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in the next 5 yearsgreatest adventureyour nextto make the move

DisclaimerWhile all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the information contained in this publication is correct, the information covered is subject to change. The Northern Territory Government does not assume and hereby disclaims any express or implied liability whatsoever to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions, whether these errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause.

Published AuGusT 2011 

“ The secreT To A briGhT FuTure. The earlier we see The brighT fuTure, The fasTer we can achieve iT. ”

2 inTroDucing The norThern TerriTory4 unpreceDenTeD jobs growTh6 an exTraorDinary lifesTyle 8 out and about 9 Parks and reserves 10 FesTivAls ANd sPeciAl eveNTs 11 FishiNG 12 A TAsTe For culTure 13 sPorT ANd recreATioN14 living in The TerriTory 15 housiNG cosT oF liviNG 16 educATioN ANd childcAre 17 heAlTh services 18 MulTiculTurAl 19 TrANsPorT 20 GoverNMeNT ANd services 21 bANkiNG ANd iNsurANce22 The norThern TerriTory: a brief hisTory24 ciTies anD our Towns city and rural: 26 dArWiN 28 PAlMersToN ANd ouTer dArWiN 30 Alice sPriNGs 32 kATheriNe 34 TeNANT creek 36 Nhulubuy 38 TerriTory GroWTh ToWNs

contents.

“ surrouNd yourselF WiTh PeoPle who take their work seriously, buT NoT TheMselves, those who work harD anD play harD.”

AustrAliA’s NortherN territory - or ‘the TerriTory’ as The locals call iT presenTs all The hallmarks of a booming economy anD ThaT TrenD is seT To conTinue in specTacular fashion.

The Territory is sophisticated, dynamic and progressive yet it retains that friendly, fun-loving character that has made it such a popular drawcard. These traits are accentuated by the fact that our population is the nation’s youngest, at a median age of just 31.2 years - 5.7 years younger than the rest of the country. Territorians are typically a vibrant, happy, outdoor-loving lot who also know how to enjoy the finer things in life.

The Territory’s 220 000-strong population includes people from more than 100 nationalities who have shared their cultures over more than a century to turn this region into one of Australia’s most cosmopolitan. Indigenous people, many still living traditional lifestyles in remote homelands, make up a quarter of the population and have a strong influence on the region’s culture.

The Northern Territory covers one-sixth of Australia and straddles climatic zones ranging from the monsoon-influenced tropics across the ‘Top End’ nudging the Timor and Arafura seas, to the arid red-ochre deserts of Central Australia.

The Territory’s location at the top half of Australia puts it closer to Asia than to Australia’s main population centres and

it has long led the rest of the country in developing strong diplomatic, cultural and economic ties with South East Asia. Successive governments have been quick to capitalise on this enormous trading benefit by promoting the Territory as Australia’s ‘Gateway to Asia’.

Territory leaders have seize on opportunities to bolster the region’s economy through trade and business relationships tied in with burgeoning consumer demands in the growth zones of South East Asia, the western Pacific and beyond.

The Territory’s vibrant economic growth and a raft of multi-million and billion dollar developments are positioning Australia’s fastest-growing region for an even more exhilarating future. It’s going to mean exceptional work and investment opportunities, particularly in the next five years. Many thousands of jobs will come on line for professionals and skilled tradespeople from all walks of life, and for business entrepreneurs looking for a bright new start for their families. We’re going to need a lot of people-power to get the jobs done!

www.australiasnorthernterritory.com.au

GREATlifestyle

live it.

fresh lifestyles Australia’s Northern Territory iNTroduciNG The NorTherN TerriTory

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The spin-offs will include an unparalleled demand for skilled tradesmen of every kind, and professionals across broad-ranging sectors including engineering, nursing, medicine and teaching.

looking To migraTe To, or have a working holiDay in The norThern TerriTory?Several migration programs are available for persons and families wishing to migrate to the Northern Territory to live and work or do business.

What kind of people is the Northern Territory looking for?The Northern Territory is on the lookout for persons with skills and experience in business, and most trades and professions, inclining hospitality, tourism, education and health management. The wide diversity of the types of jobs available is reflected in the Northern Territory Occupation Shortage List. This list provides a list of occupations that are either in shortage or experiencing recruitment difficulties in

the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory Government is actively seeking and encouraging migrants with these skills to join its community.Detailed information on migration and Northern territory Government sponsorship for business and skill migrants is available at www.migration.nt.gov.au

looking for jobsA wealth of business and employment opportunities will be on offer, especially if you have the skills the Territory needs. The Territory Workers Database is a candidate pool established to bring together skilled people looking for jobs and businesses needing their services. The database allows job seekers to register their skills for prospective employers or recruitment agencies to search the available profiles for suitable candidates to fill job vacancies.

jobs,jobs,jobs05

fresh lifestyles Australia’s Northern Territory uNPrecedeNTed Jobs GroWTh

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register your interest. The Territory Worker Database is a candidate pool allowing job seekers to register their skills for prospective Territory employers or recruitment agencies to search for jobe ready people.

