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Darwin History It took a long time to decide on Darwin as the site for the region's centre, and
even after the city was established, growth was slow and troubled. Early
attempts to settle the Top End were mainly due to British fears that the French
or Dutch might get a foothold in Australia. Between 1824 and 1829 Fort Dundas on
Melville Island and Fort Wellington on the Cobourg Peninsula, 200km (124mi)
northeast of Darwin, were settled and then abandoned.
In 1845 the explorer Leichardt reached Port Essington overland from Brisbane,
arousing prologned interest in the Top End. The region came under the control of
South Australia in 1863, and more ambitious development plans were made. A
settlement was established in 1864 at Escape Cliffs on the mouth of the Adelaide
River, not too far from Darwin's present location, but this was abandoned in
1866. Present-day Darwin was finally founded in 1869. The harbour had been
discovered back in 1839 by John Lort Stokes aboard the Beagle, who named it Port
Darwin after former shipmate, Charles Darwin.
The process of white settlement in the Northern Territory was just as troubled
and violent as elsewhere in Australia, with Aboriginal groups vainly trying to
resist the takeover of land on which their way of life depended. Darwin's growth
was accelerated by the discovery of gold at Pine Creek, about 200km (124mi)
south, in 1871.
Once the gold fever had run its course, Darwin's development slowed down due to
the harsh, unpredictable climate (including occasional cyclones) and poor
communications with other Australian cities. By the early 20th century, most of
the Aboriginal people who had inhabited the land which had become Darwin were
confined to government reserves or Christian missions, or were living on cattle
stations working as stockmen or domestic help.
WWII put Darwin permanently on the map when the town became an important base
for Allied action against the Japanese in the Pacific. The road south to the
railhead at Alice Springs was surfaced, finally putting the city in direct
contact with the rest of the country. Darwin was attacked 64 times during the
war and 243 people lost their lives; it was the only place in Australia to
suffer prolonged attack. By 1974, Darwin was a growing settlement with a population of 48,000 that was
developing new suburbs. Early on Christmas morning of that year, Cyclone Tracy
passed over Darwin, killing 69 people in six hours (including 16 at sea) and
flattening the city.
Modern Darwin is one of Australia\'s most cosmopolitan cities, more open to Asia
than perhaps any other Australian city. It plays an important role as the front
door to Australia\'s northern region and as a centre for administration and
mining. The port facilities have recently had a major upgrade, and the
completion in mid-2003 of a railway link to Alice Springs has locals hoping
Darwin will become the continent's transport hub with Southeast Asia.
Santa never made it to Darwin As had been the case on the eve of the bombing of Darwin in February 1942, the
pervasive mood in the town on Christmas Eve 1974 had been one of acceptance of
the reality of danger, but the rejection of any suggestion that the threat of a
cyclone should impinge on events of the day.
Earlier in December 1974 Cyclone Selma had hovered around Darwin before changing
course and disappearing. There was a widespread belief that Tracy would behave
similarly. Darwin residents for the most part went about the serious business of
celebrating Christmas, and preparing for the holiday break.
However, it must be put on record that many individuals, businesses, and
government departments prepared to meet the threat of Cyclone Tracy in exemplary
fashion. Had they not done so, the impact of Tracy would have been even more
severe, and the chaotic aftermath would have been even more difficult.
"Cyclone Tracy" formally came into existence at 10 AM on 21 December 1974, when
it lay well to Darwin's north. On 24 December 1974 Tracy rounded Cape Fourcroy,
Bathurst Island's western tip, and then moved along an east-south-easterly
course toward Darwin.
The arrival, course and impact of the cyclone in Darwin By late afternoon on 24 December 1974 Darwin was cloaked by heavy and low cloud
and it was experiencing ever stronger rain squalls and wind gusts. By about 10
PM the winds were causing physical damage. By midnight the damage was becoming
serious, and it was apparent that Cyclone Tracy was about to pass across the
city. Over the next six hours Tracy substantially destroyed Darwin and killed 65
people - 49 on land, and 16 at sea.
Of course the city has now been almost completely re-built and is better than
ever before. Today Darwin is a thriving city and a great place to live
Planning to live in Darwin?
Are you, a family member or a friend intending to settle in Darwin, Northern
Territory, Australia? See our article menu on the home page or email me for more
information at
bruce@bestrealestate.com.au
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Darwin Suburbs
Adelaide River
Aileron Alice Springs Ayers Rock Barrow Creek Batchelor Berrimah
Borroloola Coonawarra Daly Waters Darwin Dunmarra |
Elliott
Erldunda Gove Hayes Creek Hidden Valley Humpty Doo Jabiru
Katherine Kulgera Larrakeyah Larrimah Ludmilla Mataranka
Mitchell |
Nhulunbuy Orange Creek Palmerston Parap Pine Creek
Renner Springs Stuart Park Stuarts Well Tennant Creek |
The Gardens
Three Ways Ti Tree Wauchope Winnellie Wycliffe Well Yulara |
Please contact me at
bruce@bestrealestate.com.au if you know of other great Darwin Real Estate
Agents
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