Northern Territory, NT
About the Northern Territory
The NT is a vast region, covering more than 1.3 million km². Despite this, it has a smaller population than any other Australian state or territory, as it is largely uninhabitable desert. It is home to the major cities of Darwin, (its capital) Alice Springs, and Palmerston, along with many smaller localities and communities.
The Territory's economy is largely based on mining, agribusiness, and tourism, particularly to the ancient sandstone monolith and sacred Indigenous site of Uluru.
Approximately 30% of the NT's population is Aboriginal, and nearly all of the region's land is under Aboriginal freehold, leasehold, or another tenure that exists concurrently with native title. The Northern Land Council, Central Land Council, Tiwi Land Council and Anindilyakwa Land Council are largely responsible for decisions made around use of Aboriginal land.
Local councils
The Northern Territory includes 17 municipalities: Alice Springs, Barkly, Belyuen, Central Desert, Coomalie, Darwin, East Arnhem, Katherine, Litchfield, MacDonnell, Palmerston, Roper Gulf, Tiwi Islands, Victoria-Daly, Wagait, West Arnhem, and West Daly.
Climate information
The NT's north has a tropical monsoon climate. The dry season runs between May and October. During this time, NT enjoys low humidity, sunny days with an average temperature of about 32 °C, and cool nights. During the monsoon season, between November and April, spectacular thunderstorms are common. Humidity can rise as high as 98%, and temperatures can hit 39 °C inland.
Because of the monsoon season, this part of the NT (as represented by Darwin) receives an average 1700 mm of rain annually.
The bottom end of the NT, which is considered Central Australia, has a desert climate. The average maximum temperature during the warmer months between October and March is about 35 °C in the day, cooling to 20 °C at night. In winter it gets as warm as 25 °C in the daytime, and falls to around 0 °C at night.
As this part of the country is considered desert, it only receives about 275 mm of rainfall annually, and often even less than that.
Population
The estimated population of the Northern Territory is reported as 245,353 as of 2020.
Education
There are pre-schools, primary schools and secondary schools, both public and private, available in the Northern Territory. However, these schools are generally clustered in and around the major cities on the top end, and students in more remote areas or Indigenous communities may attend remote schools or study online, at 'schools of the air'.
The NT has several universities that residents wishing to undertake tertiary studies can attend. These include the Charles Darwin University (CDU) campuses in Darwin and Alice Springs, the Menzies School of Health Research and the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education. Both CDU and the Batchelor Institute also provide TAFE courses.
Employment and local businesses
The Northern Territory region has a Gross State Product of $26.2 billion as of 2020, and boasts 135,533 jobs across all industries. The region's top five industries by number of people employed are public administration & safety, healthcare & social assistance, education, construction, and retail.
The agribusiness and mining & energy resources sectors are also very important to the economies of the NT and Australia at large. Darwin is the busiest livestock port in the world, and the Territory has a rich endowment of minerals and oil.
Housing
The median house price for the NT is $461,881, almost $100,000 lower than the Australian median.
The NT has a median weekly house rental (for a 3-bedroom home) of $490.
Events
Where: Darwin, NT
When: Annually, in August
What: While the rest of Australia is suffering through chilly winter, the Darwin Festival offers an escape to t-shirt weather and balmy tropical nights. Founded 40 years ago to bring the community together in the wake of the devastating Cyclone Tracy, the festival features local and touring performances and events from some of the best artists in Australia. Visitors can enjoy including outdoor concerts, plays, comedy, films, and much more.
Where: Alice Springs, NT
When: Annually, in September (although the 2021 festival is set to be held in April)
What: Parrtjima is the first and only Aboriginal festival of its kind, and is free to anyone who makes the trek out to Alice Springs for the unforgettable experience. It seeks to showcase the art and culture of the oldest living culture on earth using modern media, using the MacDonell Ranges as its canvas. For ten days, the desert comes alive with light shows, artworks, music and performances, which, in addition to interactive workshops and speeches, are sure to delight visitors of all ages.
Where: Darwin, NT
When: Annually, in May
What: This legendary Darwin music festival offers visitors ten hours of non-stop music from some of Australia's hottest artists. Its line-ups include the likes of Missy Higgins, Ocean Alley, and The Jungle Giants, who often perform for sold-out crowds. Held by the sea on picturesque Mindil Beach, which is famous for its exquisite sunsets, the festival has been a Darwin icon for 18 years and counting.
Additional Information
Northern Territory has 25 subregions. Use the list below or the map above to learn more about individual subregions.