Register your skills at www.theterritory.com.au

Northern Territory State Migration PlanThe State Migration Plan provides the guidelines for migration of skilled workers to the Territory to address specific skill shortages and local labour market needs. This Plan helps to ensure businesses have the skilled workers they need to grow the Territory and be ready for major projects in the future.

The plan highlights occupations in demand across the Northern Territory for overseas citizens. It includes criteria relating to qualifications, work experience and applicable English language requirements for a number of occupations.

For more information on the State Migration Plan, visit australiasnorthernterritory.nt.gov.au

skilleD workers in high DemanD.

work it.Several significant economic drivers will underpin intensive local development.Those economic drivers will include the AustralAsia Trade Route, investment in gas and related industries, mining and minerals processing, agribusiness, tourism, Defence support and Darwin’s growth as a regional supply, service and distribution hub. Emerging industries based on tropical and desert knowledge and innovation, information technology and communications are also f orecast to bolster the Territory’s economy in the future.

The Territory is on track to become a major oil and gas operations and maintenance hub. Specifically, a new Darwin marine supply base will provide state-of-the-art facilities to service offshore oil and gas operations.

An impressive list of existing and impending oil and gas ventures, supported by global giants of the sector, will assure the region’s growth and prosperity for decades into the future.

Significant mining developments and infrastructure projects, including a new hospital and prison, are also due to commence and will further boost job opportunities and bring significant economic benefits for Territory-wide regional towns and communities.

11 official long weekenDs a year. The climaTe is amazing anD wiTh enough public holiDays To give you 11 official long weekenDs a year, There’s plenTy of Time To geT away anD enjoy iT.

If you make a move to the Northern Territory you won’t regret it. On top of the abundant jobs, business opportunities and excellent support services for families, the Territory lifestyle is exceptional. There’s so much to see and do and so much space to do it in.

www.centralaustraliantourism.com www.tourismtopend.com.au

“ Good ForTuNe is A WAy oF liviNG. your acTions anD aTTiTuDes abouT your experiences DeTermine your ouTcome.”

living the

dream

07fresh lifestyles Australia’s Northern Territory AN eXTrAordiNATry liFesTyle

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Fom the teeming northern wetlands to the incredible living deserts of the Red Centre, the Territory has hundreds of declared conservation sanctuaries including land-based and marine parks, conservation reserves and heritage sites ranging from less than one hectare to thousands of hectares.

The most famous are the World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta (Ayers Rock and The Olgas) and Australia’s biggest and most culturally and ecologically significant national park, Kakadu, covering 20,000 km of the Top End.

Also high on visitor to-do-lists are the majestic Litchfield, Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge), Judbarra

(Gregory), Keep River, Garig Gunak Barlu (Cobourg Peninsula) national parks and the wildlife-rich Mary River wetlands in the Top End. Central Australia’s Watarrka (Kings Canyon) and West MacDonnell national parks and the Barkly region’s Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) all showcase stunning landscapes and geological formations.

In our cities and towns there are glorious sun-drenched coastal reserves, leafy parks, water parks, playgrounds and sporting ovals dotted everywhere, along with many kilometres of bike and walking tracks.

www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks

Our parks and reserves worlD famous naTional parks. visiTors come from all over The worlD To explore The norThern TerriTory’s breaThTaking naTural wilDerness

Out and About Dining ouT is high on The agenDa for territoriANs – ANd the tANtAlisiNg choice of cuisine anD eaTeries To suiT all buDgeTs means iT’s noT unusual for families To eaT ouT aT leasT once a week.

