View source for Darwin, Northern Territory

{{Short description|Capital city of Northern Territory, Australia}}
{{About|the city of Darwin|the local government area|City of Darwin}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                = City
| name                = Darwin
| native_name  = {{nativename|lrg|Garramilla}}
| state               = nt
| image               ={{multiple image
  | total_width              = 280
  | border                   = infobox
  | perrow                   = 1/2/2
  | caption_align            = center
| image1 = DarwinOct172024 02.jpg{{!}}Skyline
|caption1 = [[Darwin central business district]]
  | image2 = Darwin Waterfront.jpg{{!}}Darwin Waterfront
|caption2 = [[Darwin Waterfront Precinct|Darwin Waterfront]]
 | image3 = Aerial view of the Darwin Convention Centre.jpg {{!}}Darwin Convention Centre
|caption3 = [[Darwin Convention Centre|Convention Centre]]
  | image4 = Northern Territory Legislative Assembly, Darwin, 2021, 02.jpg{{!}}Parliament House
|caption4 = [[Parliament House, Darwin|Parliament House]]
  | image5 = Government House, Darwin.jpg{{!}}Government House
|caption5 = [[Government House, Darwin|Government House]]
}}
| coordinates         = {{coord|12|26|17|S|130|50|28|E|display=inline,title}}
| relief              = yes
| force_national_map  = yes
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Australia
| mapframe-marker = yes
| local_map = yes
| zoom = 10
| pop                 = 139902
| pop_year            = [[2021 Australian census|2021]]
| pop_footnotes       = <ref name="2021census">{{Census 2021 AUS|id=7GDAR |name=Greater Darwin |access-date=24 April 2023 |quick=on}}</ref>
| poprank             = 17th
| density             =
| density_footnotes   =
| est                 = 1869
| area                = 3163.8
| area_footnotes      = <ref name="ABSGCCSAProf">{{cite web|title=2011 Census Community Profiles: Greater Darwin|url=http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/communityprofile/7GDAR|website=ABS Census|publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]|access-date=15 September 2016|archive-date=3 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403120247/http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/communityprofile/7GDAR}}</ref> (2011 urban)
| timezone            = ACST
| utc                 = +9:30
| lga                 = [[City of Darwin|Darwin]], [[City of Palmerston|Palmerston]], [[Shire of Litchfield|Litchfield]]
| stategov            = [[Electoral division of Port Darwin|Port Darwin]] (and 14 others)
| fedgov              = [[Division of Solomon|Solomon]], [[Division of Lingiari|Lingiari]]
| county              = [[Palmerston County, Northern Territory|Palmerston County]]
| dist1               = 1679
| location1           = [[Cairns]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ga.gov.au/cocky/cgi/run/distancedraw2?rec1=113272&placename=Darwin&placetype=R&state=NT+&place1=CAIRNS&place1long=145.775818&place1lat=-16.922079|title=Great Circle Distance between Carins and Darwin
|publisher=Geoscience Australia|access-date=27 January 2015}}</ref>
| dist2               = 2616
| location2           = [[Adelaide]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ga.gov.au/cocky/cgi/run/distancedraw2?rec1=163285&placename=adelaide&placetype=0&state=0&place1=DARWIN&place1long=130.842438&place1lat=-12.461530|title=Great Circle Distance between Darwin and Adelaide |publisher=Geoscience Australia|date=March 2004}}</ref>
| dist3               = 2652
| location3           = [[Perth]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ga.gov.au/cocky/cgi/run/distancedraw2?rec1=304529&placename=perth&placetype=0&state=0&place1=DARWIN&place1long=130.842438&place1lat=-12.461530|title=Great Circle Distance between DARWIN and PERTH|publisher=Geoscience Australia|date=March 2004}}</ref>
| dist4               = 2846
| location4           = [[Brisbane]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ga.gov.au/cocky/cgi/run/distancedraw2?rec1=126867&placename=brisbane&placetype=0&state=0&place1=DARWIN&place1long=130.842438&place1lat=-12.461530|title=Great Circle Distance between Darwin and Brisbane |publisher=Geoscience Australia|date=March 2004}}</ref>
| dist5               = 3127
| location5           = [[Canberra]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ga.gov.au/cocky/cgi/run/distancedraw2?rec1=113272&placename=Darwin&placetype=R&state=ACT+&place1=CANBERRA&place1long=145.775818&place1lat=-16.922079|title=Great Circle Distance between Canberra and Darwin|publisher=Geoscience Australia|date=March 2004}}</ref>
| mintemp             = 23.4
| maxtemp             = 32.2
| rainfall            = 1811.7
| mayor               = [[Peter Styles (politician)|Peter Styles]]
}}

'''Darwin''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɑːr|w|ᵻ|n|audio=En-au-Darwin.ogg}} {{respell|DAR|win}}; [[Laragiya language|Larrakia]]: ''{{Lang|lrg|Garramilla}}'')<ref name="ldc">{{Cite web|title=Larrakia Development Corporation|website=Larrakia Development Corporation|date=July 2017|url=https://www.larrakia.com.au/|access-date=4 July 2021|archive-date=22 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722013226/https://www.larrakia.com.au/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nit.com.au/30-08-2023/7439/1500-indigenous-leaders-and-advocates-to-gather-for-snaicc-23-in-garamilladarwin|title=1500 Indigenous leaders and advocates to gather for SNAICC '23 in Garamilla/Darwin|author=Giovanni Torre|publisher=National Indigenous Times|website=nit.com.au|date=30 August 2023 }}</ref> is the [[List of Australian capital cities|capital]] and [[List of places in the Northern Territory by population|largest city]] of the [[Northern Territory]], [[Australia]]. The city had a population of 139,902 at the [[2021 Australian census|2021 census]], which is nearly 53% of the territory's population.<ref name="2021census" /> It is the smallest, wettest, and most northerly of the Australian capital cities and serves as the [[Top End]]'s regional centre.

Darwin's proximity to [[Southeast Asia]] makes it a key link between Australia and countries such as [[Indonesia]] and [[Timor-Leste]]. 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 extend to [[Lee Point, Northern Territory|Lee Point]] in the north and to [[Berrimah, Northern Territory|Berrimah]] in the east. The Stuart Highway extends to Darwin's eastern [[satellite city]] of [[Palmerston, Northern Territory|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 [[monsoon]]al downpours, spectacular lightning displays, and increased cyclone activity.<ref name="GUM">{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Abbie |date=10 December 2002 |title=Lightning Storms in the Top End |url=http://www.abc.net.au/science/scribblygum/december2002/default.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241114185329/https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2002/12/10/2583008.htm |archive-date=14 November 2024 |access-date=27 July 2008 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> 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  [[Charles Darwin]], who had sailed with them on the [[Second voyage of HMS Beagle|ship's previous voyage]]. The settlement there became the town of Palmerston in 1869, but was renamed Darwin in 1911.<ref name="urlDarwin – Northern Territory – Australia – Travel – smh.com.au">{{cite web |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Northern-Territory/Darwin/2005/02/17/1108500201604.html |title=Darwin – Northern Territory – Australia – Travel – smh.com.au |date=8 February 2004 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=22 May 2010}}</ref> The city has been almost entirely rebuilt four times, following devastation caused by a [[1897 Darwin cyclone|cyclone in 1897]], another one in 1937, [[Bombing of Darwin|Japanese air raids during World War II]], and [[Cyclone Tracy]] in 1974.<ref name="DCC">{{cite web  | title = A brief history of Darwin  | publisher = Darwin City Council  | url = http://www.darcity.nt.gov.au/aboutdarwin/history/a_brief_history.htm  | access-date = 29 December 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090328121247/http://www.darcity.nt.gov.au/aboutdarwin/history/a_brief_history.htm  | archive-date = 28 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title = Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia) | encyclopaedia = Encyclopædia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/151900/Darwin | access-date =13 August 2009 }}</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of Darwin}}
{{See also|Timeline of Darwin History|History of the Northern Territory}}

=== Indigenous history ===
The [[Aboriginal Australian|Aboriginal people]] of the [[Larrakia language]] group are the traditional custodians and earliest known inhabitants of the greater Darwin area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.larrakia.com/AboutUs.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311090619/http://www.larrakia.com/AboutUs.html|archive-date=11 March 2009|title=Our People and History|publisher=Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation}}</ref> Their name for the area is Garramilla,<ref name="ldc"/> pronounced {{IPAc-en|g|a:r|@|m|I|l|@}} and meaning "white stone", referring to the colour of rock and sea cliffs found in the area.<ref name="placename">{{cite web|title=Place Names Register|url=https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/placenames/view.jsp?id=24955|access-date=4 July 2021|website=NT Place Names Register}}</ref> They had [[trading routes]] with Southeast Asia (see [[Macassan contact with Australia]]) and imported goods from as far afield as [[South Australia|South]] and Western Australia. Established [[songlines]] penetrated throughout the country, allowing stories and histories to be told and retold along the routes. The extent of [[Culture of Australia|shared songlines]] and history of multiple clan groups within this area is contestable.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

=== Pre-20th century ===
The Dutch visited Australia's northern coastline in the 1600s and landed on the [[Tiwi Islands]] only to be attacked by the [[Tiwi people]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tiwilandcouncil.net.au/AboutUs/About_us.htm |title=Tiwi Land Council History |date=21 October 2007 |access-date=26 June 2016 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407223320/http://www.tiwilandcouncil.net.au/AboutUs/About_us.htm |archive-date=7 April 2005 }}</ref> The Dutch created the first European maps of the area. This accounts for the Dutch names in the area, such as [[Arnhem Land]] and [[Groote Eylandt]]. During this period, [[Dutch Empire|Dutch]] [[Dutch exploration of Australia|explorers]] named the region around Darwin&mdash;sometimes including nearby [[Kimberley, Western Australia|Kimberley]]&mdash;variations of "Van Diemen's Land",<ref>{{citation |last= |first= |editor-last=Smellie |editor-first=William |editor-link=William Smellie |display-editors=0 |contribution=[[:File:EB1 Plate LXXXVII Fig. 2 World.png|Plate LXXXVII. Fig. 2. World.]] |title=[[:s:EB1|Encyclopaedia Britannica]] |edition=1st |volume=II |date=1771 |location=Edinburgh |publisher=[[Colin Macfarquhar]] }}.</ref> after the [[Dutch East India Company|VOC]] [[Governor-general of the Dutch East Indies|governor-general]] [[Anthony van Diemen]]. This should not be confused with [[Van Diemen's Land|the more general and prolonged use of the same name]] for [[Tasmania]].

The first Briton to see Darwin harbour appears to have been Lieutenant [[John Lort Stokes]] of {{HMS|Beagle}} on 9 September 1839. The ship's captain, Commander [[John Clements Wickham]], named the port after [[Charles Darwin]], the British naturalist who had sailed with him when he served as first lieutenant on the earlier [[second voyage of HMS Beagle|second expedition of the ''Beagle'']].<ref>{{cite web |title=The Discovery and Exploration of Australia |work=Australia on CD |url=http://www.australiaoncd.com.au/discovery/names7.htm |access-date=24 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303094228/http://www.australiaoncd.com.au/discovery/names7.htm |archive-date=3 March 2011}}</ref>
[[File:Admiralty Chart No 18 Australia - N.W. coast, Port Darwin and adjacent inlets, Published 1870.jpg|thumb|A map of Port Darwin, (1870)]]
In 1863, the Northern Territory was transferred from [[New South Wales]] to [[South Australia]]. In 1864 South Australia sent [[B. T. Finniss]] north as Government Resident to survey and found a capital for its new territory. Finniss chose a site at [[Escape Cliffs]], near the entrance to Adelaide River, about {{convert|60|km}} northeast of the modern city. This attempt was short-lived, and the settlement abandoned by 1865.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ling|first1=Ted|title=Commonwealth Government Records about the Northern Territory|publisher=National Archives of Australia|isbn=978-1-920807-87-0|access-date=26 June 2016|page=6|url=http://guides.naa.gov.au/content/20141219-Guide022_tcm48-58753.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309133412/http://guides.naa.gov.au/content/20141219-Guide022_tcm48-58753.pdf|archive-date=9 March 2016}}</ref> On 5 February 1869, [[George Goyder]], the Surveyor-General of South Australia, established a small settlement of 135 people at Port Darwin between [[Fort Hill, Darwin|Fort Hill]] and the escarpment. Goyder named the settlement Palmerston after [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|British Prime Minister]] [[Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston|Lord Palmerston]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ntl.nt.gov.au/story/surveying-darwin-1869|title=Surveying Darwin 1869 |website=Northern Territory Library|access-date=26 July 2019|archive-date=26 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726023852/https://ntl.nt.gov.au/story/surveying-darwin-1869}}</ref> In 1870, the first poles for the [[Australian Overland Telegraph Line|Overland Telegraph]] were erected in Darwin, connecting Australia to the rest of the world. The discovery of gold by employees of the [[Australian Overland Telegraph Line]] digging holes for telegraph poles at [[Pine Creek, Northern Territory|Pine Creek]] in the 1880s spawned a gold rush, which further boosted the colony's development.{{efn|The story around the pole holes is commonly perpetuated, though no first hand accounts have been uncovered to authenticate this}}{{efn|In 1872 it was reported that "A great many statements have been made about gold being found in holes of the telegraph post, and other unimaginable places. Such statements are incorrect, and given out by interested parties."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27273906 |title=Gold at Port Darwin |newspaper=[[The Queenslander]] |volume=VII |issue=358 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=14 December 1872 |access-date=23 June 2016 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>}}{{efn|The nearest first hand account is of linesmen finding gold near the telegraph line.}}
[[File:Mitchell Street, Port Darwin 1879.webp|thumb|Mitchell Street, 1879|left]]
In February 1872 the [[brigantine]] ''Alexandra'' was the first private vessel to sail from an English port directly to Darwin, carrying people many of whom were coming to recent gold finds.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28682755 |title=IV.—The Northern Territory and the Overland Telegraph |newspaper=[[The South Australian Advertiser]] |location=South Australia |date=2 February 1872 |access-date=23 June 2016 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
[[File:Walter Spinks - Port Darwin.jpg|alt=|thumb|''Port Darwin'', 1886]]
In early 1875 Darwin's [[white people|white population]] had grown to approximately 300 because of the gold rush. On 17 February 1875 the {{SS|Gothenburg}} left Darwin ''en route'' for [[Adelaide]]. The approximately 88 passengers and 34 crew (surviving records vary) included government officials, circuit-court judges, Darwin residents taking their first [[furlough]], and miners. While travelling south along the north Queensland coast, the ''Gothenburg'' encountered a cyclone-strength storm and was wrecked on a section of the [[Great Barrier Reef]]. Only 22 men survived, while between 98 and 112 people perished. Many passengers who perished were Darwin residents, and news of the tragedy severely affected the small community, which reportedly took several years to recover.<ref name="NTLIB">{{cite web |url=http://www.ntlib.nt.gov.au/tracy/advanced/History_Cyclones.html |title=Previous cyclones in Darwin |work=Cyclone Tracy |publisher=Northern Territory Library |date=21 April 1998 |access-date=7 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206005507/http://www.ntlib.nt.gov.au/tracy/advanced/History_Cyclones.html |archive-date=6 February 2008  }}</ref>

