Northern Territory facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Northern Territory
Territory
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s):  The Territory The T The Top End
Qld. NSW ACT WA NT SA Vic. Tas. Location of Northern Territory in Australia Coordinates: 20°S 133°E / 20°S 133°E / -20; 133
Country	Australia
Established by New South Wales	1825
Transferred to South Australia	1863
Transferred to Commonwealth	1911
Responsible government	1 July 1978
Capital and largest city	Darwin 12°26′17″S 130°50′28″E / 12.43806°S 130.84111°E / -12.43806; 130.84111
Administration	17 local government areas
Common languages	English • Aboriginal languages • Australian Kriol
Demonym(s)	Territorian Top Ender (northern half only)
Government
• Administrator	Hugh Heggie
• Chief Minister	Eva Lawler (ALP)
Legislature	Northern Territory Legislative Assembly
Parliament of Australia
• Senate	2 senators (of 76)
• House of Representatives	2 seats (of 151)
Area
• Land	1,347,791 km2 (520,385 sq mi)
Highest elevation (Mount Zeil)	1,531 m (5,023 ft)
Population
• December 2021 estimate	249,345 (8th)
• Density	0.19/km2 (0.5/sq mi) (8th)
GDP (nominal)	2020 estimate
• Total	AU.153 billion (8th)
• Per capita	AU6,851 (2nd)
HDI (2021)	0.940 very high · 6th
Time zone	UTC+09:30 (ACST)
Postal abbreviation	NT
ISO 3166 code	AU–NT
Symbols
Mammal	Red kangaroo (Macropus rufus)
Bird	Wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax)
Flower	Sturt's desert rose (Gossypium sturtianum)
Colour	Black, white, and ochre

The Northern Territory (or NT) is a large area in the middle and north of Australia. It's a special part of Australia called a territory. It shares borders with Western Australia in the west, South Australia in the south, and Queensland in the east. To its north are the Timor Sea, Arafura Sea, and Gulf of Carpentaria. These waters connect it to islands like Western New Guinea and other parts of Indonesia.

The NT covers about 1,347,791 square kilometers. This makes it the third-largest part of Australia. It is also one of the largest country areas in the world. However, not many people live there. As of December 2021, only about 249,000 people lived in the NT. This is less than half the number of people in Tasmania.

Most people live in the capital city, Darwin. About 52.6% of the territory's population lives there. The biggest town away from the coast is Alice Springs, with about 25,000 people. The economy of the NT mainly relies on mining and oil. These industries made up 23% of its total product in 2018–2019. This was about $5.68 billion and nearly all of its exports.

People who live in the Northern Territory are often called "Territorians." Those in the northern part are sometimes called "Top Enders."

History of the Northern Territory

Thomas Baines with Aboriginal people near the mouth of the Victoria River.

People have lived in the Northern Territory for a very long time. It is thought that humans arrived here between 48,400 and 68,700 years ago. For at least 500 years, Aboriginal people traded with people from what is now Indonesia.

Europeans first saw the coast in the 1600s. The British tried to settle the coast four times. The first three tries (1824–1828, 1838–1849, and 1864–1866) failed. Finally, in 1869, a settlement was successfully started at Port Darwin.

The land that is now the Northern Territory was part of New South Wales from 1825 to 1863. For a short time in 1846, it was part of a small colony called North Australia. From 1863 to 1911, the Northern Territory was part of South Australia. During this time, the overland telegraph was built between 1870 and 1872. This line helped send messages across Australia.

From 1869, Port Darwin was the main supply point for the Territory. A railway was built between Palmerston and Pine Creek from 1883 to 1889. Raising cattle and mining became important for the economy. By 1911, there were 513,000 cattle. Victoria River Downs was once the biggest cattle station in the world. Gold was found at Grove Hill in 1872 and at Pine Creek. Copper was found at Daly River.

On January 1, 1911, the Northern Territory became part of the federal government. This happened ten years after Australia became a federation.

Changes to the Territory's Name and Divisions

Letters Patent annexing the Northern Territory to South Australia, 1863

Around 1912, people thought the name "Northern Territory" was not good enough. Names like "Kingsland" (after King George V), "Centralia," and "Territoria" were suggested. "Kingsland" was the most popular choice in 1913, but the name was never changed.

For a short time, from 1927 to 1931, the Northern Territory was split into two parts: North Australia and Central Australia. They were divided at the 20th parallel south.

World War II and After

During World War II, the northern part of the NT was controlled by the military. This was the only time an Australian state or territory was under military control since Australia became a federation. After the war, the federal government took back control.

The Bombing of Darwin happened on February 19, 1942. It was the biggest attack by a foreign country on Australia. You can still see signs of World War II history in Darwin. These include old ammunition bunkers, airstrips, oil tunnels, and museums. The port was damaged in the 1942 Japanese air raids but was later fixed.

In the late 1960s, better roads in nearby states and fast economic growth caused problems for the port and local development. Changes were made to how the port worked, and a plan for its future was created. Extending the railway was not considered then because there wasn't enough freight.

Aboriginal Land Rights

Indigenous Australians fought for fair wages and land rights. An important event was the strike and walk-off by the Gurindji people at Wave Hill Cattle Station in 1966. The Northern Territory Council for Aboriginal Rights (NTCAR) helped the strikers.

