Darwin
From Encyclopædia
Darwin, a major port on the north
Central coast of
Australia,with a population of 39,193 (1978 est.), is the capital
city of the Northern
territory. Located on a coastal plain on the Clarence Strait off the Timor Sea, it has a tropical climate. Temperatures range from 22 deg to 33 deg C (71 deg to 91 deg F), and an annual
average temperature of 28 deg C (82 deg F) prevails. Almost all of the 1,525 mm (60 in)
average annual rainfall is concentrated in the summer months (December-January). Darwin is the major commercial, transportation, and governmental center of
Australia's north. Its major industries are tile and brickmaking, lumbering, and meat-packing. Cattle raising is important in the areas around the
city as is the mining of
uranium, bauxite,
manganese, and
iron.Founded in 1869 as Palmerston, Darwin was renamed for Charles Darwin in 1911. Its
growth was spurred by a
gold rush in 1930, but the pre-
world War II population was still only 1,600 (1938). Japanese bombing nearly destroyed the
city in 1942, and American and Australian troops were sent to Darwin to defend the northern coast. Port facilities and the
airport were improved, and oil and gas storage facilities were built. Darwin served as Allied headquarters until 1945. On Dec. 24-25, 1974, the
city was almost completely destroyed by a cyclone, but rebuilding began almost immediately.Map Location[s]Darwin,
Derby, Perth,
Adelaide,
Melbourne, Hobart,
Tasmania,
Canberra, Sydney,
Newcastle, Bourke,
Brisbane, Rockhampton,
Alice Springs, Townsville, Cairns, Ashburton, Murray, Darling, Indian Ocean, Arafura Sea, Gulf of Carpentaria,
coral Sea, Indian Ocean, Arafura Sea, Gulf of Carpentaria,
coral Sea.
