The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory shares its borders with Western Australia to the west (129th meridian east), South Australia to the south (26th parallel south), and Queensland to the east (138th meridian east). To the north, the Northern Territory looks out to the Timor Sea, the Arafura Sea, and the Gulf of Carpentaria, including Western New Guinea and various other islands of the Indonesian archipelago.
The NT covers , making it the third-largest Australian federal division, and the 11th-largest country subdivision in the world. It is sparsely populated, with a population of only 260,400 The British were the first Europeans to attempt to settle the coastal regions. After three failed attempts to establish a settlement (1824–1828, 1838–1849, and 1864–1866), success was achieved in 1869 with the establishment of a settlement at Port Darwin.
The economy is based largely on mining and petroleum, which during 2018–2019 contributed 23% of the gross state product, or $5.68 billion, accounting for 92.4% of exports.
The Territory's population is concentrated in coastal regions and along the Stuart Highway. Besides the capital of Darwin, the major settlements are (in order of size) Palmerston, Alice Springs, Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Tennant Creek. Residents of the Northern Territory are often known as "Territorians".
History
thumb|left|[[Thomas Baines with Aboriginal Australians near the mouth of the Victoria River.]]
Pre-colonial
Humans have lived in the present area of the Northern Territory since at least 48,400 to 68,700 years ago.
From the 17th or 18th century AD onwards, traders from Sulawesi established extensive seasonal trade links with the Indigenous peoples of Kimberley region, the modern-day Northern Territory, and Arnhem Land. They collected trepang (sea cucumber) for Chinese markets and introduced several goods and technologies to the Indigenous peoples.
<!-- Expand pre-european history -->
Colonial administration
With the coming of the British, there were four early attempts to settle the harsh environment of the northern coast, of which three failed in starvation and despair. The land now occupied by the Northern Territory was part of colonial New South Wales from 1825 to 1863, except for a brief time from February to December 1846, when it was part of the short-lived colony of North Australia. The Northern Territory was part of South Australia from 1863 to 1911, and under its administration the Overland Telegraph Line was constructed between 1870 and 1872.
From its establishment in 1869, the Port Darwin was the major supply point for the Territory for many decades.
A railway was built between Palmerston and Pine Creek between 1883 and 1889 as part of the North Australia Railway. The economic pattern of cattle raising and mining was established so that by 1911 there were 513,000 cattle. Victoria River Downs Station, west of Darwin, was at one time the largest cattle station in the world.
Gold was found at Grove Hill in 1872 and at Pine Creek (in 1871), Brocks Creek, Burundi, and copper was found at Daly River.
Federal territory
On 1 January 1911, a decade after Federation, the Northern Territory was separated from South Australia, alongside the Australian Capital Territory from NSW, and transferred to federal control. Alfred Deakin opined at this time "[t]o me the question has been not so much commercial as national, first, second, third and last. Either we must accomplish the peopling of the northern territory or submit to its transfer to some other nation."
right|thumb|Letters Patent annexing the Northern Territory to South Australia, 1863
In late 1912 there was growing sentiment that the name "Northern Territory" was unsatisfactory. The names "Kingsland" (after King George V and to correspond with Queensland), "Centralia" and "Territoria" were proposed with Kingsland becoming the preferred choice in 1913. However, the name change never went ahead.
Division into North Australia and Central Australia
For a brief time between 1927 and 1931 the Northern Territory was divided into North Australia and Central Australia at the 20th parallel south. Soon after this time, parts of the Northern Territory were considered in the Kimberley Plan as a possible site for the establishment of a Jewish Homeland, understandably considered the "Unpromised Land".
