This list shows notable events for Darwin, nowadays the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Note: When Darwin was first settled, it was called Palmerston and the port was called Port Darwin. In 1911 the town was renamed Darwin due to the common usage of the name.
19th century
Year Date Event18399 SepHMS Beagle sailed into Darwin Harbour during its surveying of the area. John Clements Wickham named the area Port Darwin in honour of their former shipmate Charles Darwin. The settlement became the town of Palmerston in 1869 and was renamed Darwin in 1911.186224 JulJohn McDouall Stuart reached the beach at Chambers Bay (east of present-day Darwin).1869 5 FebGeorge Goyder and survey party arrive in Port Darwin (Palmerston)27 MarGulnare arrives in Darwin with stores and reinforcements.24 MayJ. W. O. Bennett speared by Aborigines; he died and was buried on top of Fort Hill later being moved to the Pioneers Section of the General Cemetery. 9 AugRichard Hazard died of consumption. Buried on Fort Hill and later moved, 3 November 1965, to McMillans Road Cemetery
1870s Year Date Event1870Construction of the first Government HousePalmerston Cemetery opened in Goyder Road. The cemetery closed in 1919.15 SepFirst telegraph pole planted in a ceremony by Harriet Douglas.1871First Telegraph office erected in Palmerston7 NovUndersea cable comes ashore the telegraph fleet then lays the cable to Java187222 AugThe Overland Telegraph Line linking Darwin and Adelaide opened.1873Protestant church built in Knuckey Street near Mitchell Street. Destroyed in the cyclone of 1897.English, Scottish and Australian (E S & A) Bank establishes branch in Palmerston (Darwin)NovemberNorthern Territory Times begins publishing and ceases 1932.1874Chinese start to be brought to Darwin to act as labourers.19 JunFirst Hospital above Doctors Gully completed. It was built largely by public subscription, and is extended further in 1876.5 DecTown of Palmerston gazetted. name changed to Darwin in 1911.187525 FebSS Gothenburg lost off coast of Queensland with many prominent Northern Territory citizens on board.1877JanuaryFirst school opens in Palmerston with 34 pupils; teacher John Holt.1879Main section of Government House completed.OctoberNew Police Station building in use on the corner of Mitchell Street and the Esplanade. Now the site of the Supreme Court.
1880s Year Date Event1882Fannie Bay Gaol was built between 1882 and 1883.AprilNorthern Territory Racing Club is established at Palmerston.17 AugFoundation stone laid for Town Hall, on Smith Street, which was designed by John George Knight.18835 MarPalmerston Town Hall opens on Smith Street. Destroyed by Cyclone Tracy, now only the remains at both ends are visible.1 JunNorthern Australian (Newspaper) begins publishing.188320 SepFannie Bay Gaol opens and begins to receive prisoners.1885Commencement of rail services to Pine Creek starts.MarchTerminus Hotel on Smith Street opened.FebruaryFoundation stone laid for Browns Mart at the time known as "Solomon's Mart" located on Smith Street.1886First wooden jetty complete and handed over.4 DecSteam locomotive 'Sandfly' arrives in the NT aboard the vessel Armistice1887Commercial Bank completed known as the "Stone Bank" on the corner of Smith and Bennett Streets.Original Fannie Bay Gardens moved to present site of Darwin Botanical Gardens.20 MayLocomotive 'Sandfly' begins operation and retires in 1950 presently located at the Parap Qantas Hangar.18886122 Chinese living in the Northern Territory. most in or around Darwin.NT Chinese Museum » Short HistoryFirst Catholic Church completed located on Smith Street where the present day cathedral is sited.27 AprSS Ellengowan sinks in Darwin Harbour.16 JulRailway service to Adelaide River begins.10 DecRailway service to Burrundie begins.18891 OctOpening of Darwin/Pine Creek railway, 145 miles 34 chains.
1890s Year Date Event18906 JunNorth Australian and Times newspapers amalgamate.1891Victoria Hotel completed then called North Australian Hotel renamed to Victoria Hotel in 1896.Rapid Creek mission is abandoned.18976-7 JanCyclone devastates Palmerston (Darwin).
Twentieth century 1900s Year Date Event1902Original Christ Church opens in Palmerston. It is destroyed in 1974 by Cyclone Tracy.1903New jetty completed.190615 AugFather Francis Xavier Gsell MSC arrives in Palmerston.1907Some hotels and private homes in Palmerston are lit by acetylene gas.
1910s Year Date Event19111 JanTransfer of Northern Territory from South Australia to Commonwealth.Palmerston renamed to Darwin as most of the town residents were already using the name.Palmerston No. 1 Boy Scout troop is established.MayNorthern Territory Supreme Court established first judge Samuel James Mitchel.l1912Electricity generation begins when the Northern Territory Administration and Mr Felix Holmes begin producing power.191325 SepDarwin Radio Station comes into service in Gardens Road.19 OctKahlin Compound opens.1914Construction of Vesteys meatworks on Bullocky Point begins.1915Darwin Town Council was created.1917First killing season at Vesteys meatworks.191817 DecThe Darwin Rebellion takes place, with 1000 demonstrators demanding the resignation of the Administrator of the Northern Territory, John A. Gilruth.1919Airstrip cleared in Parap.Gardens cemetery opens replacing Palmerston cemetery on Goyder Road. Closes in 1970 containing 1200 graves.20 FebDr John A. Gilruth and his family depart Darwin in the night aboard HMAS Encounter after Government House being placed under virtual siege for several weeks.10 DecCaptain Ross Smith and his crew landed in Darwin and won a £10,000 Prize from the Australian Government for completing the first flight from London to Australia in under thirty days.