Sublime dining experiences are on offer everywhere - among the 60 international food stalls at Darwin’s famous Mindil Beach Sunset Markets and other popular markets, at waterfront seafood outlets and at the scores of award-winning restaurants, alfresco cafes, pubs and club bistros scattered throughout the Territory.

fresh lifestyles Australia’s Northern Territory AN eXTrAordiNATry liFesTyle

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The Darwin and Alice Springs cup carnivals and the V8 Supercars Championship are huge drawcards that inject millions into the local economy every two years, Darwin hosts the Arafura Games and Alice Springs hosts the Masters Games. The Arafura Games attract thousands of atheletes from Australia and the Asia Pacific region who converge on Darwin to compete in more than 30 sports, including track,

swimming and team events and the highly-entertaining Malaysian kick volleyball game called Sepak Takraw. Similar numbers pour into Alice Springs for the Masters Games, known as the ‘Friendly Games’, where the only entry stipulations are a minimum age of 25 years and a willingness to have fun!

www.tourismtopend.com.au www.centralaustraliantourism.com

Festivals and special events

harDly a monTh goes by wiThouT someThing exTra special happening. The TerriTory pulsaTes wiTh a myriaD of fesTivals, sporTing evenTs, inDigenous anD culTural celebrAtioNs, world-clAss rAciNg cArNivAls ANd mAd-cAp regAttAs.ouT each year.

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Fishing

wiThouT quesTion, is excepTional in The norThern TerriTory.

it’s the favourite pastime for many thousands of locals and the reason why hordes of southern and overseas visitors trawl our waterways every dry season.

The Territory hosts several top-class annual fishing tournaments like the NT barra classic, kakadu klash, daly river barra Nationals and the Gove Game classic, which entice many of the world’s keenest anglers.

Major art and cultural events like the annual Darwin Festival, and Alice Springs’ Heritage and Beanie Festivals are among many big drawcards.

Indigenous art, from Arnhem Land to Central Australia, supports a flourishing industry and is a vital tool in cultural understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

The Territory boasts many excellent museums and galleries. The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory in Darwin holds priceless collections of Indigenous, South East Asian and Oceanic art and material culture, maritime archaeology, Territory history and natural sciences.

The Alice Springs Cultural Precinct, incorporating the Araluen Centre and Galleries, Albert Namatjira Gallery,

Aviation Museum and more, is home to some of Central Australia’s most intriguing cultural and historical attractions.

Tennant Creek’s Nyinkka Nyunya Art and Culture Centre, located on a site held sacred by the local Warumungu people, allows visitors to learn about Aboriginal life and history in the region. Several remote Territory communities have their own galleries and also stage annual cultural and sporting festivals to showcase their traditional customs and talent to the world. The Garma, Barunga, Merrepin and Walking with Spirits Festivals are all prominent on the Territory’s Indigenous cultural calendar.

www.nt.gov.au/nreta/arts/index.html

A taste for cultureTerriTorians are culTurally sophisTicaTeD ANd embrAce wAll-to-wAll opportuNities To enjoy arT exhibiTions, concerTs, TheaTre anD oTher live performances ThaT showcase boTh local anD visiTing TalenT.

The Territory offers indoor stadiums, world-class hockey grounds, Olympic sized swimming complexes, football ovals, golf courses, dedicated sporting clubs and extensive bicycle and walking tracks.

Sailing, power-boating, kayaking, windsurfing and dragonboating are all popular and a weekend on the water is a favourite for many families. Darwin and Nhulunbuy have long-established clubs with first-class facilities and training and racing programs for yachties and powerboat owners.

Sport and recreation TerriTorians are inTo anyThing ThaT’s acTive - the NortherN territory iNstitute of sport (Ntis) is At the forefroNt of elite trAiNiNg anD compeTiTion, anD a recogniseD leaDer in aThleTe acclimaTisaTion anD relaTeD research.

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Cost of living Some Territory household costs are higher than in other parts of Australia. The comparatively small population and vast distances mean higher prices for some grocery lines – but the upside is that your house will probably have cost-saving solar hot water, you can spend less on travelling around your community or on parking and entry fees – and if moving to the Top End, you won’t need many winter clothes.

Renting or buyting places to live can be expensive compared with some southern cities and towns, but the Northern Territory Government is working on initiatives to increase the availability of affordable housing.

www.darwin.nt.gov.au

The Territory is hot, humid dry or chilly, depending on the season and whether you live in the north or the centre. Top Enders savour the advantages of a predictable climate – like balmy breezes and an average 10 hours of sunshine a day in the dry, and spectacular tropical thunderstorms and replenishing monsoonal downpours in the wet.

Cyclones are a fact of life in the north during the Wet but stringent building codes, intensive awareness campaigns

and excellent weather warning systems keep potential dangers to an absolute minimum.

