Darwin, City of
Darwin is the capital and largest city of the Northern Territory in Australia, characterized by its tropical climate and proximity to Asia. Originally developed around Port Darwin, the city was named after naturalist Charles Darwin. The Larrakia people are the traditional custodians of the land, and European settlement began in the 1600s, with a small British settlement established in 1869. Over the years, Darwin has faced significant challenges, including destruction from World War II bombings and the catastrophic Cyclone Tracy in 1974, leading to extensive rebuilding efforts and modernization.
The economy of Darwin is primarily driven by mining, with key minerals like gold, zinc, and bauxite, alongside a vibrant tourism sector that attracts visitors year-round. This city also has a diverse demographic profile, with a notable percentage of the population identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. As of the 2021 census, Darwin's population was approximately 139,902, with a significant portion of residents born in Australia, while also reflecting historical migration patterns, including early Chinese laborers. Efforts to stimulate growth and attract new residents include financial incentives and a significant investment in revitalizing the city center.
Darwin, City of
Darwin is the capital city and the largest city of the Northern Territory, Australia’s least populated territory. Darwin is in the Port Darwin electoral division, which also includes the suburbs of Larrakeyah and a section of Stuart Park. Locals refer to themselves as “Territorians”, “Northern Territorians”, or “Top Enders”. The city developed around the natural harbor of Port Darwin, named for naturalist Charles Darwin by Commander John Clements Wickham of the HMS Beagle.
Darwin is geographically closer to Asia than it is to most other Australian cities and regions. The climate is tropical and subject to monsoons and cyclones, and the economy is driven by mining and tourism. A chief destination for gold seekers in the nineteenth century, Darwin experienced waves of development and demolition throughout the twentieth century. A modern city with a thriving tourist industry, Darwin’s growth is hindered by its remoteness and its challenging tropical climate.
Historical Perspective
The first inhabitants of the greater Darwin area were the Larrakia people. Europeans arrived in the region in the 1600s. The Northern Territory was first visited by the Dutch, a legacy that is still present in Dutch place names in the territory.
In 1869, a small British settlement of 135 people was established at Port Darwin. The settlement was initially called Palmerston after British Prime Minister Lord Palmerston. In 1870, telegraph poles began to go up, leading to the discovery of gold at Pine Creek. This sparked a gold rush in the Darwin region, attracting settlers from England and other parts of Australia. In 1911, Palmerston was renamed, adopting the name of its port.
During World War II, Darwin was bombed by Japanese warplanes, causing considerable damage to the town. After the war, Darwin rebuilt and continued to develop. It was granted city status in 1959. In 1974, the city was again almost destroyed, this time when Cyclone Tracy demolished 70 per cent of the city’s buildings. The rebuild was costly, but the city was also able to start again and turn Darwin into one of Australia’s most modern cities.
Geography and Climate
Darwin has a tropical savanna climate. Humidity and temperatures are high year-round, with average lows between 19 and 25 degrees Celsius and average highs between 30 and 33 degrees Celsius. There have been no records of frost in Darwin. Darwin has distinct wet and dry seasons; the wet season is in the summer months, from October to April, and the dry season is in the winter months, from May to September. The winter months yield warm sunny days with afternoon humidity of about 30 percent but little rainfall. Humidity and temperatures increase in October and November with the wet season arriving in the form on monsoon rains, thunderstorms and tropical cyclones in late November and early December. The city was devastated by cyclones in 1897, 1937 and 1974.
The greater Darwin area contains a number of estuarine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. Terrestrial ecosystems include monsoon rainforests, woodlands and sandstone escarpments. Estuarine and freshwater ecosystems include coastal and mangrove environments, wetlands and riverine environments. These areas are home to several threatened species of flora and fauna and are also home to numerous resident and migratory birds. Darwin Harbour is classified as a Site of Conservation Significance by the Northern Territory government.
Economy
Darwin’s largest economic sectors are mining and tourism. Minerals important to the mining industry include gold, zinc, bauxite and manganese. Tourism is a major year-round industry, as tourists come during both the wet and dry seasons. About 8 percent of Darwin’s residents are employed in the tourism industry. Besides being a tourist destination, Darwin’s proximity to Asia makes it an ideal stop-over for Australian tourists entering Asia.
The Northern Territory in general and Darwin specifically has struggled to maintain, much less grow, its population. Darwin’s intense tropical weather and distance from other major cities may be contributing factors limiting its economic growth. An extensive analysis of twelve years of population data conducted by demographers at Charles Darwin University led the government to adopt two key strategies in 2018 to build the city’s population and grow the local economy. First, they offered people financial incentives to move to Darwin from other parts of Australia. Second, they introduced a $200 million plan to revitalize the city centre. This plan includes a new educational and civic campus, which the government hopes will attract students from overseas. The
Demographics
The population of the greater Darwin area was 139,902 as of the 2021 census. Most identified themselves as Australian or English, while 10.4 per cent identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. The percentage of Aboriginal people is large relative to other cities and territories and is reflective of the Northern Territory’s demographic profile.
Because of Darwin’s proximity to Asia, there has been a fluctuation of migration to and from the region over the years. In the 1870s, Chinese workers were contracted to work in the gold fields and on the railway. By 1888, the Chinese population was over 6,000 in the Northern Territory with most living in and around Darwin. The European population at the time was between 1,000 and 2,000. However, the economic depression of the 1890s fuelled anti-Chinese sentiment. When the White Australia policy was developed in 1901, many Chinese left Darwin and the Northern Territory. While the policy was dismantled between 1949 and 1966, making migration to Australia easier for non-Europeans, Darwin remains populated mostly by people who were born in Australia. According to the 2021 census, 63.8 per cent of the population of greater Darwin was born in Australia. The most common countries of birth outside of Australia include the Philippines (3.8 per cent), India and England (2.7 per cent), Nepal (1.8 per cent), and New Zealand (1.7 per cent).
Bibliography
“Greater Darwin.” Australian Bureau of Statistics, www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/7GDAR. Accessed 11 June 2024.
“Darwin Airport.” Farm Online Weather, 2024, www.farmonlineweather.com.au/climate/station.jsp?lt=site&lc=14015. Accessed 11 June 2024.
“Habitats and Ecosystems.” City of Darwin, www.darwin.nt.gov.au/community/about-darwin/environment/habitats-ecosystems. Accessed 11 June 2024.
Hitch, Georgia. “Government to Offer Incentives for NT Move, as Part of $50m Population Strategy.” Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 22 Aug. 2018. www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-22/population-strategy-northern-territory-financial-incentives/10152126. Accessed 11 June 2024.
Vanovac, Neda. “Darwin’s Ambitious $200m Plan to Revamp Australia’s Tropical Capital, Focus on University.” Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 16 Nov. 2018, www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-16/darwin-city-deal-ambitious-revamp-tropical-capital-university/10504066. Accessed 11 June 2024.