Australia will conclude with its major set-piece, the Japanese bombings of Darwin, and the subsequent exodus south, known as the ‘Adelaide River Stakes’. Many people will understandably be unfamiliar with these historical events. Indeed, it would seem that a lot information about the attacks on Darwin has been censored for decades. Director Baz Luhrmann has himself stated, “Darwin was attacked 64 times in six months … The government (disguised) the truth: 2000 whites were killed and non-whites were not counted, so the toll was far greater.”
Luhrmann has made it clear that he hopes to bring to light the events surrounding the bombings of Darwin, although as this is a Baz Luhrmann film, it will not be in a purely factual sense. Instead, he has said, “Everything in the film will be in service to a great romance … Facts will be moved around but not in a way that fundamentally disturbs the truth.”
For detailed information about what happened during the first Japanese bombing on 19th February 1942, including an explanation of the meaning of the ‘Adelaide River Stakes’, we would recommend visiting Australian Travel This site not only contains information about the Darwin bombings, but also other history about Darwin, and detailed information on all areas of Australia.