Topping Out Ceremony – Northern Territory Art Gallery

The NT Art Gallery project team celebrated a significant milestone with the successful pouring of the final roof slab. In recognition of this achievement, the team held a traditional Topping Out Ceremony, by placing a tree a top the structure, a practice that dates back to 700AD Scandinavia.

Though this custom is becoming less common in Australia, we felt it was a fitting way to honour the tireless efforts and dedication of everyone involved in bringing the project to this stage. It’s a moment to pause, reflect and acknowledge the remarkable collaboration and craftsmanship that has gone into the build so far.

The topping out ceremony is steeped in history and symbolism, marking not just the physical progress of construction, but also the collective achievement of all. Thers’s still work to be done, but milestones like this remind us to celebrate the journey and people making it possible.

Congratulations to our entire NT Art Gallery project team!