Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin (/ˈdɑːrwɪn/ ⓘ DAR-win; Larrakia: Garramilla) is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. With a population of 139,902 at the 2021 census, the city contains most of the sparsely populated Northern Territory's residents. It is the smallest, wettest, and most northerly of the Australian capital cities and serves as the Top End's regional centre.
| Darwin Northern Territory | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Darwin Location in Australia | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 12°26′17″S 130°50′28″E | ||||||||
| Population | 139,902 (2021) (17th) | ||||||||
| • Density | 44.2196/km2 (114.5283/sq mi) | ||||||||
| Established | 1869 | ||||||||
| Area | 3,163.8 km2 (1,221.6 sq mi) (2011 urban) | ||||||||
| Time zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) | ||||||||
| Location | |||||||||
| LGA(s) | Darwin, Palmerston, Litchfield | ||||||||
| County | Palmerston County | ||||||||
| Territory electorate(s) | Port Darwin (and 14 others) | ||||||||
| Federal division(s) | Solomon, Lingiari | ||||||||
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Darwin's proximity to Southeast Asia makes it a key link between Australia and countries such as Indonesia and East Timor. The Stuart Highway begins in Darwin and extends southerly across central Australia through Tennant Creek and Alice Springs, concluding in Port Augusta, South Australia. The city is built upon a low bluff overlooking Darwin Harbour. Darwin's suburbs begin at Lee Point in the north and stretch to Berrimah in the east. The Stuart Highway extends to Darwin's eastern satellite city of Palmerston and its suburbs.
The Darwin region, like much of the Top End, has a tropical climate, with a wet and dry season. A period known locally as "the build up" leading up to Darwin's wet season sees temperature and humidity increase. Darwin's wet season typically arrives in late November to early December and brings with it heavy monsoonal downpours, spectacular lightning displays, and increased cyclone activity. During the dry season, the city has clear skies and mild sea breezes from the harbour.
The Larrakia people are the traditional owners of the Darwin area and Aboriginal people are a significant proportion of the population. On 9 September 1839, HMS Beagle sailed into Darwin Harbour during its survey of the area. John Clements Wickham named the region "Port Darwin" in honour of their former shipmate Charles Darwin, who had sailed with them on the ship's previous voyage. The settlement there became the town of Palmerston in 1869, but was renamed Darwin in 1911. The city has been almost entirely rebuilt four times, following devastation caused by a cyclone in 1897, another one in 1937, Japanese air raids during World War II, and Cyclone Tracy in 1974.