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Darwin, NORTHERN TERRITORY

Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory, which is not a state, but is administered by the Australian Government. Colloquially known as the ‘Top End’, Darwin is a tropical city and is subject to cyclones and thunderstorms (Cyclone Tracey destroyed 70 per cent of the city’s buildings on Christmas day, 1974 and the city was rebuilt in the late 1970s, so most buildings are reasonably modern and cyclone-resistant). The area has distinct wet and dry seasons but it is always warm, with the average maximum temperature being just over 30 degrees Celsius all year round.

With a population of just over 100,000, Darwin is the ‘multicultural capital of Australia’, attracting migrants from South East Asia and being home to a large Indigenous population. Nearly one quarter of Darwin’s residents identify themselves as Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander, and 75 nationalities are reported to be represented in Darwin.

The city is an important port, with livestock and minerals being exported to Asia via Darwin, and the site of a large army base. The two major industries here are mining (bauxite, manganese, natural gas and uranium) and tourism—not only in Darwin itself, but in surrounding areas such as Kakadu National Park. Darwin is the gateway to many awe-inspiring natural wonders in the Northern Territory including World Heritage-listed sites, national parks, sacred Aboriginal sites and deserts.

Life in Darwin is more laid back than in the southern cities. Public transport is reasonable but most people have a car because once out of Darwin, it is a long way between towns and the land can be unforgiving. But houses are cheap and the multicultural population provides an array of entertainment and dining out options.

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