During the early 20th century, the southern part of the Territory was considered the "last frontier" of Australian settlement, where 'sympathetic whites' hoped that Aboriginal traditions would continue to be practised. Conflicts arose due to the resource scarcity and the fragility of the cattle industry and the area was rife with Indigenous 'bush bandits' who speared cattle for food for want of employment by ranchers. This was exacerbated by a drought between 1925 and 1929 that led to the deaths of 85 per cent of the children at the Hermannsburg Mission in Central Australia. In the meantime, white attitudes towards Aboriginal people were paternalistic, torn between the desire to help them in times of hunger and the fear of "pauperizing" them and reducing their incentives to work. This was one of many massacres of Aboriginal people in the region.
Post-World War II
During World War II, most of the Top End was placed under military government. This is the only time since Federation that part of an Australian state or territory has been under military control. After the war, control for the entire area was handed back to the Commonwealth. The Bombing of Darwin occurred on 19 February 1942. It was the largest single attack ever mounted by a foreign power on Australia. Evidence of Darwin's World War II history is found at a variety of preserved sites in and around the city, including ammunition bunkers, airstrips, oil tunnels and museums. The port was damaged in the 1942 Japanese air raids. It was subsequently restored.
In the late 1960s improved roads in adjoining States linking with the territory, port delays and rapid economic development led to uncertainty in port and regional infrastructure development. As a result of the Commission of Enquiry established by the Administrator, port working arrangements were changed, berth investment deferred and a port masterplan prepared. Extension of rail transport was then not considered because of low freight volumes.
Aboriginal Australians in the territory struggled for rights to land and fair wages. In 1963, the Yolngu people of Arnhem Land submitted two petitions, known as the Yirrkala bark petitions, to the Australian Parliament to protest their land being taken for mining bauxite without prior consultation. Another important event in this struggle 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) supported the strikers and provided publicity. The Federal government of Gough Whitlam set up the Woodward Royal Commission in February 1973, to enquire into how land rights might be achieved in the Northern Territory. Justice Woodward's first report in July 1973 recommended that a Central Land Council and a Northern Land Council be established to present to him the views of Aboriginal people. A Land Rights Bill was drafted, and the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 was passed by the Fraser government on 16 December 1976 and began operation on 26 January 1977. The Northern Territory Council for Aboriginal Rights was disestablished in 1976.). and destroyed more than 70 per cent of Darwin's buildings, including 80 per cent of houses. Tracy left more than 41,000 out of the 47,000 inhabitants of the city homeless. The city was rebuilt with much-improved construction codes and is a modern, landscaped metropolis today.
Self-government
In 1978 the Territory was granted self-government by the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978, with a Legislative Assembly headed by a Chief Minister. The Administrator of the Northern Territory is another important position in the government and they act as the King's representative in the Territory and a part of their role is appointing the Chief Minister. The Territory also publishes official notices in its own Government Gazette.
In the 1980s, conservation-oriented areas in the Northern Territory such as Kakadu National Park and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for their mix of natural heritage and Aboriginal culture.
During 1995–96 the Northern Territory was briefly one of the few places in the world with legal voluntary euthanasia, until the Federal Parliament overturned the legislation. Before the over-riding legislation was enacted, four people used the law supported by Dr Philip Nitschke.
Geography
thumb|right|Northern Territory towns, settlements and [[List of highways in the Northern Territory|road network.]]
thumb|The northern coast of Australia is on the left with Melville Island in the lower right
There are many very small settlements scattered across the Territory, but the larger population centres are located on the single paved road that links Darwin to southern Australia, the Stuart Highway, known to locals simply as "the track".
The Territory is home to many spectacular natural rock formations, including Uluru / Ayers Rock and Kata Tjuta / The Olgas in the Central Australian region and Kakadu National Park in the north. Each of these sites are sacred to the local Aboriginal people and which have become major International tourist attractions and recognised UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The northern portion of the Territory is principally tropical savannas, composed of several distinct ecoregions – Arnhem Land tropical savanna, Carpentaria tropical savanna, Kimberley tropical savanna, Victoria Plains tropical savanna, and Mitchell Grass Downs. The southern portion of the Territory is covered in deserts and xeric shrublands, including the Great Sandy-Tanami desert, Simpson Desert, and Central Ranges xeric scrub.