The Central Australian desert climate can be extreme. In the summer months, temperatures rarely drop below 20oC/68F overnight, and top a searing 40oC/104F by day. In contrast, winter will see temperatures plummet to below freezing at night while days remain very comfortable and cool.

www.theterritory.com.au

A Great Lifestyle shAre the pleAsures of moNsooN-iNflueNced ‘wet’ ANd ‘dry’ seAsoNs. wheN it comes to agreeable climaTic conDiTions, The norThern TerriTory is up There wiTh The besT.

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Housing the territory’s tropicAl ANd Arid-zone housing concepTs are recogniseD inTernaTionally.

Northern Territory residents tend to live in houses built to take advantage of the climate and the environment. Traditional Top End houses are elevated to capture gentle breezes and have large louvred windows, ceiling fans, verandahs, decks and paved poolside areas that reinforce

the tropical theme. In Central Australia, many houses are single storey Mediterranean style - just right for the warm dry days and cool crisp nights.

www.reint.com.au

Royal Darwin Hospital is the Territory’s main medical facility and all major regional towns have their own hospitals offering general inpatient, outpatient and emergency services. Royal Darwin and Alice Springs hospitals offer a wide range of specialist services and both are teaching hospitals aligned with Flinders University in Adelaide through the NT Clinical School. Darwin Private Hospital is also available for patients with appropriate health cover.

Many remote health centres have e-carts which allows direct contacts with specialists in Darwin and around the world.

Private doctors, dentists, specialists and allied health professionals such as physiotherapists, optometrists and pharmacists practice in the major towns and also visit remote communities regularly.

www.medicareaustralia.gov.auwww.health.nt.gov.au

The school year is divided into four 10-week terms with one-week,

four-week, one-week and six-week breaks at the end of Terms 1, 2, 3

and 4 respectively.

Health services excellenT healTh services are available ThroughouT The norThern TerriTory.royal Darwin hospiTal houses The naTional criTical care anD Trauma response cenTre, anD The moDern new alan walker cancer care cenTre.

Education and childcareThe TerriTory boasTs more Than 150 governmenT anD 35 privaTe schools, anD many Top class chilDcare faciliTies.

Education facilities range from large senior secondary colleges in Darwin and Alice Springs, to smaller metropolitan, regional and remote community schools.

Territory schooling stages align with those interstate. Preschool to Year 3 are the Early Years, the Primary Years are 4 to 6, the Middle Years are 7 to 9 and the Senior Years 10 to 12.

School is compulsory for children aged between 6 and 15 years. Non-compulsory preschool programs are available for children turning four by 30 June of a given school year, and Transition is available for children turning five by the mid-year.

Senior secondary students study for the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET), an end-of-school qualification recognised by all Australian colleges and universities. Students seeking university entrance must also comply with Territory

and South Australian tertiary entrance requirements as prescribed by the universities. One Territory school offers the International Baccalaureate as an alternative to the NTCET.Vocational education and training (VET) is encouraged as a valid career pathway, often as part of NTCET studies. High schools and registered training organisations offer a wide variety of courses and deliver high quality, nationally consistent training outcomes for industry, communities and individuals.

Remote area students have access to distance education coordinated through the NT Open Education Centre, Katherine School of the Air and Alice Springs School of the Air.

www.det.nt.gov.au www.directory.deet.nt.gov.au/ www.cdu.edu.au

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Multicultural services The norThern TerriTory is one of ausTralia’s mosT culTurally Diverse regions. iTs populaTion incluDes people of 100 naTionaliTies anD supporTs some 50 social, culTural anD religious organisaTions represenTing DifferenT culTural groups.

The Territory has long been like a home-away-from-home for overseas immigrants who have contributed enormously to our economy and culture and embrace our unique lifestyle.

There are several Islamic mosques, Buddhist and Chinese temples and a host of Christian churches offering religious instruction and worship. The Territory community celebrates with great gusto during annual cultural festivals including the huge Greek Glenti, an Indian festival and the Chinese New Year.

SBS Radio broadcasts throughout the Territory in 68 languages and SBS TV telecasts programs covering news, sport, movies and entertainment from all over the world.

A multilingual interpreter service is available for newcomers needing to do business or attend to other matters as they settle in.

www.multicultural.nt.gov.au An efficient public bus service runs in the major towns and taxis and hire cars are widely available. Seniors, pensioners, carers and students travel free on public buses.

The Territory roads network consists of sealed highways, unsealed secondary roads and bush tracks that can be affected by flooding in the wet season.

The Stuart Highway connects with South Australia, the Barkly Highway with Queensland, and the Victoria Highway with Western Australia.

