The Northern Territories is fortunate in having a famous city as its capital. Darwin Australia sits at the tip of the country, the most populous city in the state with an estimated population of over 109,000.

It has a tropical climate with a dry and a wet season, and has to endure thunderstorms and cyclones. The worst recorded cyclone occurred in 1974 when Cyclone Tracy hit, destroying many buildings and killing fifty people. The city was re-constructed with stronger building materials.

The city is unique in being the only Australian city to be attacked in a war. Japanese air raids took place during World War II, the worst was in 1942 just three months after the attack on the US fleet at Pearl Harbor. A memorial to the victims was erected in the city.

Named after the British naturalist Charles Darwin, the city’s main industries are tourism and mining. Darwin Australia went through a boom period when gold was discovered in the 1880s. It was officially upgraded to a city in 1959. Its port is also important to the economy of the area, exporting cattle, minerals and gas. The area is traditionally home to the military with a large Army and Navy Base.

A truly cosmopolitan place, there are a large number of Indigenous Australians and South East Asians who have migrated. Citizens include people from Vietnam, Papua, China, Greece and Italy. There are also several British and Irish residents. The Chinese New Year is enthusiastically celebrated in Chinatown. The people of Darwin Australia like to work and play. It’s good fishing country and they are keen supporters of the local horse races and rodeos. The Darwin Festival is an annual celebration of music, film, theater, dance and comedy acts.

Recent building developments have included the Wharf Precinct, which contains shops, entertainment, and a convention and exhibition center. There are also excellent swimming facilities. Darwin Australia may be at the extreme Northern Coast but it is not isolated in any way. It’s a city with a small town feel and people from all corners of the globe have made a home there. The resident’s battle against the often hostile weather conditions and the city makes an important contribution to the economy and the culture of the country. No air raids or cyclones could keep this place down and the future looks secure for this industrious heart of the North. It’s easy to see why Darwin is world famous.