Contents
Kakadu National Park
Uluru (Ayers Rock)
July climate
Where to get more information

Darwin

Darwin's history is an exciting mixture of adventure, violence, disappointment, disaster and achievement. For more than a century Darwin was Australia's pioneering outpost in the great north. Today, it is the nation's gateway to Asia.

John Lort Stokes commander of the Beagle, first named Port Darwin on 9 September 1839 in honour of an old friend Charles Darwin, who had been a ships companion on a previous voyage to South America.

Construction of the Overland Telegraph Line from Port Augusta to Darwin from 1870 to 1872 marked the real beginning of the city. Line workers discovered some alluvial gold near Pine Creek, about 200 kilometres south of Darwin, and there was a minor gold rush.

The Commonwealth took over responsibility of the Territory on 1911, but nothing much happened in Darwin until the late 1930's when a considerable defence build up started to change the town's face.

On 19 February 1942 the Japanese launched a ferocious bombing raid on Darwin which killed 243 people and wounded over 300. It also sank and retired 12 ships in the harbour. It was the first on many air raids on the city.

On 25 December 1974, Cyclone Tracy struck with devastating fury, killing 64 residents and injuring thousands. The sleepy little tropical outpost of about 43,000 people, in effect ceased to exist. More than 30,000 people were evacuated in the largest airlift in Australian history. Darwin was rebuilt from scratch. It is therefore the youngest and most modern capital in the nation.

Kakadu National Park

Kakadu National Park is just 257 kilometres from Darwin along the sealed Arnhem Highway. In it's 19,000 square kilometres, it is home to around 275 species of birds, 75 species of reptiles, 25 species of frogs, and estimated 10,000 species of insect and 1,600 plant species, comprising more than a third of the "Top End's" plant life.

Kakadu has been accorded World Heritage status, as it was judged to be of outstanding universal worth not only for its natural values but also for its cultural significance.

Aboriginal rock art galleries reveal sprayed hand stencils, ornamented hunters carrying barbed spears and creation beings Namarrgon the Lightning Man and Ngalyod the Rainbow Serpent. Fish, birds and animals are presented x-ray style, revealing internal organs and bone structures. There are as many as 5,000 other recorded sites scattered throughout the park.

Uluru (Ayers Rock)

Uluru, or Ayers Rock as it is also known, has become symbolic of Australia. You'll find the immense monolith of Uluru and the domes of the Olgas in this Aboriginal owned, jointly managed park.

Both of these ancient landmarks and the surrounding land are of vital cultural and religious significance to Anangu, the Aboriginal owners.

The spectacular landscape and fascinating plants and animals of Uluru are a source of wonder and inspiration. In recognition of its outstanding natural and cultural values, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is World Heritage listed.

July climate

Where to get more information

Please visit the Northern Territory Tourism web site at http://www.nt.gov.au/ntg_internet/tourism/tourism.shtml.

All material and images are provided courtesy of Northern Territory Tourism. Northern Territory Tourism remain copyright owners.