In the 1870s, relatively large numbers of [[Chinese people|Chinese]] settled at least temporarily in the Northern Territory; many were contracted to work the goldfields and later to build the Palmerston to Pine Creek railway. By 1888 there were 6,122 Chinese in the Northern Territory, mostly in or around Darwin. The early Chinese settlers were mainly from [[Guangdong Province]]. The Chinese community established [[Chinatown, Darwin|Darwin Chinatown]]. At the end of the 19th century, anti-Chinese feelings grew in response to the 1890s economic depression, and the [[White Australia policy]] meant many Chinese left the territory. But some stayed, became British subjects, and established a commercial base in Darwin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chungwahnt.asn.au/|title=Home|website=Chung Wah Society|access-date=26 January 2019|archive-date=27 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127035345/https://www.chungwahnt.asn.au/}}</ref>

===Early 20th century===
[[File:Smith-st-looking-towards-harbour (Darwin).jpg|thumb|Smith Street in the 1930s]]
The Northern Territory was initially settled and administered by [[South Australia]], until its transfer to the [[Australia|Commonwealth]] in 1911. In the same year, the city's official name changed from Palmerston to Darwin.<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Northern-Territory/Darwin/2005/02/17/1108500201604.html/|title=Darwin|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=8 February 2004|location=Darwin, Australia|access-date=2 August 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Darwin 42.jpg|thumb|The Japanese [[Bombing of Darwin|bombings of Darwin]]]]
The period between 1911 and 1919 was filled with political turmoil, particularly with trade union unrest, which culminated on 17 December 1918. Led by [[Harold Nelson (Australian politician)|Harold Nelson]], some 1,000 demonstrators marched to [[Government House, Darwin|Government House]] at Liberty Square in Darwin, where they burnt an [[effigy]] of the [[Administrator of the Northern Territory]], [[John A. Gilruth|John Gilruth]], and demanded his resignation. The incident became known as the [[Darwin Rebellion]]. Their grievances were against the two main Northern Territory employers: [[Vestey Group|Vestey's Meatworks]] and the federal government. Both Gilruth and the Vestey company left Darwin soon afterward.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=William Hughes: timeline |url=https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/australias-prime-ministers/william-hughes/timeline}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hitch |first=Georgia |orig-date=12 December 2017 |date=12 December 2018 |title=What was the Darwin Rebellion |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-12/curious-darwin-what-was-the-darwin-rebellion/9200424 |access-date=6 April 2024 |website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref>

On 18 October 1918, during the [[Spanish flu pandemic]], the SS ''Mataram'' sailing from [[Singapore]] with infected passengers arrived in Darwin.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Swinden |first1=Greg |title=The Navy and the 1918-19 Influenza Pandemic |journal=JMVH |date=October 2020 |volume=28 |issue=3 |url=https://jmvh.org/article/the-navy-and-the-1918-19-influenza-pandemic/ }}</ref>

In 1931, the 17 remaining patients from the [[leprosarium]] at [[Cossack, Western Australia]] were moved to Darwin, after it closed down. It was at a time when many Aboriginal people who were thought to have [[leprosy]] or other infectious diseases were sent to [[lock hospital]]s and leprosariums under the [[Native Administration Act 1905|Aborigines Act 1905]],<ref name="Carr 2022"/><ref>{{cite web | title=Aborigines Act 1905 | website=Find & Connect  | url=https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/guide/wa/WE00406 | access-date=12 July 2022}}</ref> which gave the [[Chief Protector of Aborigines]] powers to arrest and send any [[Indigenous Australian|Indigenous person]] suspected of having a range of diseases to one of these institutions.<ref name="Carr 2022">{{cite web | last=Carr | first=Cameron | title=Archaeologists investigate medical incarceration of Indigenous Australians in leprosariums  | website=ABC News| publisher= [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | date=10 July 2022 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-11/leprosariums-medically-incarcerated-indigenous-australians/101213394 | access-date=12 July 2022}}</ref>

Around 10,000 Australian and other [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] troops arrived in Darwin at the outset of World War II to defend Australia's northern coast. On 19 February 1942 at 9:57{{nbsp}}am, 188 [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] warplanes [[Bombing of Darwin|attacked Darwin]] in two waves.<ref>{{cite Q |Q131293822 |chapter=2/19/42 Fifth AF |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/AFD-100525-035/page/n10 |access-date=2024-11-30 |mode=cs1}}</ref> It was the same fleet that had bombed [[Pearl Harbor]], though considerably more bombs were dropped on Darwin than on Pearl Harbor. The attack killed at least 243 people and caused immense damage to the town, airfields, and aircraft. These were by far the most serious attacks on Australia in time of war, in terms of fatalities and damage. They were the first of [[Air raids on Australia, 1942–43|many raids]] on Darwin.<ref>{{cite Q |Q131294615 |page=127 |access-date=2024-11-30 |mode=cs1}}</ref>

[[Chinatown, Darwin|Darwin Chinatown]] which lay within the heart of Darwin was razed to the ground by the Japanese bombing and was never rebuilt. Northern Territory administrator [[Aubrey Abbott]] wanted to eliminate the Chinese community and forcibly seized their land as it was considered prime real estate.<!-- The statement about Sydney and Newcastle was wrong; there were about 100 air raids, including one on Broome which killed more than 80 people. -->

Darwin was further developed after the war, with sealed roads constructed connecting the region to [[Alice Springs]] to the south and [[Mount Isa]] to the southeast, and [[Manton Dam]] built in the south to provide the city with water. On [[Australia Day]] (26 January) 1959, Darwin was granted city status.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.australiadaynt.com.au/fun/quiz/quiz2004.html |title=Australia Day (Darwin) |access-date=11 February 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060211065041/http://www.australiadaynt.com.au/fun/quiz/quiz2004.html |archive-date=11 February 2006  }}</ref>

===1970–present===
[[File:Town Hall ruins, Darwin, 2023 (01).jpg|thumb|right|Remains of Palmerston Town Hall, destroyed by [[Cyclone Tracy]]]]
On 25 December 1974, Darwin was struck by [[Cyclone Tracy]], which killed 71 people and destroyed over 70% of the city's buildings, including many old stone buildings such as the Palmerston Town Hall, which could not withstand the lateral forces the winds generated. After the disaster, 30,000 of the population of 46,000 were evacuated in the biggest airlift in Australia's history.<ref name="DCC" /> The town was rebuilt with newer materials and techniques during the late 1970s by the Darwin Reconstruction Commission, led by former [[Brisbane]] [[Lord mayor]] [[Clem Jones]]. A [[satellite city]] of [[Palmerston, Northern Territory|Palmerston]] was built {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of Darwin in the early 1980s.

On 17 September 2003, the [[Adelaide–Darwin railway]] was completed, with the opening of the Alice Springs–Darwin standard gauge line.

In December 2003, Three Darwin men were attacked by a saltwater crocodile at the [[Finniss River (Northern Territory)|Finniss River]] just south of the city. 

22 year old Brett Mann was killed in the attack, while 19 year olds Shaun Blowers and Ashley McGough were stuck up a mangrove tree for 22 hours while the crocodile stalked them. Police would eventually find and rescue them, while Brett Mann’s body was never found and presumed to have been eaten.

The attack would be the inspiration for the 2007 film [[Black Water (2007 film)|Black Water]]

=== Aviation history ===
[[File:Darwin 1921.jpg|thumb|Darwin Aviation Heritage Centre – 1st Ultralight – Hover Bird]]
Darwin hosted many of aviation's early pioneers. On 10 December 1919, Captain [[Ross Macpherson Smith|Ross Smith]] and his crew landed in Darwin and won a £10,000 prize from the Australian government for completing the first flight from London to Australia in under 30 days. Smith and his crew flew a [[Vickers Vimy]], G-EAOU, and landed on an airstrip that has become Ross Smith Avenue.

Other aviation pioneers include [[Amy Johnson]], [[Amelia Earhart]], Sir [[Charles Kingsford Smith]] and [[Bert Hinkler]]. The original QANTAS Empire Airways Ltd Hangar, a registered heritage site,<ref>{{cite web|title=Heritage Register|url=http://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/heritageregister/f?p=103:302:4229181194015530::NO::P302_SITE_ID:119|publisher=Northern Territory government|access-date=23 June 2016}}</ref> was part of the original Darwin Civil Aerodrome in Parap and is now a museum that still bears scars from the [[bombing of Darwin]] during World War II.<ref>[http://www.enjoy-darwin.com/qantas-australia.html "QANTAS hangar"]. ''Enjoy Darwin''.</ref>

Darwin was home to Australian and U.S. pilots during the war, with airstrips built in and around Darwin. Today Darwin provides a staging ground for [[military exercise]]s.

Darwin was a compulsory stopover and checkpoint in the London-to-Melbourne Centenary Air Race in 1934. The official name of the race was the [[MacRobertson Air Race]]. Winners of the race were [[Tom Campbell Black]] and [[C. W. A. Scott]].

The following is an excerpt from [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]], 29 October 1934:

{{blockquote|Third Day. Biggest sensation of the race came just before dawn on the third day, when burly Lieutenant Scott and dapper [[Flight Lieutenant|Captain]] Black flew their scarlet [[De Havilland DH.88|Comet]] into Darwin. They had covered the last {{convert|300|mi|km|disp=sqbr}} over water on one motor, risked death landing on a field made soggy by the first rain in seven months. Said sandy-haired Lieutenant Scott: "We've had a devil of a trip." But they had flown {{convert|9000|mi|km|comma=off|disp=sqbr}} in two days, had broken the England to Australia record of 162 hr. in the unbelievable time of 52hr. 33 min., were only {{convert|2000|mi|km|comma=off|disp=sqbr}} from their goal at Melbourne.}}

The [[Darwin Aviation Museum]] is about {{convert|8|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from the city centre on the Stuart Highway and is one of only three places outside the United States where a B-52 bomber (on permanent loan from the United States Air Force) is on public display.<ref>
*{{cite web |title = Things to do |url = http://www.withincooee.com/northern-territory/darwin/darwin-things-to-do/ |publisher = Within Cooee |access-date =2 April 2008}}
*{{cite web|title=Australian Aviation Heritage Centre |url=http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/04/01/3760_ntnews.html |publisher=Australian Aviation Heritage Centre |access-date=2 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118200253/http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/04/01/3760_ntnews.html |archive-date=18 January 2012 }}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Darwin Australia.jpg|thumb|A satellite image of Darwin and the surrounding areas.]]
Darwin is a coastal city, situated along the western shoreline of the Northern Territory. The water meets the land from the [[Beagle Gulf]], which extends out into the [[Timor Sea]]. The central business district occupies a low bluff overlooking [[Darwin Harbour]] to the south, beyond which lie [[East Arm, Northern Territory|East Arm]], [[Middle Arm, Northern Territory]], and, across the gulf, West Arm. Middle Arm has an industrial precinct on the peninsula, which is being promoted as a [[sustainable development]] area that will include plants for industries such as low-emission [[petrochemical]]s, [[renewable hydrogen]], and [[Carbon capture and storage|carbon capture storage]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct | website=Invest NT | date=17 February 2022 | url=https://invest.nt.gov.au/investment-opportunities/middle-arm-sustainable-development-precinct | access-date=4 July 2022}}</ref> The city is flanked by Frances Bay to the east and Cullen Bay to the west.

The rest of the city is relatively flat and low-lying, and areas bordering the coast are home to recreational reserves, extensive beaches, and excellent fishing.

=== City and suburbs ===
{{Main|List of Darwin suburbs}}

[[File:Map of the Wards and Suburbs of Darwin, Northern Territory.png|upright|thumb|Map of Darwin with suburbs]]
Darwin and its suburbs spread in an approximately triangular shape, with the older southwestern suburbs—and the city itself—forming one corner, the newer northern suburbs another, and the eastern suburbs, progressing towards Palmerston, forming the third.

The older part of Darwin is separated from the newer northern suburbs by [[Darwin International Airport]] and [[RAAF Base Darwin]]. [[Palmerston, Northern Territory|Palmerston]] is a [[satellite city]] {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of Darwin that was established in the 1980s and is one of Australia's fastest-growing municipalities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.palmerston.nt.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=292|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813074102/http://www.palmerston.nt.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=292|archive-date=13 August 2010|title=Palmerston Growth|publisher=Palmerston City Council}}</ref> Darwin's rural areas, including [[Howard Springs, Northern Territory|Howard Springs]], [[Humpty Doo, Northern Territory|Humpty Doo]] and [[Berry Springs, Northern Territory|Berry Springs]], are experiencing strong growth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.futuredarwin.nt.gov.au/development/transport.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929035715/http://www.futuredarwin.nt.gov.au/development/transport.html|archive-date=29 September 2008|title=Darwin to Palmerston Transport Corridor|quote=Traffic volumes have continued to increase on all road links between Darwin and Palmerston in parallel with the growth of Palmerston and the rural areas...|access-date=5 February 2008|publisher=[[Government of the Northern Territory]]}}</ref>
[[File:Darwin CBD - IMG 6081.jpg|left|thumb|[[Darwin city centre]]]]
Darwin's [[central business district]] (CBD) is bounded by Daly Street in the northwest, McMinn Street in the northeast, Mitchell Street on the southwest, and Bennett Street on the southeast. The CBD has been the focus of a number of major projects, such as the billion-dollar redevelopment of the Stokes Hill wharf waterfront area, including a convention centre with seating for 1,500 people and approximately {{convert|4000|m2|sqft}} of exhibition space. The developers announced that this includes hotels, residential apartments, and public space.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theterritory.com.au/index.php?menuID=148 |title=Major Projects |publisher=Northern Territory Government |access-date=15 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513094922/http://www.theterritory.com.au/index.php?menuID=148 |archive-date=13 May 2008 }}</ref> The city's main industrial areas are along the Stuart Highway toward Palmerston, centred on [[Winnellie, Northern Territory|Winnellie]]. The area's largest shopping precinct is [[Casuarina Square]].

The most expensive residential areas stand along the coast in suburbs such as the marina of [[Cullen Bay, Northern Territory|Cullen Bay]], [[Larrakeyah, Northern Territory|Larrakeyah]], [[Bayview, Northern Territory|Bayview]] and [[Brinkin, Northern Territory|Brinkin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.id.com.au/darwin/atlas/default.asp?id=146&pg=19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060903154759/http://www.id.com.au/darwin/atlas/default.asp?id=146&pg=19|archive-date=3 September 2006|title=Community Atlas – High Income Households|publisher=Darwin City Council|access-date=4 February 2008}}</ref> These low-lying regions are at risk during cyclones and higher tides, but adequate drainage and stringent building regulations have reduced the potential damage to buildings or injury to residents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darcity.nt.gov.au/documents/RapidRiskAssessmentFINAL.pdf|title=The Qualitative Rapid Environmental Risk Assessment|publisher=Darwin City Council|access-date=4 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216115715/http://www.darcity.nt.gov.au/documents/RapidRiskAssessmentFINAL.pdf|archive-date=16 February 2008}}</ref> The inner northern suburbs are home to lower-income households, although low-income Territory Housing units are scattered throughout the metropolitan area.<ref>
{{cite web|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/2033.0.55.001/|title=2033.0.55.001 – Census of Population and Housing: Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), Australia – Data only, 2006|author=Australian Bureau of Statistics|date=25 March 2009|access-date=4 August 2010}}</ref> The suburb of [[Lyons, Northern Territory|Lyons]] was part of a multi-stage land release and development in the Northern Suburbs; planning, development and construction took place from 2004 to 2009. More recent developments near Lyons subdivision includes the suburb of [[Muirhead, Northern Territory|Muirhead]].

