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Darwin, Northern TerritoryDarwin is the capital of the Northern Territory, and is a city of 109,419 people (2001 census) on Australia's far north-western coastline. Darwin is reputed to suffer more lightning-strikes than any other inhabited place in the world. It is also home to the Territory's only university, Charles Darwin University. Geography and climate Darwin is situated in the Northern Territory, on the coast of the Timor Sea at Latitude: 12 27S - Longitude: 130 50E. Darwin has a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. The dry season runs from May to September. In the coolest months of June and July, daily temperature range is 19 to 30°C. The Wet season is associated with tropical cyclones and monsoon rains. The majority of rainfall occurs between December and March when thunderstorms are common and humidity is regularly over 70 per cent. Some of its climatic averages: - Mean January maximum temperature — 32C (89F)
- Mean January minimum temperature — 24C (76F)
- Mean July maximum temperature — 30C (86F)
- Mean July minimum temperature — 19C (66F)
- Mean annual rainfall — 1669mm (65.7 inches)
- Wettest month on average — January, 422 mm (16.6 inches)
- Rain Days: 110
History Darwin's harbour was first sighted in 1839 by John Lort Stokes of HMS Beagle. The ship's captain, John Clements Wickham, named the port after Charles Darwin, the British Naturalist, who had sailed with him on an earlier expedition of the Beagle. South Australia originally governed the Northern Territory. On Feb. 5, 1869, G.W. Goyder, the South Australian surveyor general, established a small settlement of 135 men and women at Port Darwin. Goyder named the settlement Palmerston, after the British prime minister Lord Palmerston. In 1870, the first poles for the Overland Telegraph were erected. The discovery of gold at Pine Creek in the 1880's further boosted the young colony's development. The Australian federal government assumed control of the Northern Territory in 1911, and Darwin became the city's official name. On February 19 1942, during the Pacific War, 242 Japanese warplanes attacked Darwin. The attack killed at least 243 people and caused immense damage to the town. (See Air raids on Darwin, February 19, 1942). Darwin was largely destroyed on Dec. 25, 1974 by Cyclone Tracy, which killed 50 people and destroyed over 70% of the town's buildings. After the disaster, an airlift evacuated 30,000 people. The town was subsequently rebuilt with newer materials and techniques during the late 1970s by the Darwin Reconstruction Commission. A satellite city of Palmerston was built 20km south of Darwin in the early 1980s. On September 17 2003, the Adelaide-Darwin Railway was completed. Economy The two largest economic sectors are mining and tourism. The mining and energy industry production exceeds $2.8 billion per annum. The most common minerals mined are gold, 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 are now spending time in Darwin during the Wet and Dry seasons. Federal spending is a major contributer to the local economy as well. The continued involvment of Australian Army in the stabilisation of East Timor has swelled the military population of Darwin to over 11,000 individual as of 2001. Darwin's importance as a port is forecasted to grow in the future, due in part to the increased exploitation of petroleum in the nearby Timor Sea, to the completion of the railway link and continued expansion of trade with Asia. Ongoing infrastructure projects As of 2005 there are two major construction projects in Darwin. One is the construction of a gas plant on Wickham point which is scheduled for completion in 2006. Another project yet to start is the upgrade of Stokes Hill Wharf. The Chinatown project is delayed and may be cancelled. Culture and sports Darwin is known as the "Gateway to Asia," and the city's population is very multicultural. Seventy-five nationalities are represented in Darwin, and nearly a quarter of the population self-identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Darwin's Mitchell Street is lined with nightclubs, takeaways, and restaurants, many with al fresco-style dining. The Beer Can Regattahttp://whatsonwhen.com/events/~99620.jml, held in August, celebrates Darwin's love affair with beer and contestants race boats made exclusivly of beer cans. Also in Darwin during the month of August, are the Darwin Cup horse race, and the Rodeo and Mud Crab Tying Competition. Darwin is also home to Indo-Pacific Marine & Australian Pearling Exhibition which houses an aquarium complete with living coral, and its complementary sea life. Every two years since 1991, (excluding 2003 due to the SARS outbreak), Darwin has played host to the Arafura Games, a major regional sporting event. In July 2003 and 2004, Darwin had the first cricket match as part of the 3 Mobile cricket tour. Rugby League and Australian Rules Football are played all year round. Media Darwin has only two commerical television channels, Seven Darwin and Channel 9, with the possibility of Ten coming from mid 2005, although it is unconfirmed. SBS and the ABC broadcast in Darwin as well. Darwin has two commercial radio stations, Hot 100 and Mix 104.9 along with other stations, including a uni-based Top 104.1 that is relayed throughout the Territory and ABC Radio.
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