. My intervention was evidently taken seriously since I was invited to submit a short report on Darwin's musical heritage to feed into the Department's deliberations.