-
![Alice Springs, NT]()
Alice Springs, NT -
![Barkly, NT]()
Barkly, NT -
![Belyuen, NT]()
Belyuen, NT -
![Central Desert, NT]()
Central Desert, NT -
![Coomalie, NT]()
Coomalie, NT -
![Darwin, NT]()
Darwin, NT -
![Darwin Waterfront Precinct Municipality, NT]()
Darwin Waterfront Precinct Municipality, NT -
![East Arnhem, NT]()
East Arnhem, NT -
![Katherine, NT]()
Katherine, NT -
![Litchfield, NT]()
Litchfield, NT -
![MacDonnell, NT]()
MacDonnell, NT -
![Palmerston, NT]()
Palmerston, NT -
![Roper Gulf, NT]()
Roper Gulf, NT -
![Tiwi Islands, NT]()
Tiwi Islands, NT -
![Unincorp Central Australia Region, NT]()
Unincorp Central Australia Region, NT -
![Unincorp Top End Region, NT]()
Unincorp Top End Region, NT -
![Unincorp Top End Region, NT]()
Unincorp Top End Region, NT -
![Unincorp Top End Region, NT]()
Unincorp Top End Region, NT -
![Unincorp Top End Region, NT]()
Unincorp Top End Region, NT -
![Unincorp Top End Region, NT]()
Unincorp Top End Region, NT -
![Unincorp Top End Region, NT]()
Unincorp Top End Region, NT -
![Victoria-Daly, NT]()
Victoria-Daly, NT -
![Wagait, NT]()
Wagait, NT -
![West Arnhem, NT]()
West Arnhem, NT -
![West Daly, NT]()
West Daly, NT
Northern Territory Schools
- Government Schools
- Independent Schools
Combined
- Alcoota School ENGAWALA NT 872
- Alekarenge School ALI CURUNG NT 872
- Alice Springs School Of The Air ALICE SPRINGS NT 870
- Alpurrurulam School ALPURRURULAM NT 4825
- Alyangula Area School ALYANGULA NT 885
- Alyarrmandumanja Umbakumba School UMBAKUMBA NT 822
- Amanbidji School TIMBER CREEK NT 852
- Ampilatwatja School AMPILATWATJA NT 872
- Angurugu School ANGURUGU NT 822
- Areyonga School AREYONGA NT 872
- Arlparra School UTOPIA NT 872
- Baniyala Garrangali School EAST ARNHEM NT 822
- Barunga School BARUNGA NT 852
- Batchelor Area School BATCHELOR NT 845
- Belyuen School BELYUEN NT 822
- Bonya School ANATYE NT 872
- Borroloola School BORROLOOLA NT 854
- Bulla Camp School BAINES NT 852
- Bulman School BULMAN WEEMOL NT 852
- Canteen Creek School CANTEEN CREEK NT 872
- Elliott School ELLIOTT NT 862
- Epenarra School WUTUNUGURRA NT 872
- Gapuwiyak School GAPUWIYAK NT 880
- Gunbalanya School GUNBALANYA NT 822
- Harts Range School ATITJERE NT 872
- Jabiru Area School JABIRU NT 886
- Jilkminggan School JILKMINGGAN NT 852
- Kalkaringi School KALKARINDJI NT 852
- Katherine School Of The Air KATHERINE NT 850
- Kiana School ROBINSON RIVER NT 852
- Lajamanu School LAJAMANU NT 852
- Laramba School LARAMBA NT 872
- Mamaruni School MINJILANG NT 822
- Maningrida College MANINGRIDA NT 822
- Mataranka School MATARANKA NT 852
- Mbunghara School PAPUNYA NT 872
- Milikapiti School MILIKAPITI NT 822
- Milingimbi School MILINGIMBI NT 822
- Milyakburra School MILYAKBURRA NT 822
- Minyerri School MINIYERI NT 852
- Mount Allan School YUELAMU NT 872
- Mulga Bore School TI TREE NT 872
- Murray Downs School ALI CURUNG NT 872
- Mutitjulu School MUTITJULU NT 872
- Neutral Junction School BARROW CREEK NT 872
- Newcastle Waters School NEWCASTLE WATERS NT 862
- Nganambala School PEPPIMENARTI NT 822
- Nganmarriyanga School NGANMARRIYANGA NT 822
- Ngukurr School NGUKURR NT 852
- Ntaria School HERMANNSBURG NT 872
- Numbulwar School NUMBULWAR NT 822
- Nyirripi School NYIRRIPI NT 872
- Papunya School PAPUNYA NT 872
- Peppimenarti School PEPPIMENARTI NT 822
- Pularumpi School PIRLANGIMPI NT 822
- Ramingining School RAMINGINING NT 822
- Robinson River School ROBINSON RIVER NT 852
- Rockhampton Downs School TABLELANDS NT 862
- Shepherdson College GALIWINKU NT 822
- Ti Tree School TI TREE NT 872
- Timber Creek School TIMBER CREEK NT 852
- Titjikala School TITJIKALA NT 872
- Urapunga School WILTON NT 852
- Wallace Rockhole School WALLACE ROCKHOLE NT 872
- Warruwi School WARRUWI NT 822
- Watarrka School PETERMANN NT 872
- Watiyawanu School MOUNT LIEBIG NT 872
- Willowra School WILLOWRA NT 872
- Woolianna School DALY RIVER NT 822
- Wugularr School BESWICK NT 852
- Yarralin School YARRALIN NT 852
- Yirrkala Homeland School YIRRKALA NT 880
- Yirrkala School YIRRKALA NT 880
- Yuendumu School YUENDUMU NT 872
- Yulara School YULARA NT 872
Primary
- Adelaide River School ADELAIDE RIVER NT 846
