Timeline of Darwin history

Last updated

This list shows notable events for Darwin, nowadays the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Note: When Darwin was first settled, it was called Palmerston and the port was called Port Darwin. In 1911 the town was renamed Darwin due to the common usage of the name.

Contents

19th Century

YearDateEvent
18399 Sep HMS Beagle sailed into Darwin Harbour during its surveying of the area. John Clements Wickham named the area Port Darwin in honour of their former shipmate Charles Darwin. The settlement became the town of Palmerston in 1869 and was renamed Darwin in 1911. [1]
186224 Jul John McDouall Stuart reached the beach at Chambers Bay (east of present-day Darwin).
18695 Feb George Goyder and survey party arrive in Port Darwin (Palmerston) [1]
186927 MarGulnare arrives in Darwin with stores and reinforcements. [1]
186924 May J. W. O. Bennett speared by Aborigines; he died and was buried on top of Fort Hill later being moved to the Pioneers Section of the General Cemetery.
18699 AugRichard Hazard died of consumption. Buried on Fort Hill and later moved, 3 November 1965, to McMillans Road Cemetery

1870s

YearDateEvent
1870Construction of the first Government House
Palmerston Cemetery opened in Goyder Road it was closed in 1919.
15 SepFirst telegraph pole planted in a ceremony [2] by Harriet Douglas.
1871First Telegraph office erected in Palmerston [3]
7 NovUndersea cable comes ashore the telegraph fleet then lays the cable to Java [3]
187222 AugThe Overland Telegraph Line linking Darwin and Adelaide opened. [1] [2]
1873Protestant church built in Knuckey Street near Mitchell Street. Destroyed in the cyclone of 1897.
English, Scottish and Australian (E S & A) Bank establishes branch in Palmerston (Darwin) [1] [3]
NovemberNorthern Territory Times begins publishing and ceases 1932. [3]
1874Chinese start to be brought to Darwin to act as labourers.
19 JunFirst Hospital above Doctors Gully completed [3] [4] Built largely by public subscription it is extended further in 1876.
5 DecTown of Palmerston gazetted. [3] name changed to Darwin in 1911.
187525 Feb SS Gothenburg lost off coast of Queensland with many prominent Northern Territory citizens on board. [3]
1877JanuaryFirst school opens in Palmerston with 34 pupils; teacher John Holt. [3]
1879Main section of Government House completed. [2]
OctoberNew Police Station building in use [3] on the corner of Mitchell Street and the Esplanade. Now the site of the Supreme Court.

1880s

YearDateEvent
1882 Fannie Bay Gaol was built between 1882 and 1883.
AprilNorthern Territory Racing Club is established at Palmerston. [3]
17 AugFoundation stone laid for Town Hall, on Smith Street, which was designed by John George Knight. [3]
18835 MarPalmerston Town Hall opens [2] [5] on Smith Street. Destroyed by Cyclone Tracy, now only the remains at both ends are visible.
1 JunNorthern Australian (Newspaper) begins publishing. [3]
188320 Sep Fannie Bay Gaol opens and begins to receive prisoners. [3]
1885Commencement of rail services to Pine Creek starts.
MarchTerminus Hotel on Smith Street opened.
FebruaryFoundation stone laid for Browns Mart at the time known as "Solomon's Mart" [6] located on Smith Street.
1886 First wooden jetty complete and handed over. [3]
18864 DecSteam locomotive 'Sandfly' arrives in the NT aboard the vessel Armistice [3]
1887Commercial Bank completed known as the "Stone Bank" on the corner of Smith and Bennett Streets.
Original Fannie Bay Gardens moved to present site of Darwin Botanical Gardens. [3]
20 MayLocomotive 'Sandfly' begins operation and retires in 1950 [3] presently located at the Parap Qantas Hangar.
18886122 Chinese living in the Northern Territory. most in or around Darwin. [7]
First Catholic Church completed [2] located on Smith Street where the present day cathedral is sited.
27 Apr SS Ellengowan sinks in Darwin Harbour.
16 JulRailway service to Adelaide River begins. [3]
10 DecRailway service to Burrundie begins. [3]
18891 OctOpening of Darwin/Pine Creek railway, 145 miles 34 chains. [3]

