Northern
Territory
The
Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the
centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions. It
shares 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 territory is bordered by the Timor Sea, the Arafura Sea and the
Gulf of Carpentaria. Despite its large area—over 1,349,129 square kilometres
(520,902 sq mi), making it the third largest Australian federal division—it is
sparsely populated. With a population of 229,675 it is the least populous of
Australia's eight major states and territories.
The
history of the Northern Territory began over 40,000 years ago when Indigenous
Australians settled the region. Makassan traders began trading with the
indigenous people of the Northern Territory for trepang from at least the 18th
century onwards, and very likely for 300 years prior to that.
The
coast of the territory was first seen by Europeans in the 17th century. The
British were the first Europeans to attempt to settle the coastal regions in
the 19th century; however no attempt was successful until the establishment of
a settlement at Port Darwin in 1869. Today the economy is based on tourism,
especially Kakadu National Park in the Top End and the Uluru-Kata Tjuta
National Park (Ayers Rock) in central Australia, and mining.
The
capital city is Darwin. The population is not concentrated in coastal regions
but rather along the Stuart Highway. The other major settlements are (in order
of size) Alice Springs, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, and Tennant Creek.
Residents
of the Northern Territory are often known simply as 'Territorians'.
History
Indigenous
Australians have lived in the present area of the Northern Territory for an
estimated 40,000 years, and extensive seasonal trade links existed between them
and the peoples of what is now Indonesia for at least five centuries.
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 Northern Territory was part of 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. It was part of South Australia from 1863
to 1911. Under the administration of South Australia, the overland telegraph
was constructed between 1870 and 1872.
A
railway was also built between Palmerston and Pine Creek between 1883 and 1889.
The economic pattern of cattle raising and mining was established so that by
1911 there were 513,000 cattle. Victoria River Downs was at one time the
largest cattle station in the world. Gold was found at Grove Hill in 1872 and
at Pine Creek, Brocks Creek, Burrundi, and copper was found at Daly River.
Letters
Patent annexing the Northern Territory to South Australia, 1863On 1 January
1911, a decade after federation, the Northern Territory was separated from
South Australia and transferred to Commonwealth control. Alfred Deakin opined
at this time "To 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."
For
a brief time between 1927 and 1931 the Northern Territory was divided into
North Australia and Central Australia at the 20th parallel of South latitude.
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
World War II, most of the Top End was placed under military government. This is
the only time since Federation that an Australian state or territory has been
under military control. After the war, control for the entire area was handed
back to the Commonwealth.
Indigenous
Australians had struggled for rights to fair wages and land. An important event
in this struggle was the strike and walk off by the Gurindji people at Wave
Hill Cattle Station in 1966. The Commonwealth Government of Gough Whitlam set
up the Woodward Royal Commission in February 1973, which set to inquire 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 in order to present to him the views of
Aboriginal people. In response to the report of the Royal Commission a Land
Rights Bill was drafted, but the Whitlam Government was dismissed before it was
passed.
The
Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 was eventually passed by
the Fraser Government on 16 December 1976 and began operation on the following
Australia Day (26 January 1977).
In
1978 the Territory was granted responsible government, with a Legislative
Assembly headed by a Chief Minister.
During
1996 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 overriding legislation was enacted, three people
committed suicide through voluntary euthanasia, a practice orchestrated by Dr.
Philip Nitschke.