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Darwins Living History

Darwin's living history makes fascinating reading, a picture of early outback Australian life as told by the people who were there.

The NT General Store stands bravely amongst surrounding modern high-rise buildings.

A favourite of campers and back-packers, the store still gives a hint of the real outback flavour of Darwin City before recent city developments changed the skyline for ever.

Read the stories of the people who were here before the big developers and remember a very different Darwin, a much more relaxed and rural town.

A brief Timeline of Darwins History

Tell us about your time in Darwin or the NT

The history books only ever tell part of the story, it's the living memories of people who were there which bring the history to life.

If you lived or worked here, or even just visited the area, your experiences and impressions are valuable information that will tell us, and future generations, what earlier days were really like.

Memories of Darwin and the Top End

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Darwin X Two. 
My eldest sister was in Darwin, 1964, living in the "Sisters" quarters at the old Darwin hospital. My dad had died in '62, mum had lost the plot a bit, …

the 60's - what a decade 
We arrived on the Koolama on Jan 2nd 1961 and moved to a house in Progress Drive, Nightcliff. There was still a lot of construction happening at the …

Parap 1949 - 1955 
I George Mavros. I was born in the old Darwin Hospital and we lived in Parap Camp in a Sydney Williams hut. The hut was manufactured from iron rsj and …

FRENCHY IN THE OUTBACK MARCH 1970 TO OCTOBER 1970 
The 22 of March 1970 I arrived in Darwin via Singapore BOAC I only had 5 Dollars on me I was there to work, make and save money and get back to Bankok …

Adventure in 60's 
My dad moved our family to Darwin in 1965 so he could work as a plumber. He drove through the centre with a fully loaded station wagon from Geelong. …

Lameroo Beach 1973 
My mate & I hitchhiked to Darwin mid 1973 and found THE place to stay was Lameroo Beach. Camping was free (tho not according to the town council!), …

The old Banyan Tree  
Born in Darwin in 1965 and have lived here ever since. My fondness memory of growing up in this period was the carefree and easy going life that was …

Good memories as a kid in Darwin 
First went to Darwin as a six year old in 1956. Like a lot of families at the time, the family lived in a caravan on Mindil Beach. Directly under the old …

Life at Nightcliff High School, 1972 
I attended Nightcliff High School in 1972. It was not a particularly good time for me. I had better fun working part time at Top End Radio and TV …

Take me back. 
I was born in Darwin in 1963, my father was in the RAAF. We moved back to Darwin in 1970 and was there until just before Christmas 1974. Missed the …

Rod Young "My short time in Darwin 1972" 
I drove a truck for short time in Darwin 1972 for a company owned by two men in their early 30's, Boland and Boyle. ( Often wondered where they are now). …

Darwin 1967 to 1971 
I served in the Royal Australian Navy from 1965 - 1974. My first time in Darwin was being one of the crew that brought HMAS Attack (Patrol Boat) to Darwin …

ABC radio technology 1971 
ABC radio tech helps confirm differential howl in 1971 Volvo My wife and I left Perth in early 1972 for a 7 month round Australia camping trip …

Darwin through the eyes of a teenager. 
My family moved to Darwin in 1970, I was in first year high school. We moved from Adelaide to Darwin, my father was to be the new Assistant Sales Manager …

Gangsters Ball at Berry Springs 
The Gangsters Ball at Berry Springs for local mobsters Live music by “The Gang-Stars” Alias Alan Campbell & Bill Roy Ballroom & Rock n Roll …

kakadu-1968 
Here is 9SLK Nourlangie is anybody listening? (My radio code) My name is Flemming Jensen and I was born in 1946 in Copenhagen, Denmark. I'm out …

Fond Memories of Darwin 
I was born in 1953 at the old Darwin Hospital and lived there until I finished school at the end of 1970. My parents met in Darwin. My mother was working …

Were You in Darwin When? 
Were you a student at Darwin Primary School at Frog's Hollow in 1956 or 57 when the steam engine was placed in the playground to play on? Do you remember …

Born and Bred 
My parents came to Darwin in 1949 and I was born in the old Darwin Hospital in 1950. At that time my parents lived in a Sidney Williams hut at Larakeyah. …

Ice skating at Nightcliff 
I've lived in Darwin since 1964, except for 2 years in Katherine. Some friends and I were chatting the other day, and as Casuarina Shopping Centre has …

Living in the Staff Village Royal Darwin Hospital 
Best time of my life was when I lived in the Northern Territory -Royal Darwin Hospital & living in the Staff Village. I had initially gone to …

Darwin, the place to be... Not rated yet
Read all the stories on this site and loved them all and even though, for me, I didn't arrive in Darwin with my family until 1979. I was only 2 years …

Growing up in Darwin & Humpty Doo Not rated yet
Born in Darwin 1965, we first lived in Stuart Park, then behind the old Tom's Tyres in Parap. Went to Parap pre-school then 1 yr at Parap primary. …

Life in Darwin 1971 to 72 HAPPY  Not rated yet
We flu in to Darwin 1971 from Durban South Africa. My father had a two year contract with Global Marine an oil drilling company. We settled down in …

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Paul's Iced Coffee Not rated yet
This idea was brought to Darwin by a former Qld Forest Ranger, Charles, then my husband, who later worked for Paul's. Paul's offered us a transfer to …

The good old days are gone. Not rated yet
Was in Darwin 1964/1965. Probably the best 2 years of my life. My wife was also in Darwin in 1965 but fortunately we never met until we were in PNG. Worked …

Darwin 1972-73 Not rated yet
I moved from Sydney to Darwin in 1972 and worked with a great bunch of mates in the Commonwealth Dept.of Works in both places. In Darwin our office building …

Darwin Experiences Not rated yet
Lived on the RAAF base, first in an old donga where geckos ran over the metal bed head at night, once mum scooped a scorpion into the copper fire, as it …

The best place to grow up Not rated yet
Moved to Darwin in the late 60s. Lived in Carey street above the old Railway yards. What a fantastic place for a child to explore. Went to the old …

Did Peter steal a yacht? Not rated yet
I lived and worked in Darwin - George Cres Fanny Bay and Henry St Stuart Park and at Jabiru when it was just a mining camp - 1973-74. I met a man called …

Wickham Detention Centre Not rated yet
For three years 2012-2015 I have been in Darwin first living in The Gardens - it was so expensive! After the first 12 months I bought a caravan and moved …

Peter Daniel remembers the good old days Not rated yet
Peter Daniel remembers the good old days and his old friend David Denton I remember Darwin primary playing on the red train. Nightcliff school, Rapid …

PARAP THEATRE Not rated yet
Hi there Graeme is my name I recently found an open air photo of the old Parap ww2 Theatre in an album after my dad came home from DARWIN in 1945

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Alawa Crescent under constructionAlawa Crescent under construction in the early 70's or late 60's.

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