The AustralAsia Railway provides regular efficient freight and passenger services between Darwin and Adelaide, with connections to all major capital cities. Thousands of visitors a year board The Ghan for an exhilarating outback travel experience that’s regarded as one of the world’s great train journeys.

Darwin has regular international and national shipping connections and is a port of call for dozens of luxury cruise ships en route to exotic offshore destinations.

Darwin is the Territory’s main international air gateway, servicing domestic and overseas carriers with connections to the rest of the world. Flights to many major South East Asian cities are shorter and cheaper than those to most Australian capital cities. (Many Darwin residents visit Bali, Vietnam and Singapore for weekend getaways.)

Alice Springs and Yulara airports are busy hubs, with direct flights to most Australian capital cities. All regional towns have airports and remote communities rely heavily on air services.

www.nt.gov.au/transportwww.darwinairport.com.auwww.theghan.com.au

Transport most Nt workers cAN be home withiN 15-20 minuTes. geTTing arounD TerriTory ciTies anD Towns is generally quick anD easy. even During peak hour. The commuTe is even quicker in regional Towns.

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balanced lifestyles The TerriTory conTinues To work on becoming a sTaTe in The fuTure. The parliamenT of The norThern TerriTory is The legislaTive assembly wiTh 25 members anD a minisTerial cabineT leaD by a chief minisTer.

The Northern Territory has a Westminster style of government with no upper house. The Head of State is the Administrator, rather than the Governor as in other Australian jurisdictions.

Local Government is the second tier, with city councils and shire councils administering by-laws and spending on services and infrastructure according to the needs of their jurisdictions.

Northern Territory laws are similar to those in other parts of Australia, but with some notable exceptions to account for unique situations.

Examples are the Australian Government’s Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act and the Northern Territory Liquor Act. The first governs ownership of, and access to, some 50 per cent of Territory land under Aboriginal ownership. The second restricts or prohibits possession, supply or use of alcohol in certain areas, including ‘dry’ communities.

www.aec.gov.auwww.nt.gov.au/lant

“ There Are MANy PArTs oF AusTrAliA ThAT Are so reMoTe, so disTANT FroM The lArGe Well-serviced MeTroPolises oF our cAPiTAl ciTies, ThAT they are allowed Particular TAX breAks.”

• nolandtaxes• oneofthehighestpayrolltax

thresholdsinthecountry• fast-trackedbusinessoperation

approvals• Australia’slowestdeveloper

contributionsfees• definedplanningand

environmentalprocesses• nofireservicelevy.

Visit the Northern Territory Treasury website for more information on the taxes and duties you can expect to pay here.

www.ato.gov.au www.nt.gov.au/ntt

All the major Australian banks, including the Commonwealth, ANZ, National Australia (NAB) and Westpac, have branches in Darwin and Alice Springs. In the larger regional towns there is at least one major bank and several other banking options are also available.

Most major Australian insurance companies also operate in the Territory, along with the home-grown Territory Insurance Office (TIO), and provide cover for all usual needs, and special cover for unique local needs such as cyclone damage.

Australian taxation laws apply in the Northern Territory so residents are subject to requirements relating to income tax, Goods and Services Tax (GST) and other general taxes.

All workers in Australia require a Tax File Number. The Australian Taxation Office oversees all tax matters. The NT Government applies some other specific taxes to cover local situations.

Banking and business The TerriTory supporTs an efficienT environmenT for businesses, by offering ausTralia’s lowesT Tax environmenT for small To meDium businesses.

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Darwin was founDeD as ausTralia’s mosT norTherly porT in 1869, anD iTs populaTion surgeD afTer golD was DiscovereD aT nearby pine creek in 1871.

Waves of other migrants followed later, enticed by jobs in pearling, pastoralism and other emerging

industries, and the chance to make a new start in a new frontier.

1863 briTain vesTeD conTrol of The TerriTory in souTh ausTralia1911 souTh ausTralia relinquisheD conTrol To The commonwealTh governmenT1 july 1978 the territory wAs grANted self-goverNmeNt

World War II put the town on the map as a major allied military base. Darwin was devastated again on 24 December 1974 when Cyclone Tracy swept across the coast. The city was rebuilt with much improved construction codes and is a modern, landscaped metropolis today.

The Macassans who sailed down from the Spice Islands on the trade winds to gather prized trepang are thought to have been the first non-Indigenous people to set foot on Northern Territory soil. Dutch explorer William Jootszoon van Colster recorded the first official sighting from his tallship Arnhem in 1623 – but the Macassans and other seafarers are thought to have visited long before then. The 1880s gold discoveries lured an influx of Chinese fortune-seekers and Malay, Filipino and Japanese divers were brought in to collect mother-of-pearl shell. Greek people also came in large numbers and, together with their fellow European and Asian immigrants, helped create the multicultural city that Darwin is today.