There are also an extensive series of river systems in the Territory. These rivers include: the Alligator Rivers, Daly River, Finke River, McArthur River, Roper River, Todd River and Victoria River. The Hay River is a river south-west of Alice Springs, with the Marshall River, Arthur Creek, Camel Creek and Bore Creek flowing into it.
National parks
- Barranyi (North Island) National Park
- Casuarina Coastal Reserve
- Daly River Nature Park
- Djukbinj National Park
- Dulcie Range National Park
- Elsey National Park
- Finke Gorge National Park
- Garig Gunak Barlu National Park
- Howard Springs Nature Park
- Iytwelepenty / Davenport Ranges National Park
- Judbarra / Gregory National Park
- Kakadu National Park
- Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve
- Keep River National Park
- Litchfield National Park
- Mary River National Park
- Nitmiluk National Park
- Tjoritja / West MacDonnell National Park
- Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
- Watarrka National Park
<gallery>
File:Mount Sonder.JPG|Mount Sonder, the fourth-highest mountain in the Northern Territory after nearby Mount Zeil, in West MacDonnell National Park
File:Kakadu 2488.jpg|Nourlangie Rock in Kakadu National Park
File:Jim jim falls.jpg|Jim Jim Falls, Kakadu National Park
File:Uluru NT Australia.JPG|Uluru / Ayers Rock, one of the best-known images of the Northern Territory
File:Uluru, helicopter view, cropped.jpg|Aerial view of Uluru / Ayers Rock
</gallery>
thumb|upright=3.75|center|Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
Climate
thumb|[[Köppen climate classification|Köppen climate types in the Northern Territory]]
thumb|left|Satellite image of fire activity in central Australia
{| class="toccolours" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="float:right; margin-right:.5em; margin-left:.50em; margin-top:.4em; font-size:90%;"
|-
| colspan="5" style="background:#cef; text-align:center;"| Average monthly maximum<br />temperature in Northern Territory
|- style="background:#ccc; vertical-align:top;"
!Month
!Darwin
!Alice Springs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|January
| style="text-align:center;"|31.8 °C
| style="text-align:center;"|36.3 °C
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|February
| style="text-align:center;"|31.4 °C
| style="text-align:center;"|35.1 °C
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|March
| style="text-align:center;"|31.9 °C
| style="text-align:center;"|32.7 °C
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|April
| style="text-align:center;"|32.7 °C
| style="text-align:center;"|28.2 °C
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|May
| style="text-align:center;"|32.0 °C
| style="text-align:center;"|23.0 °C
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|June
| style="text-align:center;"|30.6 °C
| style="text-align:center;"|19.8 °C
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|July
| style="text-align:center;"|30.5 °C
| style="text-align:center;"|19.7 °C
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|August
| style="text-align:center;"|31.3 °C
| style="text-align:center;"|22.6 °C
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|September
| style="text-align:center;"|32.5 °C
| style="text-align:center;"|27.1 °C
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|October
| style="text-align:center;"|33.2 °C
| style="text-align:center;"|30.9 °C
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|November
| style="text-align:center;"|33.2 °C
| style="text-align:center;"|33.7 °C
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|December
| style="text-align:center;"|32.6 °C
| style="text-align:center;"|35.4 °C
|-
| colspan="5" style="font-size:80%; background:#cef; text-align:center;"| Source: Bureau of Meteorology
|}
The Northern Territory has two distinctive climate zones.
The northern end, including Darwin, has a tropical climate with high humidity and two seasons, the wet (October to April) and dry season (May to September). During the dry season nearly every day is warm and sunny, and afternoon humidity averages around 30%. There is very little rainfall between May and September. In the coolest months of June and July, the daily minimum temperature may dip as low as , but very rarely lower, and frost has never been recorded.
