Port of Darwin turns 173
On 9 September 2012, the Port of Darwin celebrates its 173rd Birthday.
On 9 September 1839, Lieutenant John Stokes sailed into the harbour on the HMS Beagle and named it ‘Port Darwin’ in honour of his friend Charles Darwin.
The Port of Darwin was first used for modern commerce in 1869 when it was used to supply the new settlement of Palmerston.
To read more about the history of the Port of Darwin and the former glory of our vibrant City Wharves, Stokes and Fort Hill, click here.