Explorer John McDouall Stuart became the first explorer to cross Australia from south to north, paving the way for construction of the Overland Telegraph line. When completed in 1872, it provided Australia’s first communications link with the outside world.

It also opened the way for pastoralists to take up leases in Central Australia – but it was the discovery of alluvial gold at Arltunga to the east of Alice Springs in 1887 that provided the impetus for the region’s population boom.

Tennant Creek took its name from the nearby watercourse named in 1860 by John McDouall Stuart to acknowledge the financial help he received from South Australian pastoralist John Tennant.

Katherine developed with the arrival of the Overland Telegraph Line and a new telegraph station in 1872. In 1879, after good reports from Stuart and other explorers, Alfred Giles and Alfred Woods brought stock to the district and built ‘Spring Vale’ homestead with a view to establishing a pastoral empire.

World War II put the town on the map as a major allied military base for troops fighting the Japanese in the Pacific.

More than 200 Defence personnel and civilians perished when the Japanese bombed Darwin on 19 February 1942.

Today travellers can see evidence of Darwin’s World War II history at a variety of preserved sites including ammunition bunkers, airstrips and oil tunnels in and around the city.

www.ntl.nt.gov.auwww.darwintours.com.auwww.darwinsairwar.com.au

honour it.discover

23fresh lifestyles Australia’s Northern Territory The NorTherN TerriTory: A brieF hisTory

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our citieis and towns darwin 26 palmerston and outer darwin 28 alice springs 30 katherine 32 tenant creek 34 nhulubuy 36 territory growth towns 38

our

cities towns

1 july - territory dAyon The firsT of july each year TerriTorians celebraTe TerriTory Day, marking The commencemenT of self governmenT in The TerriTory on 1 july 1978. The Day is celebraTeD across The norThern TerriTory in a number of ways, incluDing The famous TerriTory Day fireworks (both public ANd privAte).

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darwin

Darwin’s city streets and suburban shopping malls are lined with excellent restaurants. There’s boardwalk dining overlooking the harbour or the yachts in Cullen Bay Marina. On offer to tantalise the tastebuds are Australian, Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Italian, French, Greek, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Mexican and Indian cuisine.

Darwin has three cinema multiplexes screening the latest releases, and the popular open-air Deckchair Cinema on the waterfront, where you can enjoy a glass of wine while watching an arthouse movie.

SkyCity Casino provides popular gaming and restaurant facilities and hosts regular open air live music concerts.

East Point Reserve, just a few minutes’ drive from the Darwin CBD, is a favourite sunset picnic or barbecue spot and home to a colony of agile wallabies.

Darwin has excellent walking and bicycle paths along the beachfront, through parks and throughout the suburbs.

www.tourismtopend.com.au

Wide streets, shady parks, a pedestrian mall, superb ethnic restaurants and trendy pubs and clubs have all contributed to an upsurge in the popularity of Darwin city living. Added bonuses are the Mitchell St entertainment strip, Darwin Waterfront’s eateries and wave pool, and upmarket housing options within the stylish Cullen Bay, Tipperary Waters and Bayview Haven marina developments.

dArwiN is built oN A low-lyiNg peNiNsulA juttiNg inTo a sTunning naTural working harbour ThaT’s Twice The size of syDney harbour.The ciTy’s norThern suburbs are lineD wiTh breezy Tropical elevaTeD houses, wiTh lush garDens of palms, bougainvillea, frangipani, orchiDs anD oTher Tropical species.

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palmerston and outer darwin

The ciTy’s populaTion of more Than 25 000 makes palmersTon The TerriTory’s seconD largesT ciTy.The populaTion is preDominaTely young working families anD Defence personnel aTTacheD To Top enD miliTary faciliTies.

The satellite city of Palmerston, 20 minutes by road from the Darwin CBD, is the Northern Territory’s fastest growing city – and it’s still expanding. At one time, it was the fastest growing metropolis in Australia.

Beyond Palmerston, close to 20 000 Territorians live on acreagein the sprawling Litchfield Shire, also known as Outer Darwin.

Residents here have swapped inner city living for a rural lifestyle, well away from neighbours and main roads traffic, but still close enough to commute to a city job.

The newest Palmerston suburbs nudge tranquil bushland and feature modern, breezy tropical houses and units, interspersed with attractive retail, business, medical and general community facilities.