1890s

YearDateEvent
18906 JunNorth Australian and Times newspapers amalgamate. [3]
1891 Victoria Hotel completed [2] then called North Australian Hotel [3] renamed to Victoria Hotel in 1896.
Rapid Creek mission is abandoned. [3]
18976-7 Jan Cyclone devastates Palmerston (Darwin). [1] [2]

Twentieth century

1900s

YearDateEvent
1902Original Christ Church opens in Palmerston. [3] It is destroyed in 1974 by Cyclone Tracy.
1903 New jetty completed. [3]
190615 AugFather Francis Xavier Gsell MSC arrives in Palmerston. [3]
1907Some hotels and private homes in Palmerston are lit by acetylene gas. [3]

1910s

YearDateEvent
19111 JanTransfer of Northern Territory from South Australia to Commonwealth. [3]
Palmerston renamed to Darwin as most of the town residents were already using the name. [1] [2]
Palmerston No. 1 Boy Scout troop is established. [3]
May Northern Territory Supreme Court established first judge Samuel James Mitchel.l [3]
1912Electricity generation begins when the Northern Territory Administration and Mr Felix Holmes begin producing power.
191325 SepDarwin Radio Station comes into service in Gardens Road. [8]
19 Oct Kahlin Compound opens. [3]
1914Construction of Vesteys meatworks on Bullocky Point begins. [3]
1915Darwin Town Council was created.
1917First killing season at Vesteys meatworks.
191817 DecThe Darwin Rebellion takes place, with 1000 demonstrators demanding the resignation of the Administrator of the Northern Territory, John A. Gilruth.
1919Airstrip cleared in Parap.
Gardens cemetery opens replacing Palmerston cemetery on Goyder Road. Closes in 1970 containing 1200 graves.
20 FebDr John A. Gilruth and his family depart Darwin in the night aboard HMAS Encounter after Government House being placed under virtual siege for several weeks.
10 DecCaptain Ross Smith and his crew landed in Darwin and won a £10,000 Prize from the Australian Government for completing the first flight from London to Australia in under thirty days.

1920s

YearDateEvent
1920Vesteys meatworks closes. It was used for a short time in 1925, but never operated again after that. [2]
1922High School classes commence in Darwin. Victor Lampe is the principal. Preparatory class and examinations for entry held in 1921.
20 OctSoldiers' Memorial Hall was opened on Smith Street.
1924Construction of oil tanks (Oil & Fuel Installation (OFI)) starts on Stokes Hill. [9] The oil tanks were to provide a naval refuelling facilities as part of the Singapore Strategy.
1925 Lyons Cottage built [2] on the corner of The Esplanade and Knuckey Streets.
192822 Feb Bert Hinkler arrives in Darwin on first solo flight between England and Australia.
19291 Sep Star Theatre on Smith Street opens.
OctoberFour oil tanks on Stokes Hill completed and filled. [9]

1930s

YearDateEvent
193024 May Amy Johnson arrives in Darwin. [3] She becomes the first female aviator to conquer the London to Darwin solo flight. [10]
1931Leprosarium starts operation on Channel Island and closes in 1955.
NovemberTerminus Hotel closes on Cavenagh Street where the current Civic Centre is located.
19328 JanTerminus Hotel demolished. Materials from the demolition are used in the building of the fortification on East Point.
17 MayAustralian Cabinet approves the "Emergency Scheme for the Fortification of Darwin" [9]
2 Sep"Darwin Detachment", 5 officers and 42 men arrive in Darwin to start building fortifications. [9]
193422 May2 newly installed guns test fired on East Point. [9]
30 Dec QANTAS hangar in Parap built.
Darwin City Council builds a power station in Woods Street.
1937MarchDarwin hit by severe cyclone, [2] only one life was lost.
13 AprSite selected for RAAF Base.
Darwin's first power station built on Lindsey Street and 24-hour service is provided.
1938Commencement of the construction of the RAAF Base.
Francis Xavier Gsell created first Catholic Bishop of Darwin.
1939 Burnett House built on Myilly Point now part of the National Trust precinct. [2]
Five steel elevated water storage tanks are completed around Darwin. A ground level tank is erected at Stokes Hill and the elevated water control tank constructed at RAAF Base Darwin.
MarchTwo hundred men of Mobile Force arrive in Darwin [9] to man fortification.

