Darwin

Darwin is a vibrant multicultural and cosmopolitan city located right on the edge of the Timor Sea providing picturesque sunsets and a doorway to Asia.

The earliest European efforts to settle the Top End were mainly due to British fears that other European powers might get a toehold on the Australian continent. The harbor had been discovered back in 1839 by John Lort Stokes on the Beagle and named it Port Darwin after Charles Darwin.

Ludwig Leichardt reached Port Essington overland from Brisbane in 1845. In 1863 the region was under the control of the administration in South Australia. A settlement was established in 1864 at Escape Cliffs on the mouth of the Adelaide River but abandoned in 1866. Between 1824 and 1829 Fort Dundas on Melville Island and Fort Wellington on the Cobourg Peninsula, 200 kms (124 miles) northeast of Darwin, were settled and then abandoned.

Darwin came into being in 1869. The city was originally named Palmerston after the British Prime Minister and changed to Darwin in 1911. The city developed when gold was discovered at Pine Creek, about 200 kms (124 miles) south of the city in 1871. When the gold rush ended growth in Darwin slowed.

Darwin gained prominence during World War II. It was the base for action against the Japanese in the Pacific. The road to Alice Springs was surfaced and made contact with the rest of Australia easier. Darwin was bombed many times and nearly 250 lives were lost. By 1974, Darwin was a growing settlement. This changed dramatically early on Christmas morning of that year when Cyclone Tracy passed over Darwin, killing 69 people in six hours and flattening over 70% of the city.

Darwin has since rebuilt and is an important city as the entry point for the Northern Territories, a center for administration and mining. New port facilities and railway line to Alice Springs are likely to make Darwin a transport hub with Southeast Asia. Darwin tourism has grow over the years and now visitors from all over the world spend some time in Darwin and use as a base before exploring the Kakadu, Litchfield and other parts of the Australian Outback.

Darwin is the entry point for Northern Australia. Darwin has changed since Cyclone Tracy struck on Christmas Eve 1974, but it still retains something of the atmosphere of a pioneering city, and, of course, it is still proud of its extreme isolation. The population of Darwin is only 90,000, but look on a map and try to find the nearest city of an equivalent size. When you have done that, you will have a better appreciation of just how remote this place is.

Darwin is a vibrant young city with an average year round temperature of 32 degrees Celsius. The weather is balmy from May to October, and sultry from November to April. Exploring Darwin’s city center is easy and best on foot. Wander along walking and bicycle track around the city’s outskirts with views of Darwin’s famous harbor. This city comes alive at night with the excitement of the hotels and nightclubs with DJs and live music; enjoy a meal at Cullen Bay or visit the casino at Mindil Beach .

The Northern Territory is renowned for its fabulous foods – Asian cuisine, buffalo, kangaroo, mud crabs, crocodile and barramundi. Choose to eat on the wharf overlooking the sea, or enjoy the pleasure of outdoor dining with harbor views or maybe it is silver service for treat. Whatever the style of dining, the food is fresh and fabulous.

For a relaxing weekend visit the open-air markets at Nightcliff and Mindil Beach where there are stalls of unique products form local arts and craftspeople. Try the authentic cuisine from all over Asia or a good Aussie barbecue. The markets are alive with street performances – musicians, performers, traditional Aboriginal culture, recitations of traditional Australian bush poetry, even try whip cracking lessons.

From Darwin access the national parks, indigenous culture, brilliant sunsets, incredible sights and world class fishing. Visit Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks . Kakadu is Australia ‘s biggest national park and is 250 km from Darwin. It is an area you can spend days exploring and has the most Aboriginal rock art sites in one place in the world.

Aboriginal Lands
Most Aboriginal lands can be entered but permission is needed. Permits for the Kakadu National Park are easy to obtain where your permit is included in your National Park fee. Details available from Northern Land Council, PO Box 42921, Casuarina, NT 0811.

Christ Church Cathedral
All that’s left of this original 1902 cathedral is the porch, the rest was demolished by cyclone Tracy, a modern cathedral has been attached. Smith Street.

Government House
Formerly known as The Residency and is still sometimes called by that name, Government House is an attractive old colonial style. Building begun in 1870 and completed in its present form in 1879. It was damaged by cyclones in 1897, 1937 and 1974, as well as by wartime bombs, but has survived all.

Lyons Cottage
This stone bungalow built in 1925 once housed the staff of the British Australian Telegraph Company and demonstrates a colonial style of architecture mostly found in India, Malaya and Singapore. After the Second World War, it was used by the Mayor of Darwin, John Lyons, and became known as Lyons Cottage. Early exhibitions of Darwin’s history are located here now and old photographs. Located on the corner of Esplanade and Knuckey Street.

Myilly Point Precinct
Located here are four pre-war houses which are the headquarters of the National Trust. This, the Myilly Point Precinct, was originally housing for high-ranking government employees.