=== Climate ===
[[File:Darwin thunderstorm.jpg|thumb|A wet-season storm at night in January]]
Darwin has a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen ''Aw'']])<ref>{{cite book|last1=Tapper|first1=Andrew|last2=Tapper|first2=Nigel|title=The weather and climate of Australia and New Zealand|year=1996|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Melbourne, Australia|isbn=0-19-553393-3|edition=First|editor=Gray, Kathleen|page=300}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = CHAPTER 7: Introduction to the Atmosphere | work=physicalgeography.net |url=http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/7v.html | access-date =15 July 2008 }}</ref> with distinct wet and dry seasons, and the average maximum temperature is similar year round. The [[Australian Building Codes Board]] classifies it as Climate Zone 1 under the [[National Construction Code]] (NCC). Climate zones are a broad classification of climate zones in the NCC ranging from one to eight, categorising the different climates of Australia.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Trombley |first1=Jeremy |last2=Halawa |first2=Edward |title=Can further energy reductions be achieved through behaviour changes in low income households? |journal=Energy Procedia |date=September 2017 |volume=121 |pages=230–237 |doi=10.1016/j.egypro.2017.08.022 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2017EnPro.121..230T }} p. 231</ref> The sun passes directly overhead in mid-October and mid-February. The dry season runs from about May to September, during which nearly every day is sunny, and afternoon relative humidity averages around 30%.<ref name="DarwinAirportAWS">{{cite web | title = Darwin Airport | publisher=Bureau of Meteorology |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_014015_All.shtml | access-date =25 April 2022}}</ref> The hottest months are October and November, just before the onset of the main rain season. The temperature is usually below {{convert|35|°C|°F}}, but the [[heat index]] sometimes rises above {{convert|45|°C|°F}} due to humidity levels. The wet season runs generally between December and March, with a transition towards the dry season in April.

The average temperature of the sea ranges from {{convert|25.8|C|1}} in July to {{convert|31.5|C|1}} in December.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seatemperature.org/australia-pacific/australia/darwin.htm|title=Darwin Water Temperature – Australia – Sea Temperatures|first=Copyright Global Sea Temperatures-A.-Connect|last=Ltd|website=World Sea Temperatures|access-date=26 January 2019}}</ref>

====Dry season====
The driest period of the year, seeing about {{convert|5|mm|in|abbr=on}} of monthly rainfall on average, is between May and September. In the coolest months, June and July, the daily minimum temperature may dip as low as {{convert|14|°C|°F}}, but very rarely lower, and a temperature lower than {{convert|10|°C|°F}} has never been recorded in the city centre. Outer suburbs away from the coast occasionally record temperatures as low as {{convert|5|°C|°F}} in the dry season. Because of its long dry season, Darwin has the second-highest average daily hours of sunshine (8.4) of any Australian capital, with the most sunshine from April to November; only [[Perth]], Western Australia, averages more (8.8).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.science.org.au/nova/005/005act02.htm|title=Direct solar energy|publisher=Australian Academy of Science|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629223440/http://science.org.au/nova/005/005act02.htm|archive-date=29 June 2012}}</ref>

====Wet season====
The wet season is associated with [[tropical cyclone]]s and [[Australian monsoon|monsoon]] rains.<ref>{{cite web | title = Information about Darwin | publisher = Charles Darwin University | url = http://www.cdu.edu.au/studyabroad/services.html#climate | access-date = 15 July 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080724032835/http://www.cdu.edu.au/studyabroad/services.html#climate | archive-date = 24 July 2008 }}</ref> Most rainfall occurs between December and March when thunderstorms are common, and afternoon relative humidity averages over 70 percent during the wettest months.<ref name="DarwinAirportAWS"/> It does not rain every day during the wet season, but most days have plentiful cloud cover; January averages under six hours of bright sunshine daily. This cloud cover means the wet season is not the hottest period of the year, despite daytime hours being the longest at this time. The 3pm dewpoint average in the wet season is around {{convert|24.0|°C|°F}}.<ref name="DarwinAirportAWS"/> Darwin's highest daily rainfall verified by the Bureau of Meteorology is {{convert|367.6|mm}}, which fell when [[Cyclone Carlos]] bore down on the Darwin area on 16 February 2011.<ref>{{cite web | title = Cyclone Carlos bears down on Darwin | publisher = Weatherzone | url = http://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/cyclone-carlos-bears-down-on-darwin/16392 | access-date = 16 February 2011 | archive-date = 19 February 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110219015325/http://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/cyclone-carlos-bears-down-on-darwin/16392 }}</ref> February 2011 was also Darwin's wettest month ever recorded, with {{convert|1110.2|mm}} at the airport.<ref name="DarwinAirportAWS"/>

====Extremes====
Extreme temperatures at the Darwin Post Office Station have ranged from {{convert|40.4|°C|°F}} on 17 October 1892 to {{convert|13.4|°C|°F}} on 25 June 1891; extreme temperatures at the Darwin Airport station (which is farther from the coast and routinely records cooler temperatures than the post office station, which is in Darwin's CBD) have ranged from {{convert|38.9|°C|°F}} on 18 October 1982 to {{convert|10.4|°C|°F}} on 29 July 1942. The highest minimum temperature on record is {{convert|30.7|°C|°F}} on 18 January 1928 for the post office station and {{convert|29.7|°C|°F}} on both 25 November 1987 and 17 December 2014 for the airport station. The lowest maximum temperature on record is {{convert|18.4|°C|°F}} on 3 June 1904 for the post office station and {{convert|21.1|°C|°F}} on 14 July 1968 for the airport station.<ref name="DarwinAirportAWS"/><ref name="DarwinPO">{{cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_014016_All.shtml| title = Climate statistics for Australian locations|date=8 May 2014}}</ref>

For a 147‑day period during the 2012 dry season, from 5 May to 29 September, Darwin recorded no precipitation. Prolonged periods of no precipitation are common in the dry season in [[Northern Australia]] (particularly in the [[Northern Territory]] and northern regions of [[Western Australia]]), although a no-rainfall event of this extent is rare.

Darwin occupies one of the most lightning-prone areas in Australia. On 31 January 2002 an early-morning [[squall line]] produced over 5,000 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes within a {{convert|60|km|mi|adj=on}} radius of Darwin alone—about three times the amount of lightning that Perth experiences on average in an entire year.<ref name="GUM"/><ref>
{{cite web|title=Significant Weather – January 2002|url=http://www.bom.gov.au/inside/services_policy/public/sigwxsum/sigw0102.shtml|work=Bureau of Meteorology|publisher=Australian Government|access-date=28 June 2011}}
</ref>

{{Weather box|location = [[Darwin Airport]], Northern Territory, Australia, 1991–2020 averages, extremes 1941–present
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 36.1
|Feb record high C = 36.0
|Mar record high C = 36.0
|Apr record high C = 36.7
|May record high C = 36.0
|Jun record high C = 35.0
|Jul record high C = 35.0
|Aug record high C = 37.0
|Sep record high C = 38.0
|Oct record high C = 38.9
|Nov record high C = 37.3
|Dec record high C = 37.1
|Jan high C = 32.0
|Feb high C = 31.7
|Mar high C = 32.3
|Apr high C = 33.0
|May high C = 32.3
|Jun high C = 31.1
|Jul high C = 31.1
|Aug high C = 31.9
|Sep high C = 33.1
|Oct high C = 33.8
|Nov high C = 33.7
|Dec high C = 33.0

|Jan low C = 25.1
|Feb low C = 25.1
|Mar low C = 24.9
|Apr low C = 24.2
|May low C = 22.3
|Jun low C = 20.0
|Jul low C = 19.3
|Aug low C = 19.8
|Sep low C = 22.9
|Oct low C = 24.8
|Nov low C = 25.4
|Dec low C = 25.5
|Jan record low C = 20.2
|Feb record low C = 17.2
|Mar record low C = 19.2
|Apr record low C = 16.0
|May record low C = 13.8
|Jun record low C = 12.1
|Jul record low C = 10.4
|Aug record low C = 13.0
|Sep record low C = 14.3
|Oct record low C = 19.0
|Nov record low C = 19.3
|Dec record low C = 19.8
| Jan avg record high C  = 34.2
| Feb avg record high C  = 33.8
| Mar avg record high C  = 34.5
| Apr avg record high C  = 34.8
| May avg record high C  = 34.3
| Jun avg record high C  = 33.5
| Jul avg record high C  = 33.4
| Aug avg record high C  = 34.5
| Sep avg record high C  = 35.8
| Oct avg record high C  = 36.2
| Nov avg record high C  = 35.8
| Dec avg record high C  = 35.3
| year avg record high C = 36.8
| Jan avg record low C  = 22.2
| Feb avg record low C  = 22.4
| Mar avg record low C  = 22.3
| Apr avg record low C  = 21.3
| May avg record low C  = 18.3
| Jun avg record low C  = 15.5
| Jul avg record low C  = 15.5
| Aug avg record low C  = 15.9
| Sep avg record low C  = 19.4
| Oct avg record low C  = 21.9
| Nov avg record low C  = 21.8
| Dec avg record low C  = 22.4
| year avg record low C = 14.3
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 470.7
|Feb rain mm = 412.4
|Mar rain mm = 313.7
|Apr rain mm = 105.1
|May rain mm = 20.7
|Jun rain mm = 2.1
|Jul rain mm = 0.9
|Aug rain mm = 0.8
|Sep rain mm = 14.3
|Oct rain mm = 68.9
|Nov rain mm = 143.5
|Dec rain mm = 279.3
|Jan rain days = 19.6
|Feb rain days = 18.2
|Mar rain days = 16.8
|Apr rain days = 7.6
|May rain days = 1.7
|Jun rain days = 0.2
|Jul rain days = 0.1
|Aug rain days = 0.2
|Sep rain days = 1.5
|Oct rain days = 5.5
|Nov rain days = 10.1
|Dec rain days = 15.0
|unit rain days = 1 mm
|Jan afthumidity = 71
|Feb afthumidity = 74
|Mar afthumidity = 67
|Apr afthumidity = 52
|May afthumidity = 41
|Jun afthumidity = 36
|Jul afthumidity = 36
|Aug afthumidity = 38
|Sep afthumidity = 47
|Oct afthumidity = 51
|Nov afthumidity = 58
|Dec afthumidity = 66
|Jan dew point C = 24.2
|Feb dew point C = 24.3
|Mar dew point C = 23.4
|Apr dew point C = 19.8
|May dew point C = 15.8
|Jun dew point C = 12.4
|Jul dew point C = 11.8
|Aug dew point C = 13.1
|Sep dew point C = 18.1
|Oct dew point C = 20.3
|Nov dew point C = 22.3
|Dec dew point C = 23.6
|Jan sun = 176.7
|Feb sun = 162.4
|Mar sun = 213.9
|Apr sun = 264.0
|May sun = 300.7
|Jun sun = 303.0
|Jul sun = 319.3
|Aug sun = 325.5
|Sep sun = 297.0
|Oct sun = 294.5
|Nov sun = 255.0
|Dec sun = 198.4
|Jand sun = 5.7
|Febd sun = 5.8
|Mard sun = 6.9
|Aprd sun = 8.8
|Mayd sun = 9.7
|Jund sun = 10.1
|Juld sun = 10.3
|Augd sun = 10.5
|Sepd sun = 9.9
|Octd sun = 9.5
|Novd sun = 8.5
|Decd sun = 6.5
|Jan percentsun = 45
|Feb percentsun = 48
|Mar percentsun = 57
|Apr percentsun = 74
|May percentsun = 83
|Jun percentsun = 86
|Jul percentsun = 87
|Aug percentsun = 87
|Sep percentsun = 82
|Oct percentsun = 78
|Nov percentsun = 69
|Dec percentsun = 52
|Jan uv = 13
|Feb uv = 14
|Mar uv = 13
|Apr uv = 11
|May uv = 9
|Jun uv = 8
|Jul uv = 8
|Aug uv = 10
|Sep uv = 12
|Oct uv = 13
|Nov uv = 13
|Dec uv = 13

|source 1 =<ref name="DarwinAirportAWS"/><ref>[http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/climate_averages/uv-index/index.jsp Average solar ultraviolet (UV) Index] Bureau of Meteorology. Retrieved 17 October 2022.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/|title = Climate data online (Site number: 014015)|publisher = Bureau of Meteorology|access-date = 27 Jun 2025}}</ref>}}

