Real Estate Darwin

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. 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 "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 Our real estate sites are at these links: Real Estate Sydney www.bestrealestate.com.au | www.bestbroker.com.au (c) Copyright Best Real Estate Aust 2006/07. All Rights Reserved.
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