Darwin, Australia
Sister City Information
- Location: Northern Territory, Australia
- Population: 73,000
- Lord Mayor: Graeme Sawyer, elected March 2008
- Major Industries: mining, tourism, oil and gas production, freight hub
- Photo Gallery
Our sister city since 1982, Darwin is the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin is about 2,000 miles northwest of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. A port city, Darwin was founded in 1869 and grew rapidly as gold was discovered in nearby Pine Creek in 1871. Darwin was named for famed British naturalist Charles Darwin by his shipmates aboard the HMS Beagle.
Darwin is considered to be Australia’s northern gateway, from which you may explore nearby Bathurst and Melville Islands or Kakadu National Park to bird watch, enjoy various river and harbor cruises, and visit wildlife parks, aquariums, and pearling exhibitions. The Museum of Arts and Sciences includes an Aboriginal art collection, while Mindil Beach market offers handicrafts, street theater and food stalls featuring Thai, Sri Lankan, Indian, Chinese, Malaysian, Greek, and Portuguese cuisine. Darwin also serves as a major gateway between Australia and many Southeast Asian markets.
Similar to Anchorage, Darwin’s residents have ready access to outdoor adventures, superb national parks, exotic wildlife viewing, and premiere fishing and diving.
Anchorage and Darwin have enjoyed a healthy exchange of dignitaries and ideas, despite being separated by nearly 10,000 miles. Former Lord Mayor and Darwin Alderman Garry Lambert visited Anchorage in 2004 to discuss a firefighters exchange program. Bryan Majeske of the Anchorage Fire Department returned from a year with the Darwin Fire Department. Anchorage firefighter Matt Lambert and his family also spent a year in Darwin.
Anchorage Sister Cities Commissioners Karen Foster and Jim Cunningham as well as former Anchorage Fire Department Chief Craig Goodrich visited Darwin in 2007 for the Australian Sister Cities Association National Conference.