{|style="width:100%;text-align:center;line-height:1.2em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|-
!Colspan=14|Climate data for Darwin airport<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=014015&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal |title=Monthly climate statistics, Period 1991-2020: Darwin Airport |format=XLSX |access-date=16 April 2024 |website=bom.gov.au |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-5-WMO-Normals-9120/Australia/XLS/WMO_Normals_Excel_Template_NT.xlsx |title=WMO Normals for 1991-2020: NT |access-date=16 April 2024 |website=ncei.noaa.gov |publisher=[[NCEI|National Centers for Environmental Information]] |page=11 |format=XLSX |quote=Darwin Airport - 94120}}</ref>
|-
!Month
!Jan
!Feb
!Mar
!Apr
!May
!Jun
!Jul
!Aug
!Sep
!Oct
!Nov
!Dec
!style="border-left-width:medium"|Year
|-
!Mean number of days with precipitation > {{Convert|10.0|mm|inches|abbr=on}}
|style="background:#40A0FF;color:#000000;"|11.4
|style="background:#66B2FF;color:#000000;"|10.0
|style="background:#66B2FF;color:#000000;"|8.7
|style="background:#C0E0FF;color:#000000;"|2.8
|style="background:#CCE5FF;color:#000000;"|0.7
|style="background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;"|0
|style="background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;"|0
|style="background:#FFFFFF;color:#000000;"|0
|style="background:#CCE5FF;color:#000000;"|0.4
|style="background:#C0E0FF;color:#000000;"|2.2
|style="background:#99CCFF;color:#000000;"|4.1
|style="background:#80C0FF;color:#000000;"|7.4
|style="background:#C0E0FF;color:#000000;border-left-width:medium"|47.7
|-
!Mean number of days with Max temperature > {{Convert|30.0|C|F|abbr=on}}
|style="background:#800000;color:#ffffff;"|26.8
|style="background:#C00000;color:#ffffff;"|23.6
|style="background:#660000;color:#ffffff;"|28.2
|style="background:#660000;color:#ffffff;"|28.8
|style="background:#660000;color:#ffffff;"|28.9
|style="background:#C00000;color:#ffffff;"|23.5
|style="background:#990000;color:#ffffff;"|24.8
|style="background:#660000;color:#ffffff;"|29.3
|style="background:#660000;color:#ffffff;"|29.9
|style="background:#400000;color:#ffffff;"|30.8
|style="background:#660000;color:#ffffff;"|29.8
|style="background:#660000;color:#ffffff;"|29.1
|style="background:#800000;color:#ffffff;border-left-width:medium"|333.4
|-
!Mean number of cloudy days
|style="background:#404040;color:#ffffff;"|23.3
|style="background:#4C4C4C;color:#ffffff;"|21.2
|style="background:#666666;color:#ffffff;"|17.1
|style="background:#A0A0A0;color:#000000;"|11.4
|style="background:#CCCCCC;color:#000000;"|4.2
|style="background:#E0E0E0;color:#000000;"|2.8
|style="background:#E5E5E5;color:#000000;"|1.4
|style="background:#E5E5E5;color:#000000;"|1.4
|style="background:#E0E0E0;color:#000000;"|2.6
|style="background:#E0E0E0;color:#000000;"|3.9
|style="background:#B2B2B2;color:#000000;"|9.7
|style="background:#606060;color:#ffffff;"|19.5
|style="background:#B2B2B2;color:#ffffff;border-left-width:medium"|118.5
|-
!Mean number of days with wind speed > {{Convert|5|m/s|kph|abbr=on}}
|style="background:#C0C0C0;color:#000000;"|7.8
|style="background:#C0C0C0;color:#000000;"|7.5
|style="background:#E3DAC9;color:#000000;"|2.9
|style="background:#F9F6EE;color:#000000;"|1.5
|style="background:#E3DAC9;color:#000000;"|2.0
|style="background:#E3DAC9;color:#000000;"|3.1
|style="background:#E3DAC9;color:#000000;"|2.5
|style="background:#F9F6EE;color:#000000;"|1.2
|style="background:#F9F6EE;color:#000000;"|0.9
|style="background:#F9F6EE;color:#000000;"|1.3
|style="background:#F9F6EE;color:#000000;"|1.4
|style="background:#E3DAC9;color:#000000;"|3.5
|style="background:#E3DAC9;color:#000000;border-left-width:medium"|35.6
|-
!Mean wind speed
|style="background:#FEFEFA;color:#000000;"|4.1
|style="background:#FEFEFA;color:#000000;"|4.1
|style="background:#FEFEFA;color:#000000;"|3.3
|style="background:#FEFEFA;color:#000000;"|3.3
|style="background:#FEFEFA;color:#000000;"|3.6
|style="background:#FEFEFA;color:#000000;"|3.7
|style="background:#FEFEFA;color:#000000;"|3.6
|style="background:#FEFEFA;color:#000000;"|3.5
|style="background:#FEFEFA;color:#000000;"|3.5
|style="background:#FEFEFA;color:#000000;"|3.6
|style="background:#FEFEFA;color:#000000;"|3.4
|style="background:#FEFEFA;color:#000000;"|3.6
|style="background:#FEFEFA;color:#000000;border-left-width:medium"|3.6

|}

== Demographics ==
{{update|section|date=August 2022}}

===Ancestry and immigration===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
|+ Country of birth (2021)<ref name="quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au">{{cite web |title=2021 Census Community Profiles: Greater Darwin |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/community-profiles/2021/7GDAR |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics}}</ref><ref name="censusdata.abs.gov.au">{{cite web|url=http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/CensusOutput/copsub2016.NSF/All%20docs%20by%20catNo/2016~Community%20Profile~7GDAR/$File/GCP_7GDAR.zip?OpenElement |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028074332/http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/CensusOutput/copsub2016.NSF/All%20docs%20by%20catNo/2016~Community%20Profile~7GDAR/$File/GCP_7GDAR.zip?OpenElement |archive-date=2022-10-28 |work=2016 Census of Population and Housing |title=Census Data: Greater Darwin |year=2016 |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |access-date=6 June 2023}}</ref>
! Birthplace{{refn|group="N"|In accordance with the Australian Bureau of Statistics source, [[England]], [[Scotland]], [[Mainland China]] and the Special Administrative Regions of [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]] are listed separately. Wales and Northern Ireland are also listed separately but number fewer than 1000, so are omitted here.}} !! Population
|-
| [[Australia]] || 89,266
|-
| [[Philippines]] ||5,283
|-
| [[India]]|| 3,820
|-
| [[England]]||3,764<!-- Not including Wales. England and Scotland are listed separately as per the source. Do not combine. -->
|-
| [[Nepal]]||2,540 
|-
| [[New Zealand]]||2,437
|-
| [[Mainland China]] ||1,407<!-- Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau SARs are listed separately as per the source. Do not combine -->
|-
| [[Indonesia]]||1,292
|-
| [[Greece]]||1,146
|}
Darwin's population changed after the Second World War. Like many other Australian cities, Darwin experienced influxes from Europe, with significant numbers of [[Italians]] and [[Greeks]] during the 1960s and 1970s. It also began to experience an influx from other European countries, which included the [[Dutch people|Dutch]], [[Germans]], and many others.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3105.0.65.0012006?OpenDocument|title=Darwin Significant Migration Groups|author=Australian Bureau of Statistics|access-date=26 March 2008|author-link=Australian Bureau of Statistics}}</ref> A significant proportion of Darwin's residents are recent immigrants from [[Asian Australian|Asia]], including the peoples of [[East Timor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nt.gov.au/community/multicultural-communities/community-profiles/portuguese-timorese|title=Portuguese-Timorese|publisher=Northern Territory Government|date=2 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.localsearch.com.au/profile/portuguese-timorese-social-club-inc/marrara-nt/fOed|title=Portuguese & Timorese Social Club Inc in Marrara|website=Localsearch|access-date=3 September 2019|archive-date=16 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116111107/https://www.localsearch.com.au/profile/portuguese-timorese-social-club-inc/marrara-nt/fOed}}</ref>
{{Historical populations
|title    = Historical Populations of Darwin
|align    = right
|footnote =<ref>{{citation|title=Table 18. Population, capital city and balance of state, states and territories, 30 June 1901 onwards|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/ABS@Archive.nsf/log?openagent&3105065001_table18.xls&3105.0.65.001&Data%20Cubes&23F533BC3E26D892CA2571760022856F&0&2006&23.05.2006&Latest|format=Microsoft Excel|year=2006|work=Australian Historical Population Statistics, 2006|access-date=2 August 2010|author=Australian Bureau of Statistics|author-link=Australian Bureau of Statistics}}</ref><ref>{{Census 2006 AUS|id=705|name=Darwin (Statistical Division)|accessdate=2 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/3218.0Main%20Features102008-09?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=3218.0&issue=2008-09&num=&view=#PARALINK5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319020003/http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs%40.nsf/Latestproducts/3218.0Main%20Features102008-09?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=3218.0&issue=2008-09&num=&view=#PARALINK5|archive-date=19 March 2011|title=Australian Demographic Statistics|author=Australian Bureau of Statistics|date=30 March 2010|author-link = Australian Bureau of Statistics}}</ref>
|1911|1082
|1921|1399
|1933|1566
|1947|2538
|1954|8071
|1961|15477
|1966|21671
|1971|37100
|1976|44200
|1981|61412
|1986|75360
|1991|86415
|1996|95829
|2001|106842
|2006|105991
|2011|129106
|2016|145916
|2021|139902
|graph-pos=bottom
}}

At the 2021 census, the most commonly nominated ancestries were:{{refn|group="N"|As a percentage of 119,944 persons who nominated their ancestry at the 2016 census.}}<ref name="quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au" /><ref name="censusdata.abs.gov.au" /> <!-- Only ancestries with >1% are listed. Do not use the QuickStats data from ABS for ancestries. Use the full ancestry data series (eg from ABS Community Profiles series) as the QuickStats data shows each ancestry as a percentage of all ancestry responses (where each person can list up to two, thus a far greater number than the total population) while the full data series in the ABS Community Profiles show the percentage of people nominating a given ancestry as a percentage of the population who nominated an ancestry -->
{{columns-list|colwidth=13em|
* [[Australians|Australian]] (38.8%){{refn|group="N"|The Australian Bureau of Statistics has stated that most who nominate "Australian" as their ancestry are part of the [[Anglo-Celtic Australian|Anglo-Celtic]] group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/94713ad445ff1425ca25682000192af2/49f609c83cf34d69ca2569de0025c182!OpenDocument|title=Feature Article – Ethnic and Cultural Diversity in Australia (Feature Article)|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|date=January 1995}}</ref>}}
* [[English Australians|English]] (27.6%)
* [[Indigenous Australians|Indigenous]] (10.4%){{refn|group="N"|Of any ancestry. Includes those identifying as [[Aboriginal Australians]] or [[Torres Strait Islanders]]. Indigenous identification is separate to the ancestry question on the Australian Census and persons identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander may identify any ancestry.}}
* [[Irish Australians|Irish]] (8.5%)
* [[Scottish Australians|Scottish]] (7.4%)
* [[Filipino Australians|Filipino]] (4.9%)
* [[Chinese Australians|Chinese]] (4.2%)
* [[German Australians|German]] (4.1%)
* [[Greek Australian|Greek]] (2.8%)
* [[Indian Australians|Indian]] (2.8%)
* [[Italian Australians|Italian]] (2.3%)
}}

38.3% of the population at the 2016 census was born overseas. The five largest groups of overseas-born were from the [[Philippines]] (3.6%), [[England]] (3.1%), [[New Zealand]] (2.1%), [[India]] (2%) and [[Greece]] (0.9%).<ref name="quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au" /><ref name="censusdata.abs.gov.au" />

10.4% of the population, or 14,539 people, identified as [[Indigenous Australians]] ([[Aboriginal Australians]] and/or [[Torres Strait Islanders]]) in 2016.{{refn|group="N"|Of any ancestry. Includes those identifying as [[Aboriginal Australians]] or [[Torres Strait Islanders]]. Indigenous identification is separate to the ancestry question on the Australian Census and persons identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander may identify any ancestry.}}<ref name="quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au" /><ref name="censusdata.abs.gov.au" /> This is the largest proportion of any Australian capital city.

===Language===
At the 2016 census, 58% of the population spoke only [[Australian English|English]] at home. Other languages spoken at home include [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] (3.7%), [[Greek language|Greek]] (3.5%), [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]] (2.0%), [[Nepali language|Nepali]] (1.2%), [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] (1.0%), [[Australian Aboriginal languages]] (1.0%), [[Malayalam]] (0.9%), [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] (0.8%), [[Cantonese]] (0.7%), [[Italian language|Italian]] (0.6%), [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] (0.5%, mostly spoken by [[East Timor|Timorese]]), and [[Tamil language|Tamil]] (0.5%).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Language spoken at home {{!}} City of Darwin {{!}} Community profile|url=https://profile.id.com.au/darwin/language|access-date=2020-12-09|website=Informed Decisions|archive-date=8 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208192240/https://profile.id.com.au/darwin/language}}</ref>

===Age===
In 2011, the Darwin population averaged 33 years old (compared to the national average of around 37),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/quickstat/7GDAR?opendocument&navpos=220 |title=Youth Population |publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics |access-date=8 February 2013 |archive-date=13 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513171017/http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2011/quickstat/7GDAR?opendocument&navpos=220 }}</ref> to a large extent because of the military presence and because many people opt to retire elsewhere.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nt.gov.au/business/documents/general/Defence_Support_Chapter13_Budget.pdf |title=Updated Darwin Defence RAAF system |publisher=Darwin Defence RAAF Base 2007 |access-date=16 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216115714/http://www.nt.gov.au/business/documents/general/Defence_Support_Chapter13_Budget.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2008 |url-status=live  }}</ref>{{update inline|date=August 2022}}
[[File:Darwin Catholic Cathedral.jpg|thumb|St Mary's Star of the Sea Catholic Cathedral|alt=|left]]

=== Religion ===
As of 2021, the Australian Census records 41.7% of Darwin residents did not affiliate with any formal religion. The largest religious categories were [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholicism]] (18.2%) and Anglican (5.2%).<ref>{{Cite web |title=2021 Darwin, Census All persons QuickStats {{!}} Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/701 |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=abs.gov.au}}</ref>

== Law and government ==
[[File:Darwin (AU), Parliament House -- 2019 -- 4336-8.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory]]]]
The Darwin City Council (incorporated under the Northern Territory Local Government Act 1993) governs the [[City of Darwin]], which takes in the CBD and the suburbs. The city has been governed by a city council form of government since 1957. The council consists of 13 elected members, the [[lord mayor]], and 12 [[Alderman|aldermen]].

The City of Darwin electorate is organised into four electoral units or wards. The wards are Chan, Lyons, Richardson, and Waters. The constituents of each ward are directly responsible for electing three [[Alderman|aldermen]]. Constituents of all wards are directly responsible for electing the Lord Mayor of Darwin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darcity.nt.gov.au/aboutcouncil/elections/elections.htm|title=Darwin City Council – Elections|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929211108/http://www.darcity.nt.gov.au/aboutcouncil/elections/elections.htm|archive-date=29 September 2009}}</ref> Since the 2024 council elections, the mayor has been [[Peter Styles (politician)|Peter Styles]]<ref name="2017mayor">{{cite news|title=New Darwin Lord Mayor blasts predecessors for 'stupid decisions'|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-04/new-darwin-lord-mayor-kon-vatskalis-blasts-predecessors/8869522|work=ABC News|date=4 September 2017|language=en-AU}}</ref>

The rest of the Darwin area is divided into three [[Local Government Areas of the Northern Territory|local government areas]]—the [[City of Palmerston|Palmerston City Council]], [[Litchfield Municipality]] and the [[Coomalie Shire|Shire of Coomalie]]. These areas have elected councils that are responsible for functions delegated to them by the [[Northern Territory Government]], such as planning and garbage collection.

The [[Northern Territory Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory]] convenes in Darwin in the Northern Territory [[Parliament House, Darwin|Parliament House]]. [[Government House, Darwin|Government House]], the official residence of the [[Administrator of the Northern Territory]], is on the Esplanade.

Darwin is split between nine electoral divisions in the Legislative Assembly—[[electoral division of Port Darwin|Port Darwin]], [[electoral division of Fannie Bay|Fannie Bay]], [[electoral division of Fong Lim|Fong Lim]], [[electoral division of Nightcliff|Nightcliff]], [[electoral division of Sanderson|Sanderson]], [[electoral division of Johnston|Johnston]], [[Electoral division of Casuarina|Casuarina]], [[electoral division of Wanguri|Wanguri]], and [[electoral division of Karama|Karama]]. Historically, Darwin voters elected [[Country Liberal Party]] members,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ntec.nt.gov.au/Electoral-divisions/Division-maps|title=Division maps 2019/2020|last=NTEC|date=15 May 2018|website=NTEC|language=en|access-date=28 March 2020|archive-date=6 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406121022/https://ntec.nt.gov.au/Electoral-divisions/Division-maps}}</ref> but since the turn of the 21st century, voters have often selected [[Australian Labor Party|Labor]] members, particularly in the more diverse northern section; as of the [[2024 Northern Territory general election]], seven of Darwin's nine Legislative Assembly electoral divisions have returned to the [[Country Liberal Party|CLP]] - this contrasts with Labor holding both the Northern Territory's federal electorates, [[Division of Solomon|Solomon]] and [[Division of Lingiari|Lingiari]]. The two Darwin electoral divisions not held by the [[Country Liberal Party|CLP]] are [[Electoral division of Nightcliff|Nightcliff]] which elected the first [[NT Greens]] member to the Legislative Assembly and [[Electoral division of Johnston|Johnstone]] which is held by an independent. 