- Alawa Primary School ALAWA NT 810
- Amoonguna School AMOONGUNA NT 873
- Anula Primary School ANULA NT 812
- Bakewell Primary School BAKEWELL NT 832
- Bees Creek Primary School FREDS PASS NT 822
- Berry Springs Primary School BERRY SPRINGS NT 838
- Bradshaw Primary School GILLEN NT 870
- Braitling Primary School BRAITLING NT 870
- Casuarina Street Primary School KATHERINE EAST NT 850
- Clyde Fenton Primary School KATHERINE NT 850
- Douglas Daly School DOUGLAS-DALY NT 822
- Driver Primary School DRIVER NT 830
- Dundee Beach School DUNDEE BEACH NT 840
- Durack Primary School DURACK NT 830
- Finke School FINKE NT 872
- Gillen Primary School GILLEN NT 870
- Girraween Primary School GIRRAWEEN NT 836
- Gray Primary School GRAY NT 830
- Haasts Bluff School HAASTS BLUFF NT 872
- Howard Springs Primary School HOWARD SPRINGS NT 835
- Humpty Doo Primary School HUMPTY DOO NT 836
- Imanpa School IMANPA NT 872
- Jingili Primary School JINGILI NT 810
- Karama Primary School KARAMA NT 812
- Katherine South Primary School KATHERINE SOUTH NT 850
- Larapinta Primary School ALICE SPRINGS NT 870
- Larrakeyah Primary School LARRAKEYAH NT 820
- Leanyer Primary School LEANYER NT 812
- Ludmilla Primary School LUDMILLA NT 820
- MacFarlane Primary School KATHERINE EAST NT 850
- Malak Primary School MALAK NT 812
- Manunda Terrace Primary School KARAMA NT 812
- Manyallaluk School EVA VALLEY NT 822
- Middle Point School MIDDLE POINT NT 822
- Millner Primary School MILLNER NT 810
- Moil Primary School MOIL NT 810
- Moulden Primary School MOULDEN NT 830
- Nakara Primary School NAKARA NT 810
- Nhulunbuy Primary School NHULUNBUY NT 880
- Nightcliff Primary School NIGHTCLIFF NT 810
- Parap Primary School PARAP NT 820
- Pigeon Hole School PIGEON HOLE NT 852
- Pine Creek School PINE CREEK NT 847
- Rosebery Primary School ROSEBERY NT 832
- Ross Park Primary School ALICE SPRINGS NT 870
- Sadadeen Primary School ALICE SPRINGS NT 870
- Stirling School WILORA NT 872
- Stuart Park Primary School STUART PARK NT 820
- Tennant Creek Primary School TENNANT CREEK NT 860
- Tipperary Station School TIPPERARY NT 822
- Wagaman Primary School WAGAMAN NT 810
- Walungurru School KINTORE NT 872
- Wanguri Primary School WANGURI NT 810
- Woodroffe Primary School WOODROFFE NT 830
- Woolaning School LITCHFIELD PARK NT 822
- Wulagi Primary School WULAGI NT 812
Secondary
- Casuarina Senior College MOIL NT 810
- Centralian Middle School ALICE SPRINGS NT 870
- Centralian Senior College ALICE SPRINGS NT 870
- Darwin High School THE GARDENS NT 820
- Darwin Middle School THE GARDENS NT 820
- Dripstone Middle School TIWI NT 810
- Katherine High School KATHERINE EAST NT 850
- Nhulunbuy High School NHULUNBUY NT 880
- Nightcliff Middle School NIGHTCLIFF NT 810
- Northern Territory School of Distance Education THE GARDENS NT 820
- Palmerston College DRIVER NT 830
- Palmerston Senior College DRIVER NT 830
- Rosebery Middle School ROSEBERY NT 832
- Sanderson Middle School MALAK NT 812
- Taminmin College HUMPTY DOO NT 836
- Tennant Creek High School TENNANT CREEK NT 860
- Top End School of Flexible Learning MALAK NT 812
Special
- Acacia Hill School SADADEEN NT 871
- Forrest Parade School BELLAMACK NT 832
- Henbury School TIWI NT 810
- Kintore Street School KATHERINE NT 850
- Nemarluk School ALAWA NT 810
Combined
- Araluen Christian College ALICE SPRINGS NT 870
- Gawa Christian School GALIWINKU NT 822
- Good Shepherd Lutheran College HOWARD SPRINGS NT 835
- Good Shepherd Lutheran College - Palmerston Campus GRAY NT 830
- Haileybury Rendall School BERRIMAH NT 828
- Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School SANTA TERESA NT 872
- Mapuru Yirralka College MAPURU NT 822
- Marrara Christian College MARRARA NT 812
- Milkwood Steiner School BERRIMAH NT 828
- Nawarddeken Academy WEST ARNHEM LAND NT 822
- Nhulunbuy Christian College NHULUNBUY NT 881
- Nyangatjatjara College - Kaltukatjara Campus (Docker River) KALTUKATJARA NT 872
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College ALICE SPRINGS NT 870
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Thamarrurr Catholic College WADEYE NT 822
- Palmerston Christian School MARLOW LAGOON NT 830
