Darwin

It is the only seaport in the Northern Territory. The Darwin Metropolitan area extends to 303 sq.km.

Development

On Christmas Day 1974 Cyclone Tracy swept over Darwin and, with wind speeds of up to 280km an hour, laid waste almost the whole town, with the loss of 66 lives. In a magnificent rescue effort most of the 45,000 inhabitants, drenched by the monsoon rains, were evacuated by air.

At first the government was disinclined to rebuild Darwin, since it lay in the main path of tropical cyclones; but the inhabitants returned spontaneously to the town and began the task of rebuilding. Only a few of the stilt houses common in tropical Australia had survived. The ruins of public buildings were incorporated in new structures and many new buildings were erected. It is now obligatory to use cyclone-proof building techniques in both public and private buildings.

Population

In recent decades the population of Darwin has risen quite rapidly to about 83,000, including a considerable Chinese minority. Extension of the town is planned to house an eventual population of 500,000.

Lying as it does within easy reach of Southeast Asia, Darwin has, not surprisingly, taken in large numbers of Southeast Asian refugees ('boat people').

Tourism

Tourism has played a major part in the growth and prosperity of Darwin. Every year about half a million visitors come here. The main season is in the warm and dry winter months, but the sultry wet season has its own particular attractions in the spectacular waterfalls, flowing abundantly after violent tropical storms.

Transport

There are regular flights to Darwin from all parts of the Australian continent. The airport for both international and domestic flights lies 8km northeast of the town amid the suburbs.

Interstate bus services link Darwin with all the important towns and tourist centers in the rest of Australia.

There are bus terminals on the south side of Darwin City in Mitchell Street (Darwin Transit Centre) and Harry Chan Avenue, at the south end of Smith Street Mall (local and regional services).

The Darwin Bus Service runs regular local services in the city and suburbs. Its main terminal is also in Harry Chan Avenue.

Specially designed for visitors is the Tour Tub, an open-sided minibus which runs round the city and inner suburbs, passing most features of interest. With a daily ticket passengers can get on and off the bus as often as they like.

There are numerous features of interest in and around Darwin. Large numbers of both Australian and foreign visitors are drawn to Kakadu National Park in Arnhem Land, with its fascinating scenery and Aboriginal culture, the islands in Tiwi territory (Melville and Bathurst) and on the Cobourg Peninsula, the Red Centre and outback safaris through tropical rain forest, flood plains and semi-deserts.