This 86,000 strong capital of the Northern Territory takes its name from Charles Darwin, the evolutionist. John Lort Stokes, the man who discovered the harbour that Darwin now lies on, named it after his former shipmate. Its not the laid back, small country town that most expect it to be, instead is an upbeat place, considered by many to be Australia’s most cosmopolitan city. It was finally established in 1869, after many unsuccessful attempts had been made to settle the areas around it. Its growth got a boost after the discovery of gold in nearby Pine Creek in 1871. But once the gold fever abated, Darwin slowly sank into obscurity as development slowed down, thanks in part to its harsh unpredictable climate, poor communications and long distances from other cities in Australia.

It was only during WWII that Darwin once more became the focus of attention as an important base for Allied Forces fighting against the Japanese in the Pacific sector. Darwin was bombed 64 times and 243 people lose their lives in air raids by the Japanese. But its role in the war resulted in the construction of roads connecting it to Alice Springs and other Australian cities and so Darwin made a comeback and returned to a new connectivity with the rest of the country.

During its many years in relative seclusion and isolation from the rest of Australia, Darwinians evolved a lifestyle uniquely their own. This ethos reflects both Australian and Asian influences in equal measure. As a consequence, Darwin is more multicultural and yet strongly ethnic than any other Aussie city and this is palpable in the attitude of its citizens and the ambience of the city. Asians, Aborigines and Europeans live in harmony, their cultural heritage enriched and enhanced by the different influences they are exposed to. The people are warm, amicable and friendly, very much like the climate of Darwin and enjoy their tropical weather to the utmost, spending a great deal of their time in the vast outdoors.