Palmerston’s drawcards include tastefully landscaped suburbs, good sporting facilities including a swimming pool, pubs, clubs, restaurants, a major shopping centre and a cinema complex.

www.palmerston.nt.gov.au

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alice springs

alice springs is The worlD’s mosT famous ouTback Town: an alluring DeserT icon in The reD hearT of ausTralia. ‘the Alice’, As it is kNowN, combiNes lAid-bAck chArm with all The moDern conveniences, comforTs anD Diversions you’d fiNd iN A good-sized city. it’s full of frieNdly people anD has shopping, bars, cafés, resTauranTs, markeTs, live enTerTainmenT, a casino anD a convenTion cenTre.

The locals live in either in tree-lined streets in the older parts of the town or in modern suburbs similar to those in any Australian city. Housing choice ranges from modest units to architecturally-stunning apartments and houses.

The climate promotes an outdoor lifestyle, backed up by excellent sporting and recreational venues and facilities - including one of the world’s top 10 desert golf courses, nestled in the shadow of the spectacular MacDonnell Ranges

Alice Springs is one of seven Australian cities participating in the Australian Government’s Solar City program, and with an average of 300 sunny days each year, why not? The town is well on its way to becoming a solar energy model for the rest of Australia and the world.

Arts and culture are strong in The Alice. Many locals belong to wide-ranging organisations, clubs and groups which encourage active participation in visual art of many genres, theatre, dance, music and craft.

Alice Springs has a diverse community made up of people from all over the world. Around 20% of the population is Indigenous.

Alice Springs is surrounded by breathtaking gorges and waterholes, all easily accessible by road, walking trails and bicycle tracks. It’s the perfect base from which to explore the MacDonnell Ranges, visit Uluru (Ayers Rock) or Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), fossick for gemstones and generally enjoy the richly-coloured wide open spaces of the Red Centre.

www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au

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katherinekaTherine is an easygoing Town abouT 300 km souTh of Darwin. iTs young populaTion anD frienDly environmenT make iT a greaT place for families. iT’s The kiNd oF PlAce Where everyoNe TAkes The TiMe To sAy hello.

Many people move to Katherine for work—and enjoy the place so much they decide to make it home. There’s plenty to do in and around Katherine. Nitmiluk National Park is the area’s main tourist attraction. The stunning Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge has ancient rock art and is a great place to spend a day with the family, relaxing or getting active with bush walks and canoeing.

The Katherine Hot Springs and Mataranka Thermal Springs are both popular locations for taking a relaxing soak. Edith Falls, part of Nitmiluk National Park, is a great place for picnics, barbecues, swimming and hiking.

Katherine people love a party, so they plan several each year: the Katherine Festival (formerly the Flying Fox Festival) is held annually in August, the Katherine Country Music Muster is held in May every year and the Katherine Show draws people from throughout the region every July. There is also an annual debutante ball and many more minor events that keep townspeople entertained. In June 2011 the town held its first Fringe Festival.

www.ktc.nt.gov.au

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tennant creek

TennanT creek, The major service cenTre for The barkly region, sTraDDles The sTuarT highway 500 km norTh of alice springs anD 1,000 km souTh of Darwin. TeNNANT creek is Also The reGioNAl service hub For The huGe PAsTorAl sTATioNs ProduciNG PreMiuM beeF cATTle oN sWeePiNG GrAsslANds.

The quest for gold was the key element of Tennant Creek’s history. Mining companies still produce gold, copper and manganese throughout the region. The mineral-rich region is a hive of exploration activity.

Tennant Creek residents are fiercely proud of their town, once named the friendliest in Australia. They revel in a relaxed lifestyle supported by modern facilities including sporting grounds and venues, recreation reserves, art and craft galleries, a civic hall and library.

Aboriginal people are an important part of Tennant Creek’s community, and continue to maintain their identity and

traditions. Renowned local artists produce traditional paintings, carvings and other crafts and sell them through galleries in the town.

Mary Ann Dam is a popular spot for swimming, barbecues, picnics or bush walks and is easily accessible from town by road or bicycle track. Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) south of Tennant Creek, is among the Territory’s most photographed features - and the perfect place to catch a real outback sunset. Iytwelepenty (Davenport Ranges) National Park is another popular camping destination.

www.barkly.nt.gov.au

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Nhulunbuy

iT’s an ouTDoor lovers paraDise where locals eNjoy fishiNg, sAiliNg, bird-wAtchiNg ANd four-wheel-drive excursioNs to exquisite beAches ANd wilDerness areas.