The wet season is associated with tropical cyclones and monsoon rains. The majority of rainfall occurs between December and March (the southern hemisphere summer), when thunderstorms are common and afternoon relative humidity averages over 70% during the wettest months. On average more than of rain falls in the north. Rainfall is highest in north-west coastal areas, where rainfall averages from .
The central region is the desert centre of the country, which includes Alice Springs and Uluru (Ayers Rock), and is semi-arid with little rain usually falling during the hottest months from October to March. Seasons are more distinct in central Australia, with very hot summers and cool winters. Frost is recorded a few times a year. The region receives less than of rain per year.
The highest temperature recorded in the territory was at Finke on 1 and 2 January 1960. The lowest temperature was at Alice Springs on 17 July 1976.
Governance
thumb|The [[Parliament House, Darwin|Parliament House building in Darwin]]
Parliament
The Northern Territory Parliament is one of the three unicameral parliaments in the country. Based on the Westminster System, it consists of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly which was created in 1974, replacing the Northern Territory Legislative Council. It also produces the Northern Territory of Australia Government Gazette.
The Northern Territory Legislative Council was the partly elected governing body from 1947 until its replacement by the fully elected Northern Territory Legislative Assembly in 1974. The total enrolment for the 1947 election was 4,443. The Northern Territory was split into five electorates: Darwin, Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Batchelor, and Stuart.
While this assembly exercises powers similar to those of the parliaments of the states of Australia, it does so by legislated devolution of powers from the Commonwealth Government, rather than by any constitutional right. As such, the Commonwealth Government retains the right to legislate for the territory, including the power to override legislation passed by the Legislative Assembly. The Monarch is represented by the Administrator of the Northern Territory, who performs a role similar to that of a state governor.
Twenty-five members of the Legislative Assembly are elected to four-year terms from single-member electorates.
Numerous times since self government was granted there has been agitation for full statehood within the region. A referendum of voters in the Northern Territory was held on the issue in 1998, which resulted in a 'no' vote. This was a shock to both the Northern Territory and Commonwealth governments, as opinion polls showed most Territorians supported statehood. But under the Australian Constitution, the federal government may set the terms of entry to full statehood. The Northern Territory was offered three senators, rather than the twelve guaranteed to original states (because of the difference in populations, equal numbers of Senate seats would mean a Territorian's vote for a senator would have been worth more than 30 such votes in New South Wales or Victoria). Alongside what was cited as an arrogant approach adopted by then chief minister Shane Stone, it is believed that most Territorians, regardless of their general views on statehood, were reluctant to adopt the particular offer that was made.
Chief minister and cabinet
The chief minister is the head of government of a self-governing territory (the head of a state government is a premier). The chief minister is appointed by the administrator, who in normal circumstances appoints the leader of whichever party holds the majority of seats in the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly. The current chief minister is Lia Finocchiaro of the Country Liberal Party. The CLP defeated Territory Labor to win office on 24 August 2024.
Administrator
The Northern Territory became self-governing on 1 July 1978 under its own administrator appointed by the Governor-General of Australia. The federal government, not the NT government, advises the governor-general on the appointment of the administrator, but by convention consults first with the Territory government. The current administrator is David Connolly who commenced his term on 27 February 2026.
Federal government
thumb|right|Children wave Australian flags during an [[Anzac Day parade in Palmerston]]
The Northern Territory is represented in the federal parliament by two members in the House of Representatives and two members in the Senate. As of May 2022, resulting from the 2022 federal election, Marion Scrymgour from the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in Lingiari and Luke Gosling from the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in Solomon serve in the House of Representatives, and Malarndirri McCarthy from the ALP and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price from the Country Liberal Party serve in the Senate.
Local government
The Northern Territory is divided into seventeen local government areas: two cities, three municipalities, nine regions, and three shires. Shire, city and town councils are responsible for functions delegated by the Northern Territory parliament, such as road infrastructure and waste management. Council revenue comes mostly from property taxes and government grants.
