Our Regions - Nhulunbuy
Nhulunbuy, the fourth largest town in Australia's Northern Territory, is in East Arnhem Land, 600 kilometres east of Darwin. It is also called Gove because it is situated on the Gove Peninsula on the far north-eastern tip of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The location boasts beautiful beaches and a rugged coastline, reefs, Mediterranean blue water and many islands, making it an attractive destination for fishermen and idyllic for camping.
Nhulunbuy is a major mining town, run by Alcan Gove. About 4000 people live in the township and in the nearby community of Yirrkala, famous for its Buku arts and crafts centre. The East Arnhem Land region has 14 other communities, with populations totalling about 16 000 people. Nhulunbuy provides goods and services for the entire region.
The major sources of employment are the Alcan bauxite mine and alumina refinery, the public sector and local businesses. The town has two shopping centres, a range of smaller shops and businesses, a hospital, an industrial estate and many social and sporting venues.
Residents enjoy the laid-back lifestyle Nhulunbuy offers. Children can play safely in one of the many parks and residents can stroll along Town Beach to Cape Whirriwuy, with Bremmer Island just off the shore, rock pools to explore and natural sand dunes.
The town provides well-developed educational, social, health, sporting, cultural and shopping facilities for its residents as well as the Aboriginal homeland communities of East Arnhem Land.
The Gove Peninsula was originally occupied by the Yolngu Aboriginal people. For centuries the locals traded with the Macassan trepang boats that visited the coast.
Nhulunbuy enjoys a pleasant climate with cool nights and fine dry days in the Dry season (May to October), followed by the warm humidity and frequent showers of the Wet season (April to November).
More information on Alcan Gove
Last updated on the Tuesday 06 Jan 2009