1920s Year Date Event1920Vesteys meatworks closes. It was used for a short time in 1925, but never operated again after that.1922High School classes commence in Darwin. Victor Lampe is the principal. Preparatory class and examinations for entry held in 1921.20 OctSoldiers' Memorial Hall was opened on Smith Street.1924Construction of oil tanks (Oil & Fuel Installation (OFI)) starts on Stokes Hill. The oil tanks were to provide a naval refuelling facilities as part of the Singapore Strategy.1925Lyons Cottage built on the corner of The Esplanade and Knuckey Streets.192822 FebBert Hinkler arrives in Darwin on first solo flight between England and Australia.19291 SepStar Theatre on Smith Street opens.OctoberFour oil tanks on Stokes Hill completed and filled.
1930s Year Date Event193024 MayAmy Johnson arrives in Darwin. She becomes the first female aviator to conquer the London to Darwin solo flight.1931Leprosarium starts operation on Channel Island and closes in 1955.NovemberTerminus Hotel closes on Cavenagh Street where the current Civic Centre is located.19328 JanTerminus Hotel demolished. Materials from the demolition are used in the building of the fortification on East Point. 17 MayAustralian Cabinet approves the "Emergency Scheme for the Fortification of Darwin"2 Sep"Darwin Detachment", 5 officers and 42 men arrive in Darwin to start building fortifications.193422 May2 newly installed guns test fired on East Point.30 DecQANTAS hangar in Parap built.Darwin City Council builds a power station in Woods Street.1937MarchDarwin hit by severe cyclone, only one life was lost.13 AprSite selected for RAAF Base.Darwin's first power station built on Lindsey Street and 24-hour service is provided.1938Commencement of the construction of the RAAF Base.Francis Xavier Gsell created first Catholic Bishop of Darwin.1939Burnett House built on Myilly Point now part of the National Trust precinct.Five steel elevated water storage tanks are completed around Darwin. A ground level tank is erected at Stokes Hill and the elevated water control tank constructed at RAAF Base Darwin.MarchTwo hundred men of Mobile Force arrive in Darwin to man fortification.
1940s Year Date Event1940Hotel Darwin completed on Herbert Street.Boom Defence Net across Darwin Harbour put in place.7 JunSecond power station located on Armidale Street is commissioned. Closed in 1968.194112 DecGeneral evacuation of women, children, the aged and infirm of Darwin begins, five days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.1942JanuaryMyilly Point Hospital opens as a 90-bed pavilion type hospital.1 JanAircraft carrier USS Langley operates anti-submarine patrols.21 JanI-124 was an I-121-class submarine of the Imperial Japanese Navy that was sunk off Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, on 21 January 1942, during World War II. I-124 was conducting mine laying operations and attacking shipping along with three other submarines along the northern coast of Australia.19 Feb Japanese air raids – almost 100 attacks against sites in the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland (to 1943). Bombing of Darwin sees largest attack on Australia by a foreign power. 243 people were killed in the initial raids on 19 February 1942. 1943Construction of oil storage tunnels begins.1945October Boom Defence Net which crossed the entrance to Darwin Harbour removed.1946Reticulated water supply is made available to Darwin residents.Residents return to Darwin after end of WW2.Chung Wah Society established.194910 MarTown of Nightcliff gazetted.
1950s Year Date Event19511 SepFirst Darwin Exhibition (Show) at Winnellie Show grounds.19527 AugLast execution conducted at Fannie Bay Gaol.8 FebNT News begins publishing.195420 AprDefection of Mrs Petrov at Darwin Airport sparks Petrov Affair.19553 JanPremiere of Jedda film in the Star Theatre.1956FebruaryDarwin High School opens on Bullocky Point—the site of the old Vestey's meatworks.NovemberNew Stokes Hill Wharf opens.19571 JulThe people of Darwin elected for the first time a Mayor and 12 Councillors.1958Vestey's meatworks demolished.12 FebParap School opens.13 JulFoundation stone laid for St Mary's War Memorial Cathedral.195926 JanDarwin, with a population of 12,700, becomes a city due to an extensive increase in population and economic growth.
1960s Year Date Event1960New Post Office constructed on the corner of Smith and Knuckey Street.MayParap swimming pool opened.17 JunWoolworths buys out A. E. Jolly & Co on the corner of Smith Street and Knuckey Street.196214 JunStokes Hill Power Station (Stage 1) opened by the Hon Paul Hasluck MHR. Stage 1 had a capacity of 15 MW or 21.42 MW if the diesel station is included.19 AugSt Mary's War Memorial Cathedral consecrated on Smith Street.1963FebruaryLarrakeyah School opens.1965Paspalis drive-in theatre opens in Nightcliff closed in 1985.JanuarySound Shell in the Gardens amphitheatre is opened. Official opening 22 May 1965 by Mayor N. H. Cooper.11 MayDead baby found in mailbag, crime never solved.August30 Squadron forms Darwin detachment and installs 4 Bloodhound missiles near Lee Point an additional 4 are added later.1966MayStuart Park School opens.25 JunRapid Creek Primary School opened by the Administrator R. L. Dean.196719 JunDarwin Maru arrives on its maiden voyage to load the first shipment of iron ore from the new iron ore handling wharf at Fort Hill.AugustNightcliff swimming pool opened.1968Armidale Street power station closes down. 28 MarReserve Bank building on the corner of Smith and Bennett Streets opened.September30 Squadron Darwin detachment ceases operation.20 DecCivic Centre foundation stone laid.19696 MayKurringal flats complex opens in Fannie Bay.18 AugNew Civic Centre in Darwin opened by Duke of Kent.
1970s