History Northern Territory

thomas baines aborigines near mouth of victoria river.

indigenous australians have lived in present area of northern territory estimated 40,000 years, , extensive seasonal trade links existed between them , peoples of indonesia @ least 5 centuries.

with coming of british, there 4 attempts settle harsh environment of northern coast, of 3 failed in starvation , despair. northern territory part of colonial new south wales 1825 1863, except brief time february december 1846, when part of short-lived colony of north australia. part of south australia 1863 1911. under administration of colonial south australia, overland telegraph constructed between 1870 , 1872.

a railway built between palmerston , pine creek between 1883 , 1889. economic pattern of cattle raising , mining established 1911 there 513,000 cattle. victoria river downs @ 1 time largest cattle station in world. gold found @ grove hill in 1872 , @ pine creek, brocks creek, burrundi, , copper found @ daly river.

on 1 january 1911, decade after federation, northern territory separated south australia , transferred commonwealth control. alfred deakin opined @ time me question has been not commercial national, first, second, third , last. either must accomplish peopling of northern territory or submit transfer other nation.

letters patent annexing northern territory south australia, 1863

in late 1912 there growing sentiment name northern territory unsatisfactory. names kingsland (after king george v , correspond queensland), centralia , territoria proposed kingsland becoming preferred choice in 1913. however, name change never went ahead.

for brief time between 1927 , 1931 northern territory divided north australia , central australia @ 20th parallel of south latitude. after time, parts of northern territory considered in kimberley plan possible site establishment of jewish homeland, understandably considered unpromised land .

during world war ii, of top end placed under military government. time since federation part of australian state or territory has been under military control. after war, control entire area handed commonwealth. bombing of darwin occurred on 19 feb 1942. largest single attack ever mounted foreign power on australia. evidence of darwin’s world war ii history found @ variety of preserved sites in , around city, including ammunition bunkers, airstrips, oil tunnels , museums.

indigenous australians had struggled rights fair wages , land. important event in struggle strike , walk off gurindji people @ wave hill cattle station in 1966. commonwealth government of gough whitlam set woodward royal commission in february 1973, set enquire how land rights might achieved in northern territory. justice woodward s first report in july 1973 recommended central land council , northern land council established present him views of aboriginal people. in response report of royal commission land rights bill drafted, whitlam government dismissed before passed.

the aboriginal land rights (northern territory) act 1976 passed fraser government on 16 december 1976 , began operation on following australia day (26 january 1977).

in 1974, christmas eve christmas day, city of darwin, northern territory, devastated tropical cyclone tracy. cyclone tracy killed 71 people, caused a$837 million in damage (1974 dollars), or approximately a$4.45 billion (2014 dollars), , destroyed more 70 percent of darwin s buildings, including 80 per cent of houses. tracy left more 41,000 out of 47,000 inhabitants of city homeless. city rebuilt improved construction codes , modern, landscaped metropolis today.

in 1978 territory granted responsible government, legislative assembly headed chief minister. administrator of northern territory official acting queen s indirect representative in territory.

during 1995–6 northern territory briefly 1 of few places in world legal voluntary euthanasia, until federal parliament overturned legislation.

before over-riding legislation enacted, 4 people used law supported dr. philip nitschke.