1940s

YearDateEvent
1940Hotel Darwin completed on Herbert Street.
Boom Defence Net across Darwin Harbour put in place.
7 JunSecond power station located on Armidale Street is commissioned. Closed in 1968.
194112 DecGeneral evacuation of women, children, the aged and infirm of Darwin begins, five days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
1942JanuaryMyilly Point Hospital opens as a 90-bed pavilion type hospital. [11]
1 JanAircraft carrier USS Langley operates anti-submarine patrols.
21 JanI-124 was an I-121-class submarine of the Imperial Japanese Navy that was sunk off Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, on 21 January 1942, during World War II. I-124 was conducting mine laying operations and attacking shipping along with three other submarines along the northern coast of Australia.
19 Feb Japanese air raids – almost 100 attacks against sites in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland (to 1943). Bombing of Darwin sees largest attack on Australia by a foreign power. 243 people were killed in the initial raids on 19 February 1942.
1943Construction of oil storage tunnels begins.
1945OctoberBoom Defence Net which crossed the entrance to Darwin Harbour removed.
1946Reticulated water supply is made available to Darwin residents.
Residents return to Darwin after end of WW2.
Chung Wah Society established.
194910 MarTown of Nightcliff gazetted. [3]

1950s

YearDateEvent
19511 SepFirst Darwin Exhibition (Show) at Winnellie Show grounds. [12]
19527 AugLast execution conducted at Fannie Bay Gaol. [13]
8 Feb NT News begins publishing. [3]
195420 AprDefection of Mrs Petrov at Darwin Airport sparks Petrov Affair.
19553 JanPremiere of Jedda film in the Star Theatre.
1956FebruaryDarwin High School opens on Bullocky Point—the site of the old Vestey's meatworks. [3]
NovemberNew Stokes Hill Wharf opens. [3]
19571 JulThe people of Darwin elected for the first time a Mayor and 12 Councillors.
1958 Vestey's meatworks demolished.
12 Feb Parap School opens. [8]
13 JulFoundation stone laid for St Mary's War Memorial Cathedral.
195926 JanDarwin, with a population of 12,700, becomes a city [3] due to an extensive increase in population and economic growth.

1960s

YearDateEvent
1960New Post Office constructed on the corner of Smith and Knuckey Street.
May Parap swimming pool opened. [14]
17 Jun Woolworths buys out A. E. Jolly & Co on the corner of Smith Street and Knuckey Street. [3]
196214 JunStokes Hill Power Station (Stage 1) opened by the Hon Paul Hasluck MHR. Stage 1 had a capacity of 15 MW or 21.42 MW if the diesel station is included. [11]
19 AugSt Mary's War Memorial Cathedral consecrated [3] on Smith Street.
1963February Larrakeyah School opens. [3]
1965Paspalis drive-in theatre opens in Nightcliff closed in 1985.
JanuarySound Shell in the Gardens amphitheatre is opened. [14] Official opening 22 May 1965 by Mayor N. H. Cooper.
11 MayDead baby found in mailbag, crime never solved. [15]
August30 Squadron forms Darwin detachment and installs 4 Bloodhound missiles near Lee Point an additional 4 are added later.
1966May Stuart Park School opens. [3]
25 Jun Rapid Creek Primary School opened by the Administrator R. L. Dean. [11]
196719 JunDarwin Maru arrives on its maiden voyage to load the first shipment of iron ore from the new iron ore handling wharf at Fort Hill. [11]
August Nightcliff swimming pool opened. [14]
1968Armidale Street power station closes down.
28 MarReserve Bank building on the corner of Smith and Bennett Streets opened.
September30 Squadron Darwin detachment ceases operation.
20 DecCivic Centre foundation stone laid.
19696 MayKurringal flats complex opens in Fannie Bay. [3]
18 AugNew Civic Centre in Darwin opened by Duke of Kent. [3]