Nhulunbuy, nestled on the Arafura Sea at Gove Peninsula in southeast Arnhem Land, was built as the service town for the Rio Tinto Alcan Gove Alumina Refinery and mining operation.

Nhulunbuy is remote by any standards but its people love the lifestyle. The Central Arnhem Road provides the only land link with Darwin and the Stuart Highway, but it is cut by flooding during the wet season.

The town is serviced by daily domestic flights and provides well-developed educational, health, social, sporting, cultural and shopping facilities for both its townspeople and the very remote homeland communities of East Arnhem Land.

Local attractions include the Yirrkala Arts and Crafts Museum, Nambara Arts and Crafts Centre, and annual Garma Festival, which all give a fascinating insight into the powerful traditional culture of the region’s Yolngu people.

www.ncl.net.au

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territory

growth towns

The norThern TerriTory governmenT is in The process of Developing The TerriTory’s biggesT remoTe communiTies inTo properly planneD anD DesigneD Towns which will become The economic anD service Delivery cenTres for Their regions. For More iNForMATioN about Territory Growth Towns, visit www.workingfuture.nt.gov.au/growth_towns

The visionary concept involves Indigenous communities through all regions of the Territory.

Once completed, these Territory Growth Towns, located from the Arnhem coast to Central Australia’s Western Desert, will offer services, facilities and infrastructure that will put them on a par with what other Australian country towns offer.

People from the surrounding regions will be able to work and shop in the towns and access schools, police stations, courts, health services, recreational facilities, aged care and disability facilities, the Internet and good transport services. The towns will have the necessary infrastructure to provide water, sewerage and electricity services and good roads to allow people to get to and from their communities.

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The norThern TerriTory’s biggesT communiTies To become proper Towns;

ManingridaGunbalanyaGapuwiyakRaminginingWadeyeMilingimbiYuendumuHermannsburgBorroloolaNgukurrYirrkalaPapunyaGaliwin’kuNumbulwarLajamanuElliottNguiuAngurugu/UmbakumaDaguragu/KalkarindgiAliCurung

major evenTsArAFurA GAMesv8 suPercarsdArWiN FesTivAlinternational cricketdarwin cuPbArrA FishiNG clAssicAFl (AusTrAliAN rules FooTbAll)solAr chAlleNGe

inTernaTional flighT Travelbali 2 hrs 55 MiNs 1,763 kM siNGAPore 4 hrs 20 MiNs 3,343 kM ho chi minh 4 hrs 45 MiNs 3,669 kM manila 5 hrs 10 MiNs 3,264 kM bANGkok 6 hrs 45 MiNs 4,391 kM new Zealand 8 hrs 30 MiNs 5,134 kM

JaPan 7 hrs 5,385 kM los ANGeles 11 hrs 30 MiNs 14,054 kM milan 17 hrs 15 MiNs 13,440 kM london 17 hrs 50 MiNs 13,820 kM toronto 20 hrs 15,532 kM

snap shot

climaTedry seAsoN* (mAy-oct)ToP eNd 21oc – 32oc The ceNTre 12oc – 20oc

wet seAsoN* (Nov-Apr)ToP eNd 24oc – 32oc The ceNTre 12oc – 35oc*Average Temperatures

Katherine

Nhulunbuy

Alice Springs

Tennant Creek

Palmerston

Darwin

DomesTic flighT Travel

2,650 kM 3 hrs 30 MiNs Perth2,621 kM 3 hrs 30 MiNs adelaid3,742 kM 5 hrs 30 MiNs hobart

3,132 kM 4 hrs 30 MiNs melbourne3,141 kM 4 hrs 30 MiNs canberra

3,154 kM 4 hrs 30 MiNs sydney2,850 kM 4 hrs 30 MiNs brisbane

1,686 kM 2 hrs 30 MiNs carins

key inDusTriesGAs-bAsed MANuFAcTuriNGdeFeNce suPPorTMiNiNG ANd eNerGytousirmretailTrANsPorT loGisTicsGoverNMeNT

Darwin

Perth

Adelaide

Hobart

TASMANIA

Melbourne

CanberraSydney

Brisbane

Cairns

For More iNForMATioN about living and working in the Northern Territory, visit www.theterritory.com.au

DeparTmenT of business anD employmenTBusiness and Skilled Migration ServicesLocal: 8999 5264National: 08 8999 5264International: +61 8 8999 5264

GPO Box 9988 Darwin NT 0801 Australia

E: migration.dbe@nt.gov.auW: www.migration.nt.gov.au