Old Courthouse and Police Station
The Old Courthouse and Police Station were built for the South Australian Government in 1884. They suffered greatly from Cyclone Tracy, but have been restored, and are now used as the offices of the Northern Territory Administrator.

Old Town Hall

Located in a small park opposite the bus station are the ruins of the Old Town Hall. It was built in 1883 and survived until Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Now it has been left as a ruinous reminder of the forces of nature. Who could image that a sturdy stone building could be almost totally destroyed by the winds of a single night? The Territory is indeed a place where one learns to respect nature.

Oil Storage Tunnels
After the Japanese had bombed the oil tanks on the hills in Darwin several times during the Second World War, it was decided that it might be a good idea to put the tanks underground where they would be less vulnerable. Therefore tunnels were constructed and underground storage areas built. This was all done by hand and the underground storage areas were ready just as the war finished, and so were never used. Recently one of these tunnels has been opened to the public. It contains a collection of photographs depicting Darwin during the war years. Kitchener Drive (08.8985.6333).

Overland Telegraph Line
A memorial to the Overland Telegraph Line is situated on the Esplanade, not far from Parliament House. This is the point at which the undersea telegraph cable from Banjawangi in Java to Darwin was brought ashore in 1872, enabling the first telegraph messages to be exchanged between Australia and Britain.

Parliament House
At the southern end of the city is the Northern Territory Parliament House. This modern building, completed in 1994, is most imposing, especially considering that there are only 25 elected representatives meeting here. Parliament House also houses the State Library. Smith Street (08.8946.425).

Old Admiralty House
This pre-war house has survived all Darwin can throw at it, from cyclones to bombings. Old Admiralty House was built as the residence of the North Australian Naval Commander and is a fine tropical style elevated building, its sturdy core survived Cyclone Tracy. It is not open to the public. Corner of Knuckey Street and the Esplanade

The George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens
Located 2kms (1.2 miles) from the city center. They have displays or orchids that thrive in the humid conditions as well as palms, mangroves and every species of baobab. There is also an informative visitors centre and Aboriginal plant trails. Gardens Road, Fanny Bay (08.8981.1958).

Australian Aviation Heritage Center
This is one of Australia’s best displays of aircraft, it focuses on the role aviation has played in the Northern Territory. An American B52 bomber takes center stage. 557 Stuart Highway, (08.8947.2145).

Australian Pearling Exhibition
The Australian Pearling Exhibition is near Stokes Hill. It tells the story of the pearling for which this region has been famous since the aborigines first traded pearls with the Macassan sailors who arrived from Celebes (Sulawesi) in Indonesia. A highlight is the display of modern pearl jewelry. Stokes Hill Wharf (08 8999 6573).

East Point Military Museum
There is an interesting display of WWII relics and the history of Darwin’s war experiences. East Point Road (08.8981.9702).

Fannie Bay Goal
The name may be funny but, its history is anything but. This was Darwin’s main prison from 1883 to 1979. It is now a museum where you can view the cells and eerie gallows where the last hanging took place in 1952. There is also a display on the Cyclone Tracy devastation. East Point Road (08.8999.8290).

Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
The museum covers many aspects of the regions art, natural sciences, history and culture. Good collections of Aboriginal Art including bark paintings from Arnhem Land. There is also a display on the dramatic effects Cyclone Tracy had on the city in 1974. Highlights are the impressive Maritime Gallery and Sweetheart, the 5m (16.4 ft.)stuffed crocodile. A neon lit exhibit shows the history of natural life in Darwin. The museum is set in a tropical garden on Darwin Harbour. Conacher Street at Fannie Bay (08.8999. 8201).

Fairweather Walk
Fairweather Walk extends from the end of Mindil Beach to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory It is a memorial to the remarkable artist and adventurer, Ian Fairweather. Read more about him in the panels as you pass along. The path then continues all the way to East Point, if you want to keep walking.

Travelers’ Walk
Travelers’ Walk is a path up the hillside constructed as a walkway to the town when Stokes Hill Wharf was being built in 1895. The path, which is there now, however, was reconstructed in 1999. There is a Chinese water fountain half-way up and there are various information notices along the path.

Darwin Beaches

Casaurina Beach
Located 7kms (4 miles) east of the city is Darwin’s nudist beach.

Lammeroo Beach
There is a path from the grassy area to the west of the Esplanade which leads down to Lameroo Beach. The beach is fairly stony, but there are the ruins of some sea water baths down here, although only foundations remain now.

Mindil Beach
Mindil Beach is near theCasinoand the closest beach of good quality to the central part of Darwin. It starts about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) from the city center. If that is too far to walk, take a bus no. 4 or 6.I n the Dry Season, from May until October, this is the scene of a market every Thursday evening, specializing in food from many countries, reflecting the diverse ethnic origins of the residents of Darwin, but including many other wares and entertainments also.