Also on the Esplanade is the [[Supreme Court of the Northern Territory]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.supremecourt.nt.gov.au/|title=The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory|website=supremecourt.nt.gov.au|access-date=26 January 2019}}</ref> Darwin has a Magistrate's Court on the corner of Cavenagh and Bennett streets, close to the Darwin City Council Chambers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://localcourt.nt.gov.au/|title=NT Local Courts|first=NT Local|last=Courts|date=27 January 2019|website=localcourt.nt.gov.au|access-date=26 January 2019}}</ref>

=== Crime ===
{{Main|Crime in the Northern Territory}}

[[File:Darwin (AU), Supreme Court -- 2019 -- 4347.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Supreme Court of the Northern Territory]] ]]
Darwin's police force are members of the [[Northern Territory Police]], under the NT Police Darwin Metropolitan Command. The Darwin urban centre includes Darwin City and the associated suburbs from [[Buffalo Creek, Northern Territory|Buffalo Creek]], [[Berrimah, Northern Territory|Berrimah]], and East Arm westwards, representing around 35% of the Northern Territory's population.<ref name="stats2019dar">{{cite web|website=NT Police, Fire & Emergency Services: NT Police Force|url=http://www.pfes.nt.gov.au/police/community-safety/nt-crime-statistics/darwin|title=Darwin crime statistics|access-date=24 October 2019}}</ref> Palmerston urban centre closely approximates the Palmerston Local Government Area, and represents approximately 13% of the Northern Territory's population.<ref name="stats2019palm">{{cite web|website=NT Police, Fire & Emergency Services: NT Police Force|url=https://www.pfes.nt.gov.au/police/community-safety/nt-crime-statistics/palmerston|title=Palmerston crime statistics|access-date=24 October 2019}}</ref>

Darwin has had a publicised history of [[alcohol abuse]] and violent crime, with 6,000 reported assaults in 2009, of which 350 resulted in broken jaws and noses—more than anywhere else in the world, according to the [[Royal Darwin Hospital]].<ref name="etjaw">{{cite news|title=Australian city of Darwin named 'broken jaw capital of the world'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6945648/Australian-city-of-Darwin-named-broken-jaw-capital-of-the-world.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/6945648/Australian-city-of-Darwin-named-broken-jaw-capital-of-the-world.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|first=Bonnie|last= Malkin|date=7 January 2010|access-date=24 October 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Mitchell Street, with its numerous pubs, [[night club|club]]s and other entertainment venues, was one of the areas policed by the CitySafe Unit, officially launched by the NT Chief Minister [[Paul Henderson (politician)|Paul Henderson]] on 25 February 2009. It was credited with success in tackling alcohol abuse linked to crime,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsroom.nt.gov.au/adminmedia/mailouts/5170/attachments/090217%20City%20Safe.pdf|title=CitySafe Night Patrol on the Beat in the City|author=Northern Territory Government|year=2009|access-date=24 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917175101/http://newsroom.nt.gov.au/adminmedia/mailouts/5170/attachments/090217%20City%20Safe.pdf|archive-date=17 September 2009}}</ref> and the NT police were looking at establishing a specialist licensing enforcement unit in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nceta.flinders.edu.au/files/3413/5226/7676/EN458_LLReport3.pdf|first1=Allan|last1=Trifonoff|first2=Rachel|last2=Andrew|first3=Tania|last3=Steenson|first4=Roger|last4=Nicholas|first5=Ann M.|last5=Roche|display-authors=1|title=Liquor licensing legislation in Australia: Part 3: Police expectations and experiences|series=An examination of Liquor Licensing Legislation in Australia as at December 2010|others=Commissioned by the Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs through the National Drug Strategy Cost Shared Funding Model|access-date=24 October 2019|archive-date=25 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025140417/http://nceta.flinders.edu.au/files/3413/5226/7676/EN458_LLReport3.pdf}}</ref>

The First Response Patrol, run by Larrakia Nation, which helps move homeless Indigenous women out of dangerous situations, was credited with the decline in sexual assaults in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|website=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|first=Jane|last=Bardon|date= 23 July 2009|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/23/2634526.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726135154/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/23/2634526.htm |archive-date=26 July 2009 |title=Crime statistics show fall in sex assaults|access-date=24 October 2019}}</ref> The service operates every day from 5am to 2am.<ref>{{cite web|website=Larrikia Nation|url=http://larrakia.com/services/outreach-services/|title=Outreach services|access-date=24 October 2019}}</ref>

===Recent trends===
In the 10 months between 1 October 2018, the date that the alcohol floor price and various other measures were imposed by the NT government following the Riley Review, and 31 July 2019, alcohol-related assaults dropped by 16% and domestic violence by 9% in the Darwin area.<ref>*{{cite news|website=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-18/domestic-violence-assualts-drop-alcohol-floor-price-nt/11619046|title=Alcohol-related domestic violence and assaults drop dramatically one year on from floor price introduction|first1= Chelsea|last1=Heaney|date=19 October 2019|access-date=20 October 2019}}
*{{cite news|website=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-19/riley-review-into-alcohol-in-nt-released/9065824|title=Riley review: Floor price on alcohol, 400sqm rule to be scrapped in wake of NT alcohol policy paper|first1= Dijana |last1=Damjanovic|first2= Xavier|last2= La Canna|   date=19 October 2017|access-date=20 October 2019}}</ref>

The rate of offending in most categories of crime dropped in the Darwin urban area between 2018 and 2019, with the notable exceptions of motor vehicle theft and break-ins (both up about 12%).<ref name="stats2019dar" /> Apart from sexual assault, which rose from 21 to 46, all other categories of crime declined in Palmerston.<ref name="stats2019palm" />

== Economy ==
[[File:Buildings in Darwin, Northern Territory, 2021, 08.jpg|thumb|Knuckey Street in the Darwin CBD]]
The two largest economic sectors are [[mining]] and [[tourism]]. Given its location, Darwin serves as a gateway for many Australian travellers to Asia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/home-design/darwin-capitalises-as-the-gateway-to-asia/news-story/|title=Darwin capitalises as the gateway to Asia|work=[[The Australian]]|date=3 August 2013|access-date=22 July 2018}}</ref>
Mining and energy industry production exceeds $2.5&nbsp;billion per annum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nt.gov.au/dpifm/Minerals_Energy/index.cfm?header=About%20Minerals%20and%20Energy|title=About the Minerals and Energy Group|publisher=Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines|access-date=16 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070908210447/http://www.nt.gov.au/dpifm/Minerals_Energy/index.cfm?header=About%20Minerals%20and%20Energy|archive-date=8 September 2007}}</ref> The most important mineral resources are gold, zinc, and [[bauxite]], along with [[manganese]] and many others. The energy production is mostly off-shore with oil and natural gas from the [[Timor Sea]], although there are significant [[uranium]] deposits near Darwin. Tourism employs 8% of Darwin residents and is expected to grow as domestic and international tourists now spend time in Darwin during the wet and dry seasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/1011/AustResources |title=The Australian Resources Sector its contribution to the nation, and a brief review of issues and impacts |last=Roarty |first=Michael |publisher=Parliament of Australia |date=23 September 2010 |access-date=26 August 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407211713/http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/1011/AustResources |archive-date=7 April 2012 }}</ref> Federal spending is also a major contributor to the local economy.
Darwin's importance as a port is expected to grow, due to the increased exploitation of petroleum in the nearby Timor Sea and to the completion of the [[Adelaide-Darwin railway line]] in 2004 and continued expansion in trade with Asia. During 2005, a number of major construction projects started in Darwin. One is the redevelopment of the Wharf Precinct, which includes a large convention and exhibition centre, apartment housing including [[Outrigger Pandanas]] and [[Evolution on Gardiner]], retail and entertainment outlets including a large wave pool and safe swimming lagoon. The [[Chinatown]] project has also started with plans to construct Chinese-themed retail and dining outlets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nt.gov.au/waterfront/news/newsletter/2005/pdf/200504Transformation.pdf |title=Darwin City Waterfront |access-date=13 May 2007 |work=Northern Territory Government |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070604233555/http://www.nt.gov.au/waterfront/news/newsletter/2005/pdf/200504Transformation.pdf |archive-date=4 June 2007 }}</ref>
[[File:Darwin Waterfront by eGuide Travel (2) - 13345956583.jpg|thumb|[[Darwin Waterfront Precinct|Darwin's Waterfront]] is a popular tourist hub]]

=== Tourism ===
Tourism is one of Darwin's largest industries and a major employment sector for the Northern Territory. In 2005–2006, 1.38&nbsp;million people visited the Northern Territory. They stayed for 9.2&nbsp;million nights and spent over $1.5&nbsp;billion.<ref>[http://www.tourismnt.com.au/ Tourism NT]. Tourism NT.</ref> The tourism industry directly employed 8,391 Territorians in June 2006, and, when indirect employment is included, tourism typically accounts for more than 14,000 jobs across the Territory.

Darwin is a hub for tours to [[Kakadu National Park]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/|title=Kakadu National Park|website=parksaustralia.gov.au|language=en-au|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> [[Litchfield National Park]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nt.gov.au/leisure/parks-reserves/find-a-park-to-visit/litchfield-national-park|title=Litchfield National Park|last=Government|first=Northern Territory|date=27 September 2017|website=nt.gov.au|language=en|access-date=19 December 2017}}</ref> and [[Katherine Gorge]]. The year is traditionally divided into the wet and dry seasons, but there are up to six traditional seasons in Darwin. It is warm and sunny from May to September. Humidity rises during the green season, from October to April, bringing thunderstorms and monsoonal rains that rejuvenate the landscape. Tourism is largely seasonal, with most tourists visiting during the cooler dry season, from April to September.

=== Military ===
{{see also|Quadrilateral Security Dialogue}}
The military presence in both Darwin and the wider Northern Territory is a substantial source of employment and identity.<!---some of the following could be in history---> On 16 November 2011, Prime Minister [[Julia Gillard]] and President [[Barack Obama]] announced that the United States would station troops in Australia for the first time since World War II. The agreement between the U.S. and Australia would involve a contingent of 250 [[Marine Rotational Force – Darwin|Marines]] arriving in Darwin in 2012, with the total number rising to a maximum of 2,500 troops by 2017 on six-month rotations as well as a supporting air element including F-22 Raptors, F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and KC-135 refuellers.<ref>{{cite news|last=Thompson|first=Andrew|title=US Air Force plans to spread its fighting wings|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-31/usaf-plans-for-pacific-foreign-pol3bicy-magazine-report/4856112|work=ABC News|date=31 July 2013|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission|access-date=13 May 2014}}</ref> China and [[Indonesia]] have expressed concern about the announcement.<ref>*{{cite news |url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/3ddd6756-102a-11e1-8211-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=rss |title=US to base 2,500 troops in Australia |newspaper=Financial Times |date=16 November 2011|access-date=17 November 2011}}
*{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-17/china-indonesia-wary-of-us-troops-in-darwin/3675866 |title=China, Indonesia wary of U.S. troops in Darwin |newspaper=ABC News |date=17 November 2011|access-date=17 November 2011}}</ref> Some analysts, such as Sam Roggeveen<ref>{{Cite book |last=Roggeveen |first=Sam |title=The echidna strategy: Australia's search for power and peace |date=2023 |publisher=La Trobe University Press in conjunction with Black Inc |isbn=978-1-76064-368-3 |location=Collingwood, VIC}}</ref> have argued that an expanded U.S. presence could pose a threat to security.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/opinion/us-build-up-no-threat-to-peace/story-e6frgd0x-1226194972352|title=US Build-up no threat to peace|date=15 November 2011|author=Paul Dibb|newspaper=The Australian}}</ref> Gillard announced that the first 200 U.S. Marines had arrived in Darwin from [[Hawaii]] on 3 April 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/04/04/first-200-us-marines-land-aussie-training-hub.html |title=First 200 US Marines land at Aussie training hub |date=4 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305004010/http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/04/04/first-200-us-marines-land-aussie-training-hub.html |archive-date=5 March 2016  }}</ref> In 2013, further news of other expansion vectors aired in U.S. media,<ref>Seth Robson (21 August 2013) [http://www.stripes.com/news/growing-us-presence-in-australia-to-include-aircraft-1.236402 Growing US presence in Australia to include aircraft – News]. Stripes. Retrieved 29 December 2013.</ref> with no comment or confirmation from Australian authorities. The full extent of the details of the agreement between the two governments is not available to the public.<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/rules-for-us-troops-in-nt-kept-secret-20121110-29571.html Rules for US troops in NT kept secret]. ''The Sydney Morning Herald''. (13 March 2012). Retrieved 29 December 2013.</ref> Marine numbers based in Darwin increased to more than 1,150 by 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=La Canna|first=Xavier|title=Marines arriving in Darwin|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2014/03/26/3971865.htm|work=105.7 ABC Darwin|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Commission|access-date=13 May 2014}}</ref> In a 2019 telephone survey of local residents, 51% of respondents had positive feelings about the U.S. troop presence, with 6% responding negatively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/survey-finds-that-us-marines-are-welcome-in-australia-s-northern-territory-1.579871|title=Survey finds that US Marines are welcome in Australia's Northern Territory}}</ref> In late 2021, the [[US Department of Defense|U.S. Department of Defense]] signed a contract to create a {{convert|300|e6l|usgal}} fuel storage facility at [[East Arm, Northern Territory#Business|East Arm]].