In 1973, the federal government set up the Woodward Royal Commission. This group looked into how Aboriginal people could get land rights in the Northern Territory. The commission suggested that a Central Land Council and a Northern Land Council be created. These councils would share the views of Aboriginal people. A law called the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 was passed in 1976 and started in 1977.

Cyclone Tracy and Self-Government

In 1974, on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin. It was a very strong tropical storm. Cyclone Tracy killed 71 people and caused a lot of damage. It destroyed over 70% of Darwin's buildings and 80% of its houses. More than 41,000 out of 47,000 people in the city became homeless. The city was rebuilt with much stronger building rules. Today, Darwin is a modern city with beautiful landscapes.

In 1978, the Northern Territory was given responsible government. This meant it had its own Legislative Assembly led by a chief minister. The territory also publishes official notices in its own Government Gazette. The administrator of the Northern Territory acts as the Queen's representative in the territory.

Geography of the Northern Territory

Northern Territory towns, settlements and road network.

The northern coast of Australia is on the left with Melville Island in the lower right

The Northern Territory has many small settlements. The larger towns are mostly found along the Stuart Highway. This is the only paved road that connects Darwin to southern Australia. Locals often call it "the track."

The NT is home to two amazing natural rock formations: Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas). These places are very important to the local Aboriginal people. They are also major tourist attractions.

The northern part of the territory has tropical savannas. These areas include different ecoregions like Arnhem Land and Victoria Plains. The southern part of the territory is covered in deserts. These include the Great Sandy-Tanami desert and the Simpson Desert.

In the north, you'll find Kakadu National Park. This park has large wetlands and lots of native wildlife. North of Kakadu is the Arafura Sea. To the east is Arnhem Land, where the main town is Maningrida.

The Northern Territory has many river systems. These rivers include the Alligator Rivers, Daly River, Finke River, McArthur River, Roper River, Todd River, and Victoria River. The Hay River is southwest of Alice Springs. Other creeks like Marshall River and Arthur Creek flow into it.

National Parks and Reserves

The Northern Territory is home to many beautiful national parks and conservation areas. These places protect the unique natural environment and cultural heritage.

Climate of the Northern Territory

Köppen climate types in the Northern Territory

Satellite image of fire activity in central Australia

The Northern Territory has two main climate zones. The northern part, including Darwin, has a tropical climate. It has high humidity and two seasons:

• Wet season (October to April): This season has tropical cyclones and monsoon rains. Most rain falls from December to March. Thunderstorms are common. Humidity is high, often over 70%. The north gets more than 1570 mm of rain each year. Coastal areas can get 1800 to 2100 mm.
• Dry season (May to September): Almost every day is warm and sunny. Humidity is low, around 30%. There is very little rain. In June and July, the coolest months, temperatures can drop to 14°C. Frost has never been recorded in the north.

The central region, including Alice Springs and Uluru, is a desert area. It is semi-arid, meaning it gets little rain. Most rain falls during the hottest months from October to March. Seasons are clearer here:

• Summers are very hot.
• Winters are cool. Frost can happen a few times a year.

The region gets less than 250 mm of rain per year.

The highest temperature ever recorded in the NT was 48.3°C. This happened at Finke on January 1 and 2, 1960. The lowest temperature was -7.5°C. This was recorded at Alice Springs on July 17, 1976.

How the Northern Territory is Governed

The Parliament House building in Darwin.

The Northern Territory Parliament

The Northern Territory Parliament is a unicameral parliament. This means it has only one house or chamber. It is based on the Westminster System, which is used in many countries. The parliament is made up of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. This assembly was created in 1974. Before that, there was a partly elected body called the Northern Territory Legislative Council.

The Legislative Assembly has powers similar to those of Australia's states. However, these powers are given to it by the Commonwealth Government. This means the Commonwealth Government can still make laws for the territory. It can even change laws passed by the Legislative Assembly. The King or Queen is represented by the Administrator of the Northern Territory. This person acts like a state governor.

Twenty-five members are elected to the Legislative Assembly. They serve four-year terms. Each member represents a single electorate (area).

For many years, people have wanted the Northern Territory to become a full state. A vote was held in 1998 on this issue. However, people voted 'no'. This surprised many, as polls showed most Territorians wanted statehood. But the Australian Constitution says the federal government sets the rules for becoming a state. The NT was offered only two senators, while original states have twelve. This would mean a Territorian's vote for a senator would be worth much more than a vote in New South Wales or Victoria. Many people felt this offer was not fair.

Chief Minister and Cabinet

The chief minister is the head of the government for the Northern Territory. This is similar to a premier who leads a state government. The administrator appoints the chief minister. Usually, the chief minister is the leader of the party that has the most seats in the Legislative Assembly. The current chief minister is Eva Lawler from the Australian Labor Party. She became chief minister on December 21, 2023.

The Administrator

The Northern Territory became self-governing on July 1, 1978. It has its own administrator. The Governor-General of Australia appoints this person. The federal government advises the governor-general on who to appoint. However, they usually talk with the Territory government first. The current administrator is Hugh Heggie.

Images for kids

• 

  Mount Sonder, the fourth-highest mountain in the Northern Territory after nearby Mount Zeil, in West MacDonnell National Park

• 

  Nourlangie Rock in Kakadu National Park

• 

  Jim Jim Falls, Kakadu National Park

• 

  Uluru (Ayers Rock), one of the best-known images of the Northern Territory

• 

  Aerial view of Uluru

• 

  Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park

See also

In Spanish: Territorio del Norte para niños