1970s

YearDateEvent
1970Construction commences on Darwin River Dam.
February Nightcliff High School opens, this is Darwin's second high school [3]
NovemberNew Police Headquarters opened on the corner of Mitchell and Bennett Streets. [3]
1971Travel Lodge on the Esplanade starts construction.
Casuarina Zone substation is built to service the rapidly developing northern suburbs of Darwin.
Casuarina 4.5ML elevated water reservoir constructed. [11]
Nightcliff High School completed. [11]
War Memorial moved to Civic Park behind Browns Mart. [14]
3 MarT&G Building on Smith Street opened by the Hon F. C. Chaney CBE AFC.
13 AugDarwin gets first TV transmission. [3] Opening of ABD 6 Television studios, 12 August, and the establishment of national (ABC) television services in Darwin.
19724 NovTrain derailment at Frances Bay.
29 Jun Darwin River Dam officially opened by the Prime Minister the Rt Hon William McMahon. [11]
JulySupersonic passenger plane Concorde lands in Darwin
27 JulTown of Sanderson gazetted. [3]
1973 Casuarina High School completed. [11]
7 FebNorthern Territory Administration abolished and replaced by the Department of the Northern Territory. [11]
24 May Casuarina Shopping Centre opened. [14]
8 JunThe Territorian International Hotel officially opened by the Minister for the Northern Territory, K. E. Enderby
197425 FebContract awarded for the construction of Casuarina Hospital Main Block to John Holland. [11]
9 Mar Prince Philip and Earl Louis Mountbatten commence two-day visit to Darwin.
10 MarPrince Philip officially opens Darwin Community College. [11]
May Darwin Rocksitters Club established.
18 MayTravel Lodge on the Esplanade officially opened by Administrator Jack Nelson. It was the tallest building in Darwin at the time at ten storeys.
JuneDarwin Golf Club moves from Fannie Bay to Marrara to make room for a new arterial road.
16 JunFirst Darwin Beer Can Regatta. [3]
OctoberPrice control on petrol introduced in the Darwin area.
24-25 Dec Cyclone Tracy devastates Darwin. 66 known dead.
1975January25,000 people evacuated from Darwin in six days after Cyclone Tracy.
14 FebLiner Patris arrives in Darwin to act as a floating hostel post Cyclone Tracy. [11]
28 FebDarwin Reconstruction Commission established by the Darwin Reconstruction Act. [11]
MayDarwin elects its first female Mayor, Dr Ella Stack.
1 May Princess Anne and Captain Mark Philips visit Darwin to inspect the damage after Cyclone Tracy.
19 Aug QANTAS resumes flights to Darwin after Cyclone Tracy.
30 DecTelford International Hotel opened, now called the Darwin Frontier Hotel. Previously it was called the Territorian International Hotel which opened on 8 June 1973.
1976February1,400 new cyclone-resistant homes in Anula and Walagi completed.
8 MarDarwin Motor Vehicle Registry commences business in a new building on Goyder Road.
26 AprFirst Vietnamese boat people arrive in Darwin. [3]
29 MayReconstruction begins on Christ Church Anglican Cathedral after destruction from Cyclone Tracy.
30 JunPalmerston (Darwin) to Pine Creek Railway cease operation by order of the Commonwealth Government. [8]
17 JulThe annual, long standing, Northern Territory News Walkabout is revived after a lapse and on a new course.
November Trans Australian Airlines (TAA) opens offices in Bennett Street.
23 NovThe new $1.4 million Customs House is opened by the Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, Mr John Howard MP.
DecemberDarwin Reconstruction Commission proposes to convert part of Smith Street into a mall.
1977JanuaryPrice control on petrol in the Northern Territory lifted.
13 MarNew Christ Church Cathedral consecrated in the presence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. [3] The Cathedral replaced the church that was destroyed in Cyclone Tracy.
26 Mar Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II unveils plaques at the Civic Centre to commemorate those that lost their lives in Cyclone Tracy.
9 NovCustom Credit House opened by Mr Roger Steele MLA.
31 DecDarwin Reconstruction Commission winds up. [11]
1978AprilWork starts on Smith Street mall and is open on 16 November 1979. [14]
5 AprTracy Lodge, the first elderly people's home in Darwin, opens on Wood Street.
12 AprDarwin Reconstruction Commission officially closes down.
7 JulThe first-nuclear powered warship to visit Darwin, the USS Bainbridge, anchors in Darwin Harbour on a six-day goodwill visit.
25 SepAMP building opened by the Chief Minister Paul Everingham.
28 SepDarwin's new Chinese Temple, located between Woods and Litchfield Streets is officially opened.
23 OctIndonesian Consulate is established in Darwin.
197919 MayInaugural Freds Pass Rural Show opens.
1 JulFirst Bougainvillea Festival [3] with entertainer Mr Rolf Harris as patron and special guest. Later called the Darwin Festival.
21 JulThe gigantic salt water crocodile, Sweetheart, dies while being captured.
1 Sep Fannie Bay Gaol closes [3] and a new $4.2 M Darwin Prison opens at Berrimah. 116 prisoners are transferred over two days.
21 SepFirst casino in Darwin opens in temporary quarters in the Don Hotel on Cavenagh Street.
NovemberDr Ella Stack became Darwin's first Lord Mayor.
16 NovWork is completed on Darwin's Smith Street shopping mall and is officially opened by Mayor Dr Ella Stack.