Darwin hosts biennial multi-nation exercises named "[[Exercise Pitch Black|Pitch Black]]";<ref>*{{cite news |last=Purtill |first=James |date=2 August 2014 |title=Air Force exercise Pitch Black takes off over Darwin and Katherine, residents brace for noise |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-01/residents-brace-for-noise-as-pitch-black-takes-off/5640390 |newspaper=ABC |access-date=28 August 2014 }}
*{{cite news |last=Yeo |first=Mike |date=26 August 2014 |title=Exercise Pitch Black Concludes in Darwin |url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/08/exercise-pitch-black-concludes-in-darwin/ |newspaper=The Diplomat |access-date=28 August 2014 }}</ref> in 2014 this involved military personnel from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Jason |date=27 August 2014 |title=U.S. Top Guns in Darwin Combat Drills as China Tensions Rise |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-27/u-s-top-guns-in-darwin-dog-fight-drills-as-china-tensions-rise.html |newspaper=Bloomberg |access-date=28 August 2014 }}</ref>

== Education ==
{{further|List of schools in the Northern Territory}}
Education is overseen territory-wide by the Department of Education and Training (DET), whose role is to continually improve education outcomes for all students, with a focus on Indigenous students.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.det.nt.gov.au/education/ |title=Education in the Northern Territory |access-date=10 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090810005519/http://www.det.nt.gov.au/education/ |archive-date=10 August 2009  }}. Department of Education and Training. det.nt.gov.au</ref>

=== Preschool, primary and secondary ===
Darwin is served by a number of public and private schools that cater to local and overseas students. Over 16,500 primary and secondary students are enrolled in schools in Darwin, with 10,524 students attending primary education, and 5,932 students attending secondary education.<ref name="ABS Education">[http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ViewData?action=404&documentproductno=705&documenttype=Details&order=1&tabname=Details&areacode=705&issue=2006&producttype=Census%20Tables&javascript=true&textversion=false&navmapdisplayed=true&breadcrumb=POTLD&&collection=Census&period=2006&productlabel=Type%20of%20Educational%20Institution%20Attending%20(Full/Part-Time%20Student%20Status%20by%20Age)%20by%20Sex&producttype=Census%20Tables&method=Place%20of%20Usual%20Residence&topic=School%20Education& ABS Education Census Table] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080607232416/http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/ABSNavigation/prenav/ViewData?action=404&documentproductno=705&documenttype=Details&order=1&tabname=Details&areacode=705&issue=2006&producttype=Census%20Tables&javascript=true&textversion=false&navmapdisplayed=true&breadcrumb=POTLD&&collection=Census&period=2006&productlabel=Type%20of%20Educational%20Institution%20Attending%20(Full/Part-Time%20Student%20Status%20by%20Age)%20by%20Sex&producttype=Census%20Tables&method=Place%20of%20Usual%20Residence&topic=School%20Education& |date=7 June 2008 }}. Censusdata.abs.gov.au.</ref> Over 12,089 students are enrolled in government schools, and 2,124 in independent schools.<ref name="ABS Education" />
[[File:Charles Darwin University, NT.jpg|thumb|[[Charles Darwin University]]]]
There were 9,764 students attending schools in the [[City of Darwin]] area. 6,045 students attended primary schools and 3,719 attended secondary schools. Over 7,161 students are enrolled in government schools and 1,108 in independent schools.<ref name="Community id">[http://www.id.com.au/profile/Default.aspx?id=146&pg=110&gid=10&type=enum City of Darwin Community Profile Education institute attending] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318101232/http://www.id.com.au/profile/Default.aspx?id=146&pg=110&gid=10&type=enum |date=18 March 2009 }}. Id.com.au.</ref> There are over 35 primary and pre-schools and 12 secondary schools, including both government and non-government. Most schools in the city are secular, but there are a small number of [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]] and [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]] institutions. Students intending to complete their secondary education work toward either the [[Northern Territory Certificate of Education]], the [[Victorian Certificate of Education]], or the [[Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning]] (the latter two are offered only at [[Haileybury Rendall School]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Darwin High School {{!}} Haileybury Rendall School - Haileybury|url=https://www.haileyburyrendall.com.au/educational_program/senior-years-program|access-date=2021-03-05|website=www.haileyburyrendall.com.au}}</ref>). Until the sale and restructuring of [[Kormilda College]] in 2018, it was the only school to offer the [[International Baccalaureate]] in the Northern Territory.

Schools have been restructured into Primary, Middle, and High schools since the beginning of 2007.

=== Tertiary and vocational ===
Darwin's largest university is [[Charles Darwin University]], the Northern Territory's central provider of tertiary education. It has both vocational and academic courses, acting as both a university and an Institute of [[Technical and Further Education|TAFE]]. More than 5,500 students are enrolled in tertiary and further education courses.<ref name="Community id" />

Darwin is also home to several private [[vocational college]]s, including Alana Kaye College<ref>{{cite web |url=https://alanakaye.edu.au/our-campuses/ |title=Our Campuses |publisher=Alana Kaye College |access-date=18 January 2024}}</ref> and Latitude College.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://latitude.edu.au/about-us/ |title=About Us |date=18 May 2021 |publisher=Latitude College |access-date=18 January 2024}}</ref>

== Architecture ==
[[File:Darwin (AU), KPMG -- 2019 -- 4322.jpg|thumb|18 Smith Street; constructed in the late 19th century]]
As Darwin was destroyed by cyclones several times and suffered severe bomb damage during World War II, few historic buildings remain in town. The Administrator's Office dating from 1883 was used as a law court and as a police station and was only slightly damaged by bombs, but in 1974, the cyclone completely destroyed it. In 1979, it was decided to rebuild, and the reconstruction was finished in 1981. The building houses government offices today. Opposite the building, Survivors Lookout offers a view of the marina.<ref>Information board on the building</ref>{{primary source inline|date=May 2020}}[[File:Darwin (AU), Browns Mart Theatre -- 2019 -- 4401-3.jpg|thumb|[[Brown's Mart]]]]In a park in the south of the CBD, the ruin of the Town Hall built in 1883 and destroyed by the cyclone in 1974 can be seen. Browns Mart is a stone building dating from 1880 opposite the park. Browns Mart was originally used in many different activities including commerce, storage, shipping and insurance agency, mining exchange and meetings of local organisations<ref>Rich, Jenny (1988). Brown's Mart, Darwin. Brown's Mart Trustees, Darwin</ref> but it was transformed into a theatre.<ref>Veronika Pavel: ''Australien – Osten und Zentrum'', p. 293. Markgröningen 2011</ref>

One of Darwin's most prominent buildings is the Chinese Temple, which was founded in 1887 and damaged by cyclones in 1897 and in 1937. It was severely damaged by bombs in 1942 and rebuilt after the war. On 24 December 1974 the cyclone completely destroyed it. Reconstruction was completed in 1978.

There are various modern churches in Darwin. St Mary's Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Cathedral was inaugurated in 1962. Christ Church Anglican Cathedral was rebuilt in 1977 after being severely damaged by bombs in 1942 and destroyed by Cyclone Tracy in 1974. The Uniting Memorial Church was built in 1960.

== Events and festivals ==
<!---Redirects for bolded events target this section, until articles are created.--->
[[File:Darwin 6796.jpg|thumb|Darwin Festival]]
*The annual '''[[Darwin Fringe Festival]]''' runs for 10 days each July as an [[open-access festival]].<ref>{{cite web | title=About | website=Darwin Fringe Festival | date=27 January 2022 | url=https://darwinfringe.org.au/about/ | access-date=10 August 2022}}</ref>
*The [[Darwin Festival]] occurs each August, and includes comedy, dance, theatre, music, film and visual art, and the [[NT Indigenous Music Awards]].<ref>{{cite web | title=About us | website=Darwin Festival | date=17 April 2019 | url=https://www.darwinfestival.org.au/about-us/ | access-date=10 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=National Indigenous Music Awards | website=Darwin Festival | date=26 April 2022 | url=https://www.darwinfestival.org.au/events/national-indigenous-music-awards/ | access-date=10 August 2022 | archive-date=10 August 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810080042/https://www.darwinfestival.org.au/events/national-indigenous-music-awards/ }}</ref>
*The '''Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival''', which started in 2005, is held on the second week of May in the suburb of Nightcliff. It showcases local talent, and a popular event is Saturday family festivities along the Nightcliff foreshore, one of Darwin's most popular fitness tracks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival website|url=http://nightcliffseabreeze.com/|access-date=5 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival | website=Enjoy Darwin | date=8 May 2021 | url=https://www.enjoy-darwin.com/seabreeze-festival.html | access-date=10 August 2022}}</ref>
*The [[Darwin beer-can regatta]], held in August, celebrates Darwin resident's enjoyment of beer, and contestants race boats made of beer cans. 
*The Darwin Cup horse race and the [[rodeo]] and [[Scylla serrata|Mud Crab]] Tying Competition are held each August.
*The [[World Solar Challenge]] race attracts teams from around the world, most fielded by universities or corporations and some by high schools. The race has a 20-year history spanning nine races, with the inaugural event taking place in 1987.
*The '''Royal Darwin Show''' is held annually in July at the Darwin Showgrounds. Exhibitions include agriculture and livestock, and horse events. Entertainment and sideshows are also included over the three days of the event.<ref>{{cite web | title=Home | website=Royal Darwin Show | date=23 July 2022 | url=https://darwinshow.com.au/ | access-date=10 August 2022}}</ref>
*The '''Darwin Street Art Festival''' is an annual event in September where street artists from around the world create large outdoor murals.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-13|title=Darwin Street Art Festival expands to suburbs, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-09/darwin-street-art-festival-expands-suburbs-nt-urban-centres/100444042|access-date=2021-09-22|website=ABC AU|language=en-AU}}</ref>
*A yearly music festival, [[BASSINTHEGRASS]], has been held since 2003. Since 2019 it has been held at [[Mindil Beach]].
*On 1 July, Territorians celebrate [[Territory Day]]. This is the only day of the year, apart from the Chinese New Year and New Year's Eve, that fireworks are permitted. In Darwin, the main celebrations occur at [[Mindil Beach, Northern Territory|Mindil Beach]], where the government commissions a large firework display.
*Other festivals include the Glenti, which showcases Darwin's large [[Greek Australians|Greek]] community, and India@Mindil, a similar festival held by the city's Indian community. The [[Chinese New Year]] is also celebrated with great festivity, highlighting the [[East Asian]] influence in Darwin.

== Arts and culture ==
[[File:Darwin Convention Center.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Darwin Convention Centre]]]]
The [[Darwin Symphony Orchestra]] was assembled in 1989<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dso.org.au/orchestra.php |title=Darwin Symphony Orchestra |access-date=17 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901172516/http://www.dso.org.au/orchestra.php |archive-date=1 September 2007 }}</ref> and has performed throughout the Territory. The Darwin Theatre Company is a locally produced professional theatre production company, performing locally and nationally.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://darwintheatrecompany.com.au/profile.shtml |title=Darwin Theatre Company |access-date=17 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123153718/http://darwintheatrecompany.com.au/profile.shtml |archive-date=23 November 2007 }}</ref>
[[File:Darwin Entertainment Centre by eGuide Travel.jpg|thumb|[[Darwin Entertainment Centre]]]]
The [[Darwin Entertainment Centre]] is the city's main concert venue and hosts theatre and orchestral performances.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darwinentertainment.com.au/aboutus/index.asp|title=Darwin Entertainment Centre|access-date=17 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214050350/http://www.darwinentertainment.com.au/aboutus/index.asp|archive-date=14 December 2007}}</ref> Other theatres include the [[Darwin Convention Centre]], which opened in July 2008. The Darwin Convention Centre is part of the $1.1&nbsp;billion Darwin Waterfront project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.futuredarwin.nt.gov.au/tourism/conventioncentre.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802025354/http://www.futuredarwin.nt.gov.au/tourism/conventioncentre.html|archive-date=2 August 2008|title=Darwin Convention Centre}}</ref>

The [[Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory|Northern Territory Museum and Art Gallery]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/museums/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123125334/http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/museums/index.html|archive-date=23 November 2011|title=Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory}}</ref> (MAGNT) in Darwin gives an overview of the history of the area, including exhibits on Cyclone Tracy and the boats of the Pacific Islands. The MAGNT also organises the annual [[Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award]], the longest-running Indigenous art award in Australia. The MAGNT also manages the ''Defence of Darwin Experience'', a multi-media installation that tells the story of the Japanese air raids on Darwin during World War II.

{{anchor|dance}}<!---redirects target this anchor until article is created.--->The '''NT Dance Company''' is led by choreographer Gary Lang, who has been [[artistic director]] since 2012. Lang previously taught at many leading dance companies, including [[Bangarra Dance Theatre]], after studying dance at [[NAISDA]] in [[Sydney]] and working as a dancer for years.<ref>{{cite web | last=Roussos | first=Eleni | title=Darwin choreographer Gary Lang clocks 20 years of teaching dance in the Northern Territory  | website=ABC News| publisher= [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | date=23 April 2022 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-24/choreographer-gary-lang-20-years-teaching-dance-darwin/101009586 | access-date=10 August 2022}}</ref> The company has a strong focus on culture, and also works with disadvantaged young Indigenous people.<ref>{{cite web | title=Who we are - Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia | website=NT Dance Company | url=https://www.ntdance.org/who-we-are | access-date=10 August 2022}}</ref>

Local and visiting bands can be heard at venues including the [[Darwin Entertainment Centre]], [[Victoria Hotel, Darwin|The Vic Hotel]], Happy Yess, and Brown's Mart. Artists such as [[Jessica Mauboy]] and [[The Groovesmiths]] call Darwin home.

The multiculturalism of Darwin has helped make Southeast Asian noodle broth [[laksa]] the city's favourite meal.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-31 |title=How laksa fever took hold in this Australian city |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-67259696 |access-date=2023-11-01}}</ref>

==Other entertainment==
[[File:Darwin (AU), The Mall -- 2019 -- 4400.jpg|thumb|Smith Street Mall is a major retail precinct]]
Weekly markets include the popular [[Mindil Beach Sunset Market]] (Thursdays and Sundays during the dry season);<ref>{{cite web | title=About Us | website=Mindil Beach Sunset Markets | url=https://mindil.com.au/about/ | access-date=17 August 2022}}</ref> [[Parap, Northern Territory|Parap Market]]; [[Nightcliff|Nightcliff Market]]; and [[Rapid Creek, Northern Territory|Rapid Creek market]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.darwin.nt.gov.au/residents/community_services/markets.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024035604/http://www.darwin.nt.gov.au/residents/community_services/markets.htm|archive-date=24 October 2009|title=Markets|publisher=Darwin City Council}}</ref>

Darwin's only casino opened in 1979 as the Don Casino, operating out of the Don Hotel on Cavenagh Street. The present site of the hotel and casino on Darwin's Mindil Beach opened in 1983, at which point gambling operations ceased at the Don Hotel and resumed at the newly built facilities. The new hotel and casino was named Mindil Beach Casino until 1985, when the name changed to the Diamond Beach Hotel Casino. Upon its acquisition by [[MGM Resorts International|MGM Grand]] the hotel was rebranded as the [[MGM Grand Darwin]], before it changed to [[Skycity Darwin]] after [[Skycity Entertainment Group]] purchased the hotel in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0402/S00118.htm|title=Skycity Confirms MGM Grand Darwin Acquisition &#124; Scoop News}}</ref>

Mitchell Street in the central business district is lined with nightclubs, takeaways, and restaurants. This is the city's entertainment hub. There are several smaller theatres, two indoor cinema complexes, one at Casuarina and one at Palmerston. Darwin City hosts The Deckchair Cinema,<ref>[http://www.deckchaircinema.com/ Darwin Deckchair Cinema]. Deckchaircinema.com.</ref> an open-air cinema operates through the dry season, from April to October, screening [[independent film|independent]] and [[arthouse]] films.