- Sattler Christian College FREDS PASS NT 822
- St Francis Xavier Catholic School DALY RIVER NT 822
- St Joseph's Catholic College KATHERINE NT 850
- The Essington International School Darwin RAPID CREEK NT 810
- Tiwi College TIWI ISLANDS NT 822
- Yipirinya School ALICE SPRINGS NT 871
Primary
- Alice Springs Steiner School ROSS NT 873
- Good Shepherd Lutheran College - St Andrews Campus LEANYER NT 812
- Holy Family Catholic Primary School KARAMA NT 812
- Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School WANGURI NT 810
- Living Waters Lutheran School ALICE SPRINGS NT 871
- Mother Teresa Catholic Primary School ZUCCOLI NT 832
- Murrupurtiyanuwu Catholic Primary School WURRUMIYANGA NT 822
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College - Bath Street Campus ALICE SPRINGS NT 870
- Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School WOODROFFE NT 830
- St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School HUMPTY DOO NT 836
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School DARWIN NT 800
- St Paul's Catholic Primary School RAPID CREEK NT 810
Secondary
- MacKillop Catholic College JOHNSTON NT 832
- NT Christian College MARRARA NT 812
- NT Christian College - Nhulunbuy Campus NHULUNBUY NT 881
- NT Christian College - Palmerston Campus MARLOW LAGOON NT 830
- NT Christian College - Sattler Campus FREDS PASS NT 822
- Nyangatjatjara College YULARA NT 872
- Nyangatjatjara College - Imanpa Campus IMANPA NT 872
- Nyangatjatjara College - Mutitjulu Campus MUTITJULU NT 872
- O'Loughlin Catholic College KARAMA NT 812
- Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College - Sadadeen Road Campus ALICE SPRINGS NT 870
- St John's Catholic College THE GARDENS NT 820
- St Philip's College ALICE SPRINGS NT 871
- The Essington International Senior College CASUARINA NT 811
- Woolaning Homeland Christian College BATCHELOR NT 845
- Xavier Catholic College BATHURST ISLAND NT 822
- Yirara College ALICE SPRINGS NT 872
- Yirara College - Kintore Campus KINTORE NT 872
Special
- St Joseph's Catholic Flexible Learning Centre ALICE SPRINGS NT 870
Northern Territory Housing
-
Houses in Northern Territory
The price of a house in Northern Territory ranges from around $144,000 to $850,000.
A typical house in has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms & parking for 4 cars.
-
Apartments in Northern Territory
The price of a apartment in Northern Territory ranges from around $276,000 to $539,000.
A typical apartment in has 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom & parking for 2 cars.
Northern Territory Census Information
-
Dwelling Type
What types of residential properties are available in Northern Territory?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Tenure Type
Which residential properties in Northern Territory are owned, mortgaged or rented out?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Change in Residence
Did people in Northern Territory change address in the last year?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Working Population
What age groups are most strongly represented in Northern Territory?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Top 5 Industries
What industries do people in Northern Territory work in?
- Public administration and safety
- Health care and social assistance
- Education and training
- Construction
- Accommodation and food services
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Family Size
How many people live in a household in Northern Territory?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP
What's happening in Northern Territory
-
Home In The Ranger The shifting patterns and colours of the Gascoyne seen from the air. Image credit Blue Dog Digital.
-
Go Regional With Move to More Early mornings watching the sunrise, quiet afternoons with the family, vast stretches of land untouched by houses – there’s so much to...
-
Spotlight on Coomalie Shire Northern Territory Just 75 kilometres south of the Darwin CBD lies the historic Coomalie Shire, a charming locale home to just under 1,500 people.
Properties in Northern Territory
- For Sale
- For Rent