About Mick Denigan
Meet Mick
Professional Whip Cracker
In 1988, Mick was inspired to keep the old whip traditions alive whilst working on the Bicentennial project Droving Australia. He has since made specialised whips for Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman as used in Baz Luhrmann’s movie Australia.
He has made personalised whips for George W. Bush, HRH Prince Phillip, Bill Gates, Rudolph (Rudi) Giuliani, and Tim Fischer. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping He’s also made a crocodile guitar strap for Bob Dylan.
Northern Territory
Licensed Croc Harvester
A licensed croc harvester since 2001, Mick moved to the Top End three decades ago and saw his first crocs on the Daly River as an 12 year old.
He’s designed and produced crocodile souvenirs – back scratchers, hat bands from the back strap, award winning “Knuckle Jacks”, croc foot letter openers and crocodile handle stockwhips since 1989, and now has three patents to his name.
Catching crocs is done in a highly regulated manner – Mick respects the animals and the environment they live in and issues permits with each product.
Catch the Show
Mindil Beach Markets
Mick’s cracker of a show features original songs about his outback life. Catch him at the Mindil Beach Markets in Darwin on Sundays and Thursdays between April and November.
His new single “World record mate”, is performed simultaneously with the amazing two-handed Kevlar fire whips which Mick invented in the mid 1990’s (the world’s first Kevlar fire whips are on display in the Museum), and is available to view on YouTube. Other film clips from his spectacular show are available on his latest DVD.
Thirty years of Whip Cracking
Performance Highlights
Performance highlights include whip cracking during the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics, and Olympic Torch Bearer in the Sydney 2000 Olympics (the torch is on display in the museum).
You’ve also seen Mick at Tamworth Country Music Festival, Moomba Festival, Federal Constitutional Convention, Corowa Conference, Perth, Darwin and Caboolture city musters, The Camel Cup and Parrtjima Festival in Alice Springs, shows in North America and China, aboard The Legends of the Sea and Ovations of the Sea cruise liners.
This boy from the bush who has lived in the Northern Territory since 1976 has attracted the interest of national and international media with his unique skills. He recently ‘cracked it’ overseas with performances in Hong Kong, China and North America.