==Recreation==
=== Beaches  ===
<!---Vesteys Beach, Bundilla Beach and Casuarina Beach, Northern Territory direct here.--->[[File:Mindil markets 230616 gnangarra-107.JPG|thumb|[[Mindil Beach]]]]
During the months of October–May the sea contains deadly [[box jellyfish]], known locally as stingers or sea wasps. [[Saltwater crocodile]]s are common in all waterways surrounding Darwin and are occasionally found in Darwin Harbour and on local beaches. An active trapping program is carried out by the NT Government to limit numbers of crocodiles within the Darwin urban waterway area.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fukuda |first1=Yusuke |last2=Webb |first2=Grahame |last3=Manolis |first3=Charlie |last4=Lindner |first4=Garry |last5=Banks |first5=Sam |title=Translocation, genetic structure and homing ability confirm geographic barriers disrupt saltwater crocodile movement and dispersal |journal=PLOS ONE |date=28 August 2019 |volume=14 |issue=8 |article-number=e0205862 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0205862 |doi-access=free |pmid=31461452 |pmc=6713319 |bibcode=2019PLoSO..1405862F }}</ref>

The city has many kilometres of beaches, including the Casuarina Beach and renowned [[Mindil Beach]], home of the Mindil Beach markets. Darwin City Council has designated an area of Casuarina Beach as a free beach, which has been designated as a nudist beach area since 1976.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freebeach.com.au/WA%20List.htm |title=Free Beaches Australia |access-date=23 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223100641/http://www.freebeach.com.au/WA%20List.htm |archive-date=23 February 2010  }}. freebeach.com.au</ref>

Bundilla Beach was formerly named Vesteys Beach,<ref name=bundilla/> as it was one of the beaches overlooked by [[Vestey Group|Vestey's Meatworks]], which existed from 1914 to 1920 and was involved in the [[Darwin rebellion]].<ref>{{cite book | last=Alcorta | first=Frank X. | title=Darwin Rebellion, 1911-1919 | publisher=History Unit, Northern Territory University Planning Authority | year=1984 | isbn=978-0-7245-0492-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SHcgAQAAMAAJ | access-date=25 March 2021 | page=}}</ref><ref>NT Place Names Register. [http://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/placenames/view.jsp?id=19323 ''Extract: Vesteys'']. Retrieved 2017-12-23.</ref> In March 2021, the beach was formally renamed Bundilla Beach, the name by which it had long been known to the [[traditional owners]], the [[Larrakia people]].<ref name=bundilla>{{cite web | title=Darwin's Larrakia traditional owners recognised in renaming of Vesteys Beach | first= Peter|last= Lacey | website=ABC News|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | date=21 March 2021 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-21/darwin-beach-renamed-to-recognise-traditional-owners/13265652 | access-date=25 March 2021}}</ref>

The [[Darwin Surf Life Saving Club]] operates longboats and [[surf ski]]s and provides events and lifesaving accreditations.<ref>[http://www.darwinsurfclub.com.au/ Darwin Surf Lifesaving Club]. Darwinsurfclub.com.au (11 November 2011).</ref>{{primary source inline|date=May 2020}}

[[Lake Alexander (Northern Territory)|Lake Alexander]] is an artificial lake at [[East Point, Northern Territory|East Point Reserve]], suitable for swimming and water sports throughout the year.<ref name="ntnews 2020 z687">{{cite web | title=1991-92: MAN-MADE LAKE ALEXANDER OPENS | website=Northern Territory| date=June 10, 2020 | url=https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/lake-alexander-opens-at-east-point-reserve-offering-safe-spot-to-swim/news-story/b5be7c8cc78ff31baa7d8488559ea2d7 | access-date=February 26, 2024}}</ref>

===Fishing===
Fishing is a popular recreation among Darwin locals. Visitors fish for the [[barramundi]], an iconic fish in the region. This fish thrives in the  [[Daly River (Northern Territory)|Daly River]], [[Moyle River]], [[Roper River]], [[Anson Bay, Daly and Reynolds River Floodplains|Anson Bay]],<ref name="Garrick 2023 n765">{{cite web | last=Garrick | first=Matt | title=NT government urged to reform barramundi laws to protect lucrative recreational fishing industry | website=ABC News | date=September 26, 2023 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-27/nt-barramundi-commercial-fishers-feared-to-threaten-rec-fishing/102902696 | access-date=February 26, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Chaseling 2024 q435">{{cite web | last=Chaseling | first=Oliver | title=New limits for commercial barramundi fishing boats in the NT's Roper River, Moyle River and Anson Bay | website=ABC News | date=February 11, 2024 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-11/barramundi-industry-to-continue-gillnet-use-in-nt-rivers/103448118 | access-date=February 26, 2024}}</ref> [[Mary River (Northern Territory)|Mary River]],<ref name="ntnews 2018 m336">{{cite web | title=Question mark over barra rule | website=Northern Territory News| date=August 29, 2018 | url=https://www.ntnews.com.au/lifestyle/fishing/fair-question-over-nt-barra-rule/news-story/b231ef36c895e288058cad9cfb0625bd?nk=c23e7a6f034dba63486956f494ceae4b-1708907938 | access-date=February 26, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Smith 2015 n308">{{cite web | last=Smith | first=Warren | title=Report: Barra Lotto in the run-off | website=Fishing World Australia | date=February 18, 2015 | url=https://fishingworld.com.au/news/report-barra-lotto-in-the-run-off/ | access-date=February 26, 2024}}</ref> and South<ref name="Julius 2015 v856">{{cite web | last=Julius | first=Alex | title=Catch a snap at South Alligator | website=Northern Territory News| date=April 23, 2015 | url=https://www.ntnews.com.au/lifestyle/fishing/catch-a-snap-at-south-alligator/news-story/502b3f01d492d06a670ca9c86f0d30a5?nk=426e58cdfd57c26dc210593e5fe67f9b-1708908268 | access-date=February 26, 2024}}</ref> and [[East Alligator River]].<ref name="Bardon 2023 j778">{{cite web | last=Bardon | first=Jane | title=Fishing industry warns snap lockout of key Northern Territory waters could affect restaurant plates around Australia | website=ABC News | date=March 14, 2023 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-14/traditional-owners-nt-government-ban-commercial-fishing/102092472 | access-date=February 26, 2024}}</ref>
[[File:AU-Darwin-botan-garden.jpg|thumb|[[George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens]]]]
Blue-water fishing is also available off the coast of Darwin; [[Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel|Spanish mackerel]], [[Protonibea diacanthus|black jewfish]], [[Scomberoides commersonnianus|queenfish]], and [[Lutjanus|snapper]] are found in the area.<ref>[https://nt.gov.au/marine/recreational-fishing/types-of-fish/fish-species Boating, fishing and marine > Fish species] Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 20 February 2021.</ref>

=== Parks and gardens ===
[[File:BicentennialParkDarwinOct172024 01.jpg|thumb|[[Bicentennial Park (Darwin)]]]]
Darwin has extensive parks and gardens. These include the [[George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens]], [[East Point, Northern Territory|East Point Reserve]], Casuarina Coastal Reserve, [[Charles Darwin National Park]], [[Knuckey Lagoons Conservation Reserve]], Leanyer Recreation Park, the [[Nightcliff, Northern Territory|Nightcliff]] Foreshore, [[Bicentennial Park (Darwin)|Bicentennial Park]] and the Jingili Water Gardens.

=== Wildlife ===
Darwin is a popular bird-watching site, with locations such as the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens, East Point Reserve, Buffalo Creek, Leanyer Ponds, and Knuckey Lagoon. Slightly further from the city is one of the best birding sites in the country, [[Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve]].

Some species of native mammals are more abundant in Darwin than in the surrounding native forest and woodland ecosystems of the region,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=von Takach |first1=Brenton |last2=Scheele |first2=Ben C. |last3=Moore |first3=Harry |last4=Murphy |first4=Brett P. |last5=Banks |first5=Sam C. |title=Patterns of niche contraction identify vital refuge areas for declining mammals |journal=Diversity and Distributions |date=November 2020 |volume=26 |issue=11 |pages=1467–1482 |doi=10.1111/ddi.13145 |bibcode=2020DivDi..26.1467V |hdl=1885/286535 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> including the [[common brushtail possum]] and [[black-footed tree-rat]]. This is likely due to the presence of well-watered gardens and parks, the absence of frequent fires, and the availability of denning sites (e.g. the roofs of houses).

Darwin is also home to many species of frogs and reptiles. There are more species of snake in Darwin than any other Australian capital city, with 34 non-marine snake species found in the region, of which 23 have been recorded by professional snake catchers in Darwin itself.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Parkin |first1=Tom |last2=Jolly |first2=Chris J. |last3=de Laive |first3=Alana |last4=von Takach |first4=Brenton |title=Snakes on an urban plain: Temporal patterns of snake activity and human–snake conflict in Darwin, Australia |journal=Austral Ecology |date=May 2021 |volume=46 |issue=3 |pages=449–462 |doi=10.1111/aec.12990 |bibcode=2021AusEc..46..449P }}</ref> Fortunately for the citizens of Darwin, a far smaller proportion of these snakes are highly venomous than is typically found in other cities, due to the low numbers of front-fanged elapid species and dominance of relatively harmless pythons and colubrid species. Of the 23 more regularly encountered snake species in Darwin, it seems that species with broader habitat and dietary preferences, as well as a penchant for arboreality, are associated with more frequent human–snake interactions.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lettoof |first1=Damian Christopher |last2=Parkin |first2=Tom |last3=Jolly |first3=Chris James |last4=de Laive |first4=Alana |last5=von Takach |first5=Brenton |title=Snake life history traits and their association with urban habitat use in a tropical city |journal=Urban Ecosystems |date=April 2023 |volume=26 |issue=2 |pages=433–445 |doi=10.1007/s11252-023-01327-x |doi-access=free |bibcode=2023UrbEc..26..433L }}</ref> Shifts in snake behaviour or movement also occur throughout the year,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=von Takach |first1=Brenton |last2=Lettoof |first2=Damian Christopher |last3=Parkin |first3=Tom |last4=de Laive |first4=Alana |last5=Allen |first5=Luke |last6=Jolly |first6=Chris J. |title=Analysing spatiotemporal patterns of snake occurrence in an Australian city to help manage human-wildlife conflict |journal=Biodiversity and Conservation |date=January 2024 |volume=33 |issue=1 |pages=347–360 |doi=10.1007/s10531-023-02752-2 |bibcode=2024BiCon..33..347V }}</ref> with species specific differences in abundance and occurrence in certain months.

== Sports ==
{{Main|Sport in the Northern Territory}}

[[File:Marrara_Oval_grandstand.png|thumb|Marrara Oval, the largest sports stadium in the Northern Territory]]
The [[Marrara Oval|Marrara Sports Complex]] near the airport has stadiums for [[Australian rules football|Australian rules]] ([[Marrara Oval|TIO Stadium]]), cricket, [[rugby league]], football, basketball (and indoor court sports), [[Sport of athletics|athletics]] and [[field hockey]]. Every two years since 1991 (excluding 2003 due to the [[SARS]] outbreak), Darwin has hosted the [[Arafura Games]], a major regional sporting event. In July 2003, the city hosted its first international [[test cricket]] match between [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] and [[Bangladesh national cricket team|Bangladesh]], followed by Australia and [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]] in 2004.

Australian rules is played all year round and the Territory's premier league competition, the [[Northern Territory Football League]] is based in Darwin. [[Australian Football League]] clubs generally sell a handful of games to the Northern Territory each year, some of which are played at [[Marrara Oval]]. Darwin is part of a bid for a Northern Territory AFL license for proposed entry into the competition by 2028 at the earliest.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-06/nt-government-announces-scoping-study-for-afl-team-licence/10346610 |title=NT Government announces $100,000 scoping study in bid to secure AFL team licence |work=ABC News (Australia) |date=5 October 2018 |access-date=4 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-10-06/territory-explores-potential-bid-for-afl-team |title=Territory explores potential bid for AFL team |publisher=AFL |last=McGowan |first=Mark |date=6 October 2018 |access-date=4 November 2022}}</ref> The Darwin-based [[Indigenous All-Stars (Australian football)|Indigenous All-Stars]] have participated in the [[Australian Football League|AFL]] pre-season competition. In 2003, a record crowd of 17,500 attended a pre-season game between the All-Stars and [[Carlton Football Club]] at Marrara.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=69|title=Marrara Stadium|work=Australian Stadiums}}</ref>

[[Rugby league in the Northern Territory|Rugby League]] and [[Rugby union in the Northern Territory|Rugby Union]] club competitions are played in Darwin each year, organised by the NTRL and NTRU respectively. The [[Darwin Hottest Sevens]] in the World tournament is hosted in Darwin each January, with [[Rugby Sevens]] club teams from countries including Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, and Singapore competing. Darwin's Hottest 7s is the richest Rugby 7s tournament in the Southern Hemisphere.<ref name="Hottest 7s">{{cite web | date = 2011 | url = http://www.hottest7s.com/about/welcome/ | title = Welcome | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130630074005/http://www.hottest7s.com/about/welcome/ | archive-date = 30 June 2013 | website = Hottest 7s In The World | url-status = live }}</ref>

Darwin hosts a round of the [[Supercars Championship]] every year, bringing thousands of motorsports fans to the [[Hidden Valley Raceway]]. Also in Hidden Valley, adjacent to the road-racing circuit, is Darwin's [[dirt track racing]] venue, [[Northline Speedway]]. The speedway has hosted a number of Australian Championships over the years for different categories including [[Australian Sprintcar Championship|Sprintcars]], [[Australian Speedcar Championship|Speedcars]], and [[Australian Super Sedan Championship|Super Sedans]]. The motocross tracks in Hidden Valley have hosted the final round of the [[2025 FIM Motocross World Championship]].

The Darwin Cup culminating on the first Monday of August is a popular horse race event for Darwin and draws large crowds every year to Fannie Bay Racecourse. While it is not as popular as the [[Melbourne Cup]], it does draw a crowd and, in 2003, [[Sky Racing]] began televising most of the races. The Darwin Cup day is a public holiday for the Northern Territory ([[Picnic Day (Australian holiday)|Picnic Day]] public holiday).