1980s

YearDateEvent
198011 Feb Casuarina Library opened by the Hon Nicholas Donda MLA.
24 AprTown of Palmerston is gazetted; it was being called Darwin East.
MayWork starts on Karama subdivision in the Northern Suburbs.
22 JulDick Ward Drive officially opened by the Hon Roger Steele MLA.
25 JulThe Governor General Sir Zelman Cowen open the Darwin's 29th Annual Show the first to be declared Royal. [3]
19 SepNew hospital at Casuarina is opened by Prime Minister J. M. Fraser. [3]
19814 MarPaspalis Centrepoint on Smith Street opened by the Chief Minister Paul Everingham.
14 JulNew Fort Hill Wharf is opened.
10 SepNorthern Territory Museum of Arts and Sciences officially opened by Sir Zelman Cowen Governor General of Australia at Bullocky Point.
4 DecWest Lane Car Park opened by the Chief Minister Paul Everingham MLA.
10 DecDarwin Plaza on Smith Street opened by the Hon Paul Everingham Chief Minister.
20 DecBagot Road Flyover officially open by the Hon Nick Dondas MLA.
24 DecAdministrators Office, on the corner of Smith Street and the Esplanade, opens after being repaired from the damage done by Cyclone Tracy.
19823 Jul Parap open air market begins in Darwin.
17 Sep Casuarina Coastal Reserve is officially declared a Conversation Area.
6 OctDarwin Naval Base extensions at Larrakeyah are officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
29 Oct Lindy and Michael Chamberlain convicted of murder of their daughter Azaria, Lindy jailed in Berrimah Jail
198321 Apr Mindil Beach Federal Hotel Casino officially opened by the Hon Paul Everingham the Chief Minister. [3]
19 SepRestored Fannie Bay Gaol is officially re-opened as a museum by the Hon Marshall Perron.
198423 Jun Menzies School of Health Research is officially opened by the Governor General Sir Ninian Stephen.
20 OctSinger Cliff Richard performs at the Darwin Amphitheatre.
21 DecDarwin Community College renamed the Darwin Institute of Technology.
198514 AprTropical Cyclone Gretel (Cat 2) fells a large number of trees in Darwin but there is minimal structural damage.
27 MayRAAF Mirage 3 crashes on approach to Darwin Airport. Pilot ejected safely and the aircraft landed on the mud flats
22 JunFirst local council elections held in Palmerston.
28 JunBerrimah Police Centre opened by the Hon Ian Tuxworth.
19867 Feb Lindy Chamberlain released from Berrimah Jail when evidence of her innocence emerges
23 AprBeaufort Hotel complex opens on the Esplanade.
19 MayPerforming Arts Centre completed, now known as the Darwin Entertainment Centre [14] Opened by Commodore E. E. Johnston AM OBE.
14 JulThe Sheraton Hotel opens on Mitchell Street. Currently known as the Hilton.
29 Nov Pope John Paul II visits Darwin.
19871 JanFirst boat passes through the lock of the Darwin Fishing Harbour Mooring Basin (known by locals as the Duckpond).
23 FebThe University College of the Northern Territory is opened in the remodelled old Darwin Hospital building at Myilly Point.
23 AprThe Mindil Beach Markets open.
24 MayO'Loughlin Catholic College is officially opened.
6 Sep Channel Island Power Station opened.
1 NovFirst World Solar Car Challenge, a solar-powered car race from Darwin to Adelaide, starts at Casuarina Shopping Square.
Stokes Hill Power Station is closed.
198823 AprAtrium Hotel on the Esplanade opened by the Chief Minister Steve Hatton MLA.
MayThe Cullen Bay Marina Agreement is signed and development commences.
31 OctFirst Private Hospital in the Northern Territory is officially opened.
DecemberPioneer Walk and Bicentennial Park are opened along The Esplanade.
19891 JanThe first concert of the complete Darwin Symphony Orchestra takes place in Darwin.
28 AprThe Northern Territory University, formed on 1 January by the amalgamation of the Darwin Institute of Technology and the University College of the Northern Territory, is officially opened.
2 OctThe Territory Wildlife Park, south of Darwin, is opened to the public.

1990s

YearDateEvent
19902 Jun Darwin Aviation Museum opens on a site near Darwin Airport.
2 AugFoundation stone for new Parliament House laid [16]
1991JanAnsett airlines first ever January sale offers discounted airfares from Darwin to Alice Springs from $648 to $299 and Darwin to Sydney was reduced from $1,156 to $499.
18 MayFirst Arafura Sports Festival held in Darwin and then every 2 years until 2011 (except 2003 due to SARS) cancelled in 2012 by CLP Government. 20 teams from Australia and South East Asia to compete in more than 20 sports.
28 JunFM Radio station Hot 100 goes to air in Darwin.
21 JulLake Alexander officially open by Alan K Markham, Lord Mayor of Darwin.
29 NovThe new Supreme Court Building, part of the State Square project, is officially open by the Administrator, the Hon James Muirhead AC QC.
1992Darwin's water supply is chlorinated at Darwin River Dam.
The Bayview Haven housing development commences in Darwin.
19941 JunThe Deck Chair Cinema opens in Darwin with the film The Castanet Club.
18 AugThe new Parliament House building in State Square is opened by the Governor General the Hon Bill Hayden AC.
14 SepNorth Flinders International House opens for the accommodation of students on the campus of the Northern Territory University.
199515 FebThe annual Bougainvillea Festival of Darwin changes its name to The Festival of Darwin.
22 MarThe Palmerston campus of the Northern Territory University opens.
199622 Sep Physician-assisted death of Bob Dent, the first under the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act 1995.
22 NovThe new Menzies School of Health Research Building at the hospital campus is opened.
19977 FebThe Darwin Club, one of Darwin's oldest, winds up operations in Admiralty House on the Esplanade after closing its doors in 1996.
12 FebTwo 70m chimneys, landmarks of the Darwin skyline and the last remaining evidence of the original Stokes Hill Power Station, are demolished.
3 MarThe Holiday Inn opens on The Esplanade in Darwin.
14 AprThe All Seasons Darwin Central hotel is opened in Smith Street on the former site of the Darwin Post Office on the corner of Smith and Knuckey Streets.
19 AprRefurbished Civic Centre opened by Dr Neil Conn AO.
24 JulThe Myilly Point campus of the Northern Territory University is closed, completing the consolidation of the University on the Casuarina campus.
3 NovThe Navy patrol boat HMAS Gawley topples when a shiplift collapses at Darwin Patrol Base.
199827 MarDarwin's second commercial television station, Channel 7, begins broadcasting in Darwin.
8 Apr Charles Darwin National Park officially declared by the Hon Tim Baldwin MLA.
21 AprThe Duke of Edinburgh commences a five-day visit to Darwin.
199922 MarA fire in a major Darwin sub-station causes more than $400,000 worth of damage and blacks out 9,000 northern suburbs houses.
11 SepThe historic Hotel Darwin is declared structurally unsound and is demolished.

21st century

2000s

YearDateEvent
2000East Arm Port opens
200321 AugThe Northern Territory Legislative Assembly passed the Charles Darwin University Act 2003 (NT).
17 Sep Alice Springs to Darwin railway completed.
20041 Jan Charles Darwin University is formed from merging Alice Springs' Centralian College and the Menzies School of Health Research with the Northern Territory University.
17 JanFirst freight train reaches Darwin on the new Adelaide to Darwin railway.
4 FebFirst passenger train from Adelaide, The Ghan , reaches Darwin.
20081 JulConvention Centre opens in the Waterfront Precinct.
2009Major power stations in Darwin receive gas from the Bonaparte Basin offshore.
4 JunFour killed in mass shooting.
JulyEast Point Military Museum was renamed as Darwin Military Museum.

2010s

YearDateEvent
2010Iron Ore Wharf removed at Fort Hill.
Darwin River Dam spillway is raised by 1.3 metres.
30 Aug - 1 SepRiot and escapes at Northern Immigration Detention Centre.
201117 Feb Cyclone Carlos brings rain and high winds to Darwin.
JuneDarwin experiences coldest June on record, with 42 nights below 20 degrees.
16 Nov President Barack Obama spends two hours in Darwin to lay a wreath at the USS Peary memorial and speaks to the Australian and US troops stationed there.
201225 OctThe dredge Athena arrives in Darwin Harbour to begin dredging over the following 18 months the shipping channel for the Inpex project.
1 NovNT Government announces cancellation of 2013 bi-annual Arafura Games to save money.
20156 Apr Prince Harry arrives in Darwin to start his month long secondment to the ADF's 1st Brigade.
OctoberControversy over 99-year lease of Port Darwin to Chinese company.
Last Cab to Darwin movie portrays journey to Darwin in search of euthanasia.
201817 Mar Cyclone Marcus hits Darwin. It uplifts trees and causes powers outages which in some cases lasts for days.
201927 AprThe Arafura Games return to Darwin after an eight-year hiatus.
4 Jun Mass shooting kills 4.

2020s

YearDateEvent
20209 Feb266 Australian COVID-19 evacuees flown from Wuhan to Darwin for isolation at Howard Springs camp. A week later 200 flown from Diamond Princess in Japan join them.
1 MayNT become one of first areas to relax CoVID-19 restrictions.
14 MayDarwin Correctional Facility has a breakout of 21 prisoners leading to the destruction of some buildings.
15 MayTerritorians allowed to visits pubs again after stage 2 restrictions are eased.
2 JunTerritorians return to work after lifting of stage 3 restrictions.
1 JulTerritory Day celebrations cancelled due to COVID-19
17 JulBorder restrictions are lifted for interstate visitors
8 OctFire destroys NT Oriental Emporium on Bagot Road building and contents.
6 NovDerelict home in the CBD owned by the Chin family destroyed by fire.
12 NovPolice launch campaign to end increased youth offending in the Northern Suburbs of Darwin.
202127 JunDarwin placed into COVID-19 lockdown for 3 days at 1 pm, extended, then lifted 2 July at 1 pm.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Lockwood, Douglas (1968). The Front Door.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Carment, David (2005). Australia's Northern Capital A Short History of Darwin. Historical Society of the Northern Territory. ISBN   1876248998.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 Wilson, Helen (1984). The Northern Territory Chronicle - 2nd Edition. Northern Territory University Planning Authority.
  4. Reid, Brian (1996). A Little North of Peels Well: A Landscape history of Darwins First Hospital.
  5. "Opening of the New Town Hall". Northern Territory Times and Gazette . Vol. VIIII, no. 491. Northern Territory, Australia. 10 March 1883. p. 2. Retrieved 1 August 2016 via National Library of Australia.
  6. Rich, Jenny (1988). Brown's Mart, Darwin A History. Brown's Mart Trustees. ISBN   0731625323.
  7. NT Chinese Museum » Short History
  8. 1 2 3 Boland, Judy (2016). Know Where You Stand - Fannie Bay and Surrounds Darwin's Industrial Heartland, 1870–1950. Fannie Bay History and Heritage Society Incorporated. ISBN   978-0-646-95357-1.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dermoudy, Peter. East Point A History of the Military Precinct, East Point, Darwin. National Trust of Australia (Northern Territory)and the Royal Australian Artillery Assoc (NT). ISBN   0949455067.
  10. "AMY JOHNSON ARRIVES". Northern Territory Times . Vol. 1, no. 62. Northern Territory, Australia. 27 May 1930. p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2016 via National Library of Australia.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Redmond, George (2001). In the eye of the storm - Darwin's Development, Cyclone Tracy, and Reconstruction. NT Govt, Dept of Transport and Works. ISBN   0724546227.
  12. "Advertising". Northern Standard . Vol. 6, no. 273. Northern Territory, Australia. 31 August 1951. p. 12. Retrieved 22 July 2016 via National Library of Australia.
  13. "TWO EXECUTED". Northern Standard. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Heatley, Alistair (1985). A City Grows. Australian National University North Australia Research Unit. ISBN   0867848286.
  15. "Who put baby in mailbag and posted to Darwin?". News.com.au. 18 September 2015.
  16. Parliament House - A history of the site. 1994.