Kim Farrar is a fourth-generation Territorian.
“The Territory is an amazing place to be because it doesn’t matter where you come from and what your background is, the people here will accept you and give you a shot.”
Kim Farrar grew up on wild and extraordinary stories about her family. As a fourth-generation Territorian, she listened intently as a young girl to anecdotes about her great grandfather, John Samuel Farrar, and his droving days in the mid-1800s. These were followed by yarns about her father, a talented rough-rider who supplied beef to the Americans in Pine Creek as a young man and had to clamber up a tree to escape wild buffalo.
Through those stories Kim lived and breathed the Territory’s early days, and developed the resilience, fortitude and sense of humour that helped her ancestors carve out a successful life here.
“I grew up with all these amazing stories about my father and my family, and when I hear them or think about them it makes me realise I have this connection to a larger history, to something bigger than myself.
“The Territory is an amazing place to be because it doesn’t matter where you come from and what your background is, the people here will accept you and give you a shot.
“Straight after World War II, English and German people ended up in the city of Darwin, but they put cultural differences, politics and a world war aside to get along with each other and rebuild the place.”
Kim, who now works as a volunteer coordinator in the events industry, has had two thriving businesses – retail and real estate – while living and working in Darwin.
“I don’t believe I would have been able to create two businesses as successful as they were in any other city in Australia,” she said.
The surrounding natural beauty is an added bonus for Kim, as is enjoying the feeling of solitude in wide, open spaces.
“That’s the beauty of the Territory – that’s why I love it. If you want to be on your own you can be, knowing there are always people you can connect with, too.
“You’ve got space to breathe up here and even in these difficult times you can still get back to nature. I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.”