There is one [[Greyhound racing in Australia|greyhound racing]] track in Darwin at Winnellie Park on Hook Road. It is the only track in the Northern Territory.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://australianracinggreyhound.com/tracks/|title=Winellie Park (Darwin)|date=11 September 2015|publisher=Australian Racing Greyhound|access-date=10 March 2021}}</ref>

In 2022, the [[Darwin Salties]] basketball club will debut in the [[Queensland]]-based [[NBL1 North]] competition, making the [[NBL1]] the first Australian sport league to have clubs based in and playing out of every state and territory in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nbl1.com.au/news/darwin-basketball-northern-territory-to-make-nbl1-a-truly-national-competition|title=Darwin/ Basketball Northern Territory to make NBL1 a truly national competition|work=NBL1.com.au|date=10 November 2021|access-date=10 November 2021}}</ref>

{|class="sortable wikitable"
|+ Active sports teams in Darwin <!-- sorted by date established -->
|-
! Club
! League
! Sport
! Venue
! Established
|-
! Banks Football Club
| [[Northern Territory Football League|NTFL]]
| [[Australian rules football]]
| [[Gardens Oval]]
| 1978
|-
! [[Darwin Football Club]]
| [[Northern Territory Football League|NTFL]]
| [[Australian rules football]]
| [[Marrara Oval|TIO Stadium]]
| 1916
|-
! [[Nightcliff Football Club]]
| [[Northern Territory Football League|NTFL]]
| [[Australian rules football]]
| Nightcliff Oval
| 1950
|-
! [[Northern Territory rugby league team|Northern Territory Rugby League Team]]
| [[Affiliated States Championship]]
| [[Rugby League]]
| [[Territory Rugby League Stadium]]
| 1950
|-
! [[Rugby union in the Northern Territory#team|Northern Territory Rugby Union Team]]
| [[Australian Rugby Shield]]
| [[Rugby Union]]
| [[Territory Rugby League Stadium]]
| 1970
|-
! [[Northern Territory Academy|NT Thunder Academy]]
| [[Talent League|Talent League Boys]]/[[Talent League Girls]]
| [[Australian rules football]]
| [[Marrara Oval|TIO Stadium]]
| 1979
|-
! [[Palmerston Football Club]]
| [[Northern Territory Football League|NTFL]]
| [[Australian rules football]]
| Cazaly's Oval
| 1970
|-
! [[PINT Football Club]]
| [[Northern Territory Football League|NTFL]]
| [[Australian rules football]]
| [[Marrara Cricket Ground]]
| 1981
|-
! [[Southern Districts Football Club]]
| [[Northern Territory Football League|NTFL]]
| [[Australian rules football]]
| Norbuilt Oval
| 1981
|-
! [[St Mary's Football Club (NTFL)|St Mary's Football Club]]
| [[Northern Territory Football League|NTFL]]
| [[Australian rules football]]
| [[Marrara Oval|TIO Stadium]]
| 1952
|-
! Tracy Village Football Club
| [[Northern Territory Football League|NTFL]]
| [[Australian rules football]]
| Tracy Village Oval
| 1978
|-
! [[Territory Storm]]
| [[Australian Netball Championships]]
| [[Netball]]
| [[Territory Netball Stadium]]
| 2008
|-
! [[Wanderers Football Club]]
| [[Northern Territory Football League|NTFL]]
| [[Australian rules football]]
| [[Marrara Oval|TIO Stadium]]
| 1916
|-
! [[Waratah Football Club]]
| [[Northern Territory Football League|NTFL]]
| [[Australian rules football]]
| [[Gardens Oval]]
| 1916
|}

== Media ==
[[File:ABC Darwin, 2023 (01).jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] Darwin studios and headquarters]]
Darwin's major newspapers are the ''[[Northern Territory News]]'' (Monday–Saturday), ''[[The Sunday Territorian]]'' (Sunday), and the national daily, ''[[The Australian]]'' (Monday–Friday) and ''[[The Weekend Australian]]'' (Saturday), all published by [[News Corp Australia|News Corp]]. Free weekly community newspapers include ''[[Sun Newspapers (Northern Territory)|Sun Newspapers]]'' (delivered in Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield), and published by the ''NT News''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/sun-newspapers?nk=9469e004c20defbdac776c854fa27ce3-1537488644|title=Sun Newspapers| website=ntnews.com.au|access-date=21 September 2018}}</ref> Another newspaper, the ''[[Centralian Advocate]]'' (1947–present), is printed in Darwin and trucked to Alice Springs.

Former publications in (or connected to) Darwin include:
*''[[Moonta Herald and Northern Territory Gazette]]'' (1869)
*''[[Northern Territory Times and Gazette]]'' (1873–1927)
*''[[The North Australian (Northern Territory)|The North Australian]]'' (1883–1889)
*''[[The North Australian and Northern Territory Government Gazette]]'' (1889–1890)
*''[[The Northern Territory Times]]'' (1927–1932)
*''[[The Northern Standard]]'' (c.1929–1942)
*''[[Army News]]'' (1941–1946) – for the troops stationed in Darwin
*''[[The Darwin Sun]]'' (1981–1982) – a community newsletter<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/22056231|title=The Darwin sun: your family newspaper|date=1981|publisher=Darwin, N.T. : Provincial Press|language=en}}</ref>

Five free-to-air channels service Darwin. Commercial television channels are provided by [[TND (TV station)|Seven Darwin]] ([[Seven Network]] owned and operated station), [[NTD (Australian TV station)|Nine Darwin]] (formerly branded as Channel 8) and [[DTD (TV station)|10 Darwin]] ([[Network 10]] relay), which launched on 28 April 2008. The two government-owned national broadcast services in Darwin are the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] and [[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]]. Subscription television services [[Foxtel]] via [[Cable television|Cable]] and [[Fetch TV]] via [[Internet Protocol television|IPTV]] are available in the Darwin/Palmerston/Litchfield areas.

Darwin no longer hosts a commercial news broadcast, with Channel 9 concluding the service in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-03 |title=Ep 01 - Nine ditches Darwin news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/darwin/104891760 |access-date=2025-08-16 |website=Media Watch |language=en-AU}}</ref>

Darwin has radio stations on AM and FM frequencies, as well as on [[Digital Audio Broadcasting#DAB+|DAB+]] (digital radio). ABC stations include [[ABC Radio Darwin|ABC Local Radio]] (105.7 FM), [[Radio National|ABC Radio National]] (657 AM), [[ABC NewsRadio|ABC News Radio]] (102.5 FM), [[ABC Classic]] (107.3 FM) and [[Triple J]] (103.3 FM). [[SBS Radio]] (100.9 FM) also broadcasts its national radio network to Darwin. There are three commercial radio stations, [[Hot 100 (Darwin radio station)|Hot 100]], [[Mix 104.9]] and [[KIX Country|Top Country 92.3]]. Other stations in Darwin include university-based station [[104.1 Territory FM|Territory FM 104.1]], dance music station [[Darwin FM|KIK FM 91.5]], [[Palmerston FM]] 88.0 and [[Niche Radio]] 87.6  Non-English stations include Arabic-language channel [[2ME Radio Arabic|2ME]] 1638 AM, Chinese-language channel [[2CR China Radio Network|2CR]] 1701 AM, Greek-language channel [[2MM]] 1656AM, Italian-language channel [[Rete Italia]] 1476 AM and Spanish-language channel [[Radio Austral]] 90.7 FM. Indigenous community-based stations [[First Nations Radio|Radio Larrakia]] 94.5 FM and [[Yolŋu|Radio Yolngu]] 1530 AM. The two sports stations [[RadioTAB|TAB Radio]] 1242 AM and [[Sports Entertainment Network|SEN]] 1611 AM. As well as Christian stations [[Three Angels Broadcasting Network#Programming|Faith]] 88.4 FM, [[Darwin's 97 Seven|Rhema]] 97.7 FM and [[Vision Christian Radio|Vision Radio]] 1323 AM.

== Transport ==
{{Main|Public transport in Darwin}}

[[File:Darwin Bus Interchange in June 2016.jpg|thumb|Buses in Darwin]]
The Territory's public transport services are managed by the Department of Lands and Planning, Public Transport Division. Darwin has a bus network serviced by a range of contracted bus operators,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/nt.php?info=BUS|title=Australian Bus Fleet Lists – Northern Territory Operator Fleet Lists|website=fleetlists.busaustralia.com|access-date=1 February 2017}}</ref> which provides transport to the main suburbs of Darwin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nt.gov.au/driving/public-transport-cycling/public-bus-timetables-maps-darwin|title=Public bus timetables and maps: Darwin|last=Government|first=Northern Territory|date=30 January 2017|website=nt.gov.au|language=en|access-date=1 February 2017}}</ref>

Darwin has no commuter rail system, but long-distance passenger rail services do operate out of the city. The [[Alice Springs-Darwin railway line]] was completed in 2003, linking Darwin to [[Adelaide]]. The first service ran in 2004. ''[[The Ghan]]'' passenger train service between Adelaide and [[Darwin railway station]] via [[Alice Springs]] and [[Katherine, Northern Territory|Katherine]] runs once per week in each direction, with some exceptions.<ref>[https://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/guest-information/fares-and-timetables/the-ghan-2019-2020/ The Ghan Timetables 2019–2020] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202202757/https://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/guest-information/fares-and-timetables/the-ghan-2019-2020/ |date=2 December 2019 }} Great Southern Rail</ref> 
{{Adjacent stations|system=Journey Beyond|line1=The Ghan|right1=Katherine}}

Historically, the [[North Australia Railway]] carried passengers and freight from Darwin into the interior, reaching [[Pine Creek railway station|Pine Creek]] in 1889, Katherine in 1917, and [[Birdum, Northern Territory|Birdum]] in 1929. It was closed due to declining traffic in 1976.

[[File:Darwin Airport Apron and Civil Terminal in March 2012.jpg|alt=|thumb|Aircraft at [[Darwin International Airport]]]]
[[Darwin International Airport]], in the suburb of [[Eaton, Northern Territory|Eaton]], is Darwin's only airport, which shares its runways with the [[Royal Australian Air Force]]'s [[RAAF Base Darwin]].

Darwin can be reached via the [[Stuart Highway]], which runs the length of the Northern Territory from Darwin through Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, and on to Adelaide. Other major roads in Darwin include [[Tiger Brennan Drive]], [[Amy Johnson Avenue]], Dick Ward Drive, [[Bagot Road]], Trower Road, and McMillans Road. Bus service in the greater Darwin area is provided by [[Darwinbus]].

===Port===
{{see also|Port Darwin}}
Ferries leave from Port Darwin to island locations, mainly for tourists. A ferry service to the [[Tiwi Islands]], the ''Arafura Pearl'', operates from Cullen Bay.

Darwin has a deepwater port, East Arm Wharf, which opened in 2000. It has {{convert|754|m|ft}} of wharf line and is capable of handling [[Panamax]]-sized ships of a maximum length of {{convert|274|m|ft}} and a [[Deadweight tonnage|DWT]] of up to {{convert|80000|tonne|ST|lk=in}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.darwinport.com.au/facilities-services/east-arm-fort-hill-wharf-overview|title=East Arm & Fort Hill Wharf Overview|website=Darwinport.nt.gov.au}}</ref>

== Infrastructure ==
[[File:Royal Darwin Hospital.JPG|thumb|right|Royal Darwin Hospital]]

=== Health ===
The [[Government of the Northern Territory]] Department of Health and Families oversees one public hospital in the Darwin metropolitan region. The [[Royal Darwin Hospital]], in [[Tiwi, Northern Territory|Tiwi]], is the city's major teaching and referral hospital, and the largest in the Northern Territory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nt.gov.au/health/hospital_svs/tesn/royaldarwinhospital/recruitment/rdh.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427222809/http://www.nt.gov.au/health/hospital_svs/tesn/royaldarwinhospital/recruitment/rdh.htm|archive-date=27 April 2009|title=RDH – Recruitment|work=Royal Darwin Hospital|publisher=Northern Territory Government}}</ref>

There is one major private hospital, Darwin Private Hospital, in [[Tiwi, Northern Territory|Tiwi]], adjacent to the Royal Darwin Hospital. Darwin Private Hospital is operated and owned by [[Healthscope|Healthscope Ltd]], a private hospital corporation.

A new hospital called Palmerston Regional Hospital was opened in August 2018 to help ease the pressure of patient numbers at the Royal Darwin Hospital.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://palmerstonregionalhospital.nt.gov.au/|title=Palmerston Regional Hospital|access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref>

=== Utilities ===
Water storage, supply and power for Darwin is managed by [[PowerWater]]. The corporation is also responsible for management of sewage and the major water catchments in the region. Water is mainly stored in the largest dam, The [[Darwin River Dam]], which holds up to 90% of Darwin's water supply. For many years, Darwin's principal water supply came from [[Manton Dam]].

Darwin and its suburbs, Palmerston and [[Katherine, Northern Territory|Katherine]], are powered by the [[Channel Island Power Station]], the Northern Territory's largest power plant, and the [[Weddell Power Station]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.powerwater.com.au/about_us/major_projects/weddell_power_station |title=Weddell Power Station |publisher=[[PowerWater]] |access-date=16 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622041133/http://www.powerwater.com.au/about_us/major_projects/weddell_power_station |archive-date=22 June 2010 }}</ref>

=== Telecommunications ===
Darwin once had Australia's only international connection to the outside world in the form of an overseas telegraph cable, connecting Darwin to [[Java]]. The southern section of the cable connected Darwin with Adelaide and was known as the [[Australian Overland Telegraph Line|overland telegraph line]]. In 2022, the Northern Territory Government announced that an international undersea cable system would land into Darwin, directly connecting it to Indonesia, Singapore, the United States and Timor Leste.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-15|title=Investment, jobs and data after Government secures cable deal - Inligo Networks|url=http://www.inligonetworks.com/?p=526|access-date=2022-01-22|language=en-US}}</ref> The new cable system, representing an investment of $700 million, is expected to create a new digital economy as it is coupled with recent announcements on Data Centre Investment into Darwin.<ref>{{Cite web|title=DCI Data Centres to build facility in Darwin|url=https://www.crn.com.au/news/dci-data-centres-to-build-facility-in-darwin-571464|access-date=2022-01-22|website=CRN Australia|archive-date=22 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122080104/https://www.crn.com.au/news/dci-data-centres-to-build-facility-in-darwin-571464}}</ref> The plans for Darwin for Data Centres and International cables are outlined in the Northern Territory's Digital Strategy the Terabit Territory.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Government|first=Northern Territory|date=2020-05-18|title=Terabit Territory|url=https://cmc.nt.gov.au/advancing-industry/terabit-territory|access-date=2022-01-22|website=cmc.nt.gov.au|language=en}}</ref>

The Northern Territory Government announced in 2024 the Unite Cable System was awarded Major Project Status providing the project with major support.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government |first=Northern Territory |date=2025-07-14 |title=Case study: Inligo Networks |url=https://australiasnorthernterritory.com.au/invest/invest-news-and-insights/case-study-inligo-networks2 |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=Australia's Northern Territory |language=en}}</ref>  Unite will connect the Northern Territory to the southern states of Australia delivering a new hyperscale optical fibre network connecting many of the NT's locations and  under pinning the Terabit Territory Digital Strategy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Michael |first=Ken |date=2024-04-03 |title=Inligo Unite Cable System earns NT Major Project Status |url=https://www.inligonetworks.com/inligo-unite-cable-system-earns-nt-major-project-status/ |access-date=2025-07-28 |language=en-US}}</ref>

On 14 August 2024, NextDC announced their new Darwin Data Centre was open and ready for business.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NEXTDC opens $80m Data centre in Darwin with NT Gov and Vocus in major boost to the region's growing digital economy |url=https://www.nextdc.com/news/nextdc-opens-80m-data-centre-in-darwin-with-nt-gov-and-vocus-in-major-boost-to-the-regions-growing-digital-economy |access-date=2025-07-28 |website=www.nextdc.com}}</ref> The company also announced it had partnered with Vocus ending its long standing market position of being a carrier independent data centre provider.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Australia}}
* [[List of films shot in Darwin]]
* [[List of mayors and lord mayors of Darwin]]
* [[List of people from Darwin]]
* [[Local government areas of the Northern Territory]]
* [[List of Darwin suburbs]]

== Explanatory notes ==
{{Notelist}}
{{Reflist|group=N}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.darwin.nt.gov.au City of Darwin Official Website]
* [https://norther.com.au/darwin/ Darwin]

{{Northern Territory}}
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[[Category:Darwin, Northern Territory| ]]
[[Category:1869 establishments in Australia]]
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[[Category:Australian capital cities]]
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[[Category:World War II sites in Australia]]
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