Jabiru, Northern Territory

Jabiru Northern Territory
Jabiru
Coordinates	12°40′S 132°50′E / 12.667°S 132.833°E / -12.667; 132.833Coordinates: 12°40′S 132°50′E / 12.667°S 132.833°E / -12.667; 132.833
Population	1,081 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)	0886
Elevation	27 m (89 ft)
Location	256 km (159 mi) from Darwin
LGA(s)	West Arnhem Region
Territory electorate(s)	Arafura
Federal Division(s)	Lingiari
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 34.2 °C 94 °F 22.6 °C 73 °F 1,586.2 mm 62.4 in

Jabiru is a town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Built in 1982, the town is completely surrounded by Kakadu National Park. At the 2016 census, Jabiru had a population of 1,081.

Crocodile Hotel at Kakadu

History and governance[]

The town was originally built in 1982 as a closed town to house the community living at Jabiru East near the Ranger Uranium Mine 8 km (5.0 mi) away.^{[citation needed]}

Jabiru Township is 13 square kilometres (5.0 sq mi) in size. The town is owned as freehold by the Director of National Parks, from which a head lease is held by the Jabiru Town Development Authority (JTDA). The JTDA subleases to the mining company, government agencies and private business. The head lease expires in 2021.^{[citation needed]}

The JTDA delegated local government responsibility to the Jabiru Town Council. The Northern Territory Government amalgamated Jabiru Town Council and the West Arnhem Shire (Region) in 2008.^{[citation needed]}

Jabiru town services are administered by the West Arnhem Regional Council, whose council chambers are in the town plaza.^{[verification needed]}

The Mirrar clan were recognised as the traditional title holders of Jabiru Township in November 2018,^[2] but a dispute over the native title was drawn out for years. The town was formally handed over to the Mirrar people on 16 June 2021 by the federal Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley, and the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, with settlement date fixed at 30 June.^[3]

Population[]

According to the 2016 census of Population, there were 1,081 people in Jabiru.^{[citation needed]}

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 24.3% of the population.
• 68.6% of people were born in Australia.
• 64.9% of people only spoke English at home.
• The most common response for religion was No Religion, at 36.8%.^[1]

Description and facilities[]

Apart from the Ranger mine, Jabiru's most notable industries are tourism, being the commercial and accommodation hub of