Aboriginal land councils
thumb|Aboriginal Australians own about 49% of the Northern Territory's land
Aboriginal land councils in the Northern Territory are groups of Aboriginal landowners, set up under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976.
Political parties
The two historically dominant political parties in the Northern Territory are the conservative Country Liberal Party which governed the Territory from 1974 to 2001, from 2012 to 2016 and since 2024, and the social-democratic Australian Labor Party which governed the Territory from 2001 to 2012 and from 2016 to 2024. Minor parties that are also active in the NT include the Northern Territory Greens, the Shooters and Fishers Party and various others. It is common for independent politicians to win elections.
The CLP's rule was once so tight, that a former minister once said the CLP had a "'rightful inheritance of being the party that runs this place'".
The 2024 Northern Territory general election saw the NT Greens win a seat in the Legislative Assembly, with Kat McNamara defeating former Chief Minister Natasha Fyles in the seat of Nightcliff; this marked the first time the Greens entered the Legislative Assembly in the history of the Northern Territory.
As fewer parties and candidates contest Northern Territory general elections than they do Australian federal elections in the Northern Territory, the CLP, Labor and independents usually have a higher vote share at territory elections than at federal elections in the Northern Territory due to the absence of right-wing minor parties such as Pauline Hanson's One Nation and the fact that the Greens do not run in every seat at territory elections.
Demographics
thumb|right|upright=1.5|Estimated resident population since 1981
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:.5em; font-size:90%;"
|+ Population estimates<br />for the Northern Territory
! Year !! Population
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 1901 || style="text-align:center;"| 4,765
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 1956 || style="text-align:center;"| 19,556
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 1961 || style="text-align:center;"| 44,481
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 1974 || style="text-align:center;"| 102,924
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 1976 || style="text-align:center;"| 97,090
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 1981 || style="text-align:center;"| 122,616
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 1991 || style="text-align:center;"| 165,493
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 1996 || style="text-align:center;"| 181,843
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 2001 || style="text-align:center;"| 200,019
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 2006 || style="text-align:center;"| 192,900
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 2011 || style="text-align:center;"| 211,945
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 2016 || style="text-align:center;"| 228,833
|-
| style="text-align:right;"| 2021 || style="text-align:center;"| 232,605
|-
| colspan="2" style="font-size:80%; text-align:center;"| Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics<br />(Est Resident Pop)
|}
The population of the Northern Territory at the 2011 Australian census was 211,945, a 10 per cent increase from the 2006 census. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated a June 2015 resident population of 244,300, taking into account residents overseas or interstate. The territory's population represents 1% of the total population of Australia.
alt=|thumb|[[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin is the capital and largest city in the Northern Territory]]
The Northern Territory's population is the youngest in Australia and has the largest proportion (23.2%) under 15 years of age and the smallest proportion (5.7%) aged 65 and over. The median age of residents of the Northern Territory is 31 years, six years younger than the national median age. and own some 49% of the land. The life expectancy of Aboriginal Australians is well below that of non-Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory, a fact that is mirrored elsewhere in Australia. ABS statistics suggest that Indigenous Australians die about 11 years earlier than the average non-Indigenous Australian. There are Aboriginal communities in many parts of the territory, the largest ones being the Pitjantjatjara near Uluru / Ayers Rock, the Arrernte near Alice Springs, the Luritja between those two, the Warlpiri further north, and the Yolngu in eastern Arnhem Land.
In 2019, 147,255 people lived in Darwin, an overwhelming majority of the Territory's population. Despite this, the Northern Territory is the least urbanised jurisdiction in the Commonwealth (followed by Tasmania).
