TheNorthern Territory is a federalAustralian territory in north-centralAustralia. It is the third largest Australian federal division with an area of 1,348,094.3 square kilometres (520,502 sq mi) but the least populous with 245,929 inhabitants as at June 2019.[1] The Northern Territory is divided administratively into 18Local government areas (LGAs) generally known as Councils who are responsible for providing local government services.[2]
The most recent local elections were held in2025. The next elections are scheduled to be held on 25 August 2029.[3]
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As of 1 July 2008, there were two classifications of local government in the Northern Territory:
The Northern Territory was unusual as a comparatively large share of the territory's population lived in unincorporated areas. In 2006, prior to the reorganisation of local government areas in the territory, 92 percent of the land area (1,237,999 km2 (477,994 sq mi) out of 1,349,130 km2 (520,900 sq mi)) with 16 percent of the population (30,523 out of 192,898), was unincorporated. This anomaly is due to the territory's very low population density, just 0.16 people per km2 (0.099 people per sq mi).[4]
Most of the unincorporated areas disappeared as a result of local government reform in 2008. The area remaining unincorporated is 19,790 km2 (7,640 sq mi), 1.47 percent of the total,[5][1] and contains 3.0 percent of the population in June 2019.[1]
By comparison, in the only other states or territories in Australia with unincorporated areas, only 0.02% of the population ofNew South Wales, 0.002% ofVictoria's population and 0.6% of the population ofSouth Australia, live in unincorporated areas.
| Local government area | Council seat | Region | Type | Year est. | Land area[1] | Population[6] | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km2 | sq mi | 2021 | 2022 | ||||||
| Alice Springs, Town of | Alice Springs | Central Australia | Town | 1 July 1971 (1971-07-01) | 328 | 127 | 28,601 | 28,922 | |
| Barkly Region | Tennant Creek | Barkly Tableland | Region | 1 July 2008 (2008-07-01) | 322,713 | 124,600 | 7,203 | 7,239 | |
| Belyuen Shire | Belyuen | Greater Darwin | Shire | 1 July 2008 (2008-07-01) | 41 | 16 | 165 | 165 | |
| Central Desert Region | Alice Springs | Central Australia | Region | 1 July 2008 (2008-07-01) | 281,312 | 108,615 | 4,124 | 4,114 | |
| Coomalie Community Government Council | Batchelor | Greater Darwin | Council | 7 December 1990 (1990-12-07) | 2,056 | 794 | 1,403 | 1,399 | |
| Darwin, City of | Darwin | Greater Darwin | City | 1854 (1854) | 111 | 43 | 85,397 | 85,158 | Darwin Town and District Council formed, 1874; redesignated Darwin Town Council, 1915; redesignated Municipality of Darwin, 1955; redesignated City of Darwin, 1959 |
| East Arnhem Region | Nhulunbuy | Arnhem Land | Region | 1 July 2008 (2008-07-01) | 33,310 | 12,861 | 10,097 | 10,096 | |
| Katherine, Town of | Katherine | Katherine | Town | 3 March 1978 (1978-03-03) | 7,417 | 2,864 | 10,706 | 10,802 | |
| Groote Archipelago Region | Groote Eylandt | Arnhem Land | Region | 1 September 2024 (2024-09-01) | Split fromEast Arnhem Region in 2024 | ||||
| Litchfield Council | Freds Pass | Greater Darwin | Council | 6 September 1985 (1985-09-06) | 2,903 | 1,121 | 23,048 | 23,209 | |
| MacDonnell Region | Alice Springs | Central Australia | Region | 1 July 2008 (2008-07-01) | 268,329 | 103,602 | 6,583 | 6,640 | |
| Palmerston, City of | Palmerston | Greater Darwin | City | 2000 (2000)(as a city) | 53 | 20 | 39,641 | 40,447 | |
| Roper Gulf Region | Katherine | Katherine | Region | 1 July 2008 (2008-07-01) | 185,210 | 71,510 | 7,442 | 7,487 | |
| Tiwi Islands Region | Darwin | Greater Darwin | Region | 1 July 2008 (2008-07-01) | 7,483 | 2,889 | 2,738 | 2,744 | |
| Victoria Daly Region | Katherine | Katherine | Region | 1 July 2008 (2008-07-01) | 153,287 | 59,184 | 3,224 | 3,265 | De-amalgamated in 2014 into Victoria Daly and West Daly Regional Councils |
| Wagait Shire | Wagait Beach | Greater Darwin | Shire | 1 July 2008 (2008-07-01) | 6 | 2 | 465 | 465 | Formerly the Cox Peninsula Community Government Council, established on 28 April 1995. |
| West Arnhem Region | Jabiru | Arnhem Land | Region | 1 July 2008 (2008-07-01) | 49,675 | 19,180 | 7,186 | 7,249 | |
| West Daly Region | Wadeye | Katherine | Region | 1 July 2014 (2014-07-01)[7] | 14,070 | 5,432 | 3,426 | 3,439 | Part of Victoria Daly Regional Council from 2008 until 2014 de-amalgamation |
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Prior to 1 July 2008, local government areas in the Northern Territory were classified as either :
Northern Territory local government elections are held on the fourth Saturday in August 4 years after the previous election.
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