20th century begins Darwin, Northern Territory

remains of darwin post office after first japanese raid in 1942



remains of palmerston town hall, destroyed cyclone tracy



lyons cottage, c. 1925, office of british australian telegraph company

darwin became city s official name in 1911.

the period between 1911 , 1919 filled political turmoil, particularly trade union unrest, culminated on 17 december 1918. led harold nelson, 1000 demonstrators marched government house @ liberty square in darwin burnt effigy of administrator of northern territory john gilruth , demanded resignation. incident became known darwin rebellion . grievances against 2 main northern territory employers: vestey s meatworks , federal government. both gilruth , vestey company left darwin afterwards.

around 10,000 australian , other allied troops arrived in darwin @ outset of world war ii, in order defend australia s northern coastline. on 19 february 1942 @ 0957, 188 japanese warplanes attacked darwin in 2 waves. same fleet had bombed pearl harbor, though considerably larger number of bombs dropped on darwin on pearl harbor. attack killed @ least 243 people , caused immense damage town, airfields , aircraft. these far serious attacks on australia in time of war, in terms of fatalities , damage. first of many raids on darwin.

darwin further developed after war, sealed roads constructed connecting region alice springs in south , mount isa in south-east, , manton dam built in south provide city water. on australia day (26 january) 1959, darwin granted city status.