Cities and towns
<!-- The technical fact that these communities are not incorporated would be unknown to the vast, world-wide, reading audience of Wikipedia, thus I titled this subsection "Cities and towns" so all readers would find what they are looking for.-->
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Population by Significant Urban Areas
|-
! Rank
! Significant Urban Areas
! Population (2021 Census)
!
|-
| 1
|Darwin
|align="right" | 127,215
|
|-
| 2
|Alice Springs
|align="right" | 25,912
|
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Population by Urban Centres
|-
! Rank
! Urban Centres
! Population (2021 Census)
!
|-
| 1
|Darwin
|align="right" | 122,207
|
|-
| 2
|Alice Springs
|align="right" | 24,855
|
|-
| 3
|Katherine
|align="right" | 5,980
|
|-
|4
|Nhulunbuy
|align="right" | 3,267
|
|-
|5
|Tennant Creek
|align="right" | 2,949
|
|-
|6
|Elcho Island / Galiwinku
|align="right" | 2,199
|
|-
|7
|Wadeye
|align="right" | 1,924
|
|-
|8
|Wurrumiyanga (Nguiu)
|align="right" | 1,421
|
|-
|9
|Gunbalanya (Oenpelli)
|align="right" | 1,153
|
|-
|10
|Milingimbi
|align="right" | 1,097
|
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Population by Local Government Area
|-
! Rank
! Local Government Areas
! Population (30 June 2023 estimate)
|-
| 1
|City of Darwin
|align="right" | 85,465
|-
| 2
|City of Palmerston
|align="right" | 41,113
|-
| 3
|Town of Alice Springs
|align="right" | 29,213
|-
|4
|Litchfield
|align="right" | 23,415
|-
|5
|Town of Katherine
|align="right" | 10,829
|-
|6
|East Arnhem Region
|align="right" | 10,011
|-
|7
|Roper Gulf Region
|align="right" | 7,491
|-
|8
|Barkly Region
|align="right" | 7,239
|-
|9
|MacDonnell Region
|align="right" | 6,706
|-
|10
|Central Desert Region
|align="right" | 4,126
|}
Ancestry and immigration
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
|+Country of Birth (2016)
! Birthplace !! Population
|-
|Australia|| 157,531
|-
|Philippines|| 5,914
|-
|England|| 5,583<!-- England and Scotland are listed separately as per the source. Do not combine -->
|-
|New Zealand|| 4,636
|-
|India|| 3,598
|-
|Greece|| 1,268
|-
|United States|| 1,211
|-
|Mainland China|| 1,192<!-- Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau SARs are listed separately as per the source. Do not combine -->
|-
|Nepal|| 1,126
|-
|Indonesia|| 1,117
|-
|Ireland|| 1,026
|-
|East Timor||1,024
|}
At the 2016 census, the most commonly nominated ancestries were:
- English (27.5%)
- Irish (9.3%)
- Scottish (7.5%)
- German (4.4%)
- Filipino (3.5%)
- Chinese (3.1%)
- Indian (2.3%)
- Italian (2.1%)
- Greek (2%)
- Dutch (1.3%)
31.2% of the population was born overseas at the 2016 census. The five largest groups of overseas-born were from the Philippines (2.6%), England (2.4%), New Zealand (2%), India (1.6%) and Greece (0.6%). in addition to English which is most common in cities such as Darwin or Alice Springs. Major indigenous languages spoken in the Northern Territory include Murrinh-patha and Ngangikurrungurr in the northwest around Wadeye, Warlpiri and Warumungu in the centre around Tennant Creek, Arrernte around Alice Springs, Pintupi-Luritja to the south east, Pitjantjatjara in the south near Uluru / Ayers Rock, Yolngu Matha to the far north in Arnhem Land (where the dialect Djambarrpuyngu of Dhuwal is considered a lingua franca), and Burarra, Maung, Iwaidja and Kunwinjku in the centre north and on Croker Island and the Goulburn Islands. Tiwi is spoken on Melville Island and Bathurst Island. Literature in many of these languages is available in the Living Archive of Aboriginal Languages.