Northern Territory

In 1978 the territory was granted self-government. The nature of the climate, the poor soils, distance from assured markets and labor shortages pose considerable handicaps in the largely tropical north and semiarid far south.

Land

The coastline is flat with low headlands and is mostly fringed with mangrove swamps. There are many offshore islands, of which Melville and Bathurst islands and Groote Eylandt are the largest. Mount Zeil is the highest point in the territory.

Flora and Fauna

The northern vegetation is open woodland with low eucalyptus and tall grass of low nutritive value with some forests of Indo-Malaysian vegetation elements. Birds consist of the princess parrot of the central, the flock pigeon of the grasslands and rock pigeons in the rugged areas of the north. Mammals include the egg laying echidna, the kangaroo, and the black wallaroo.

Cultural

The Aboriginal artist Albert Namatijira is famous for his watercolors of Central Australian landscapes, while early life in the territory is depicted in the work of writers Jeannie Gunn, Xavier Herbert, Douglas Lockwood, William Edward Harney and Frank Flynn. Here prolific Aboriginal artists abound and the appetite of the saltwater crocodiles limits swimming in coastal rivers and lakes.

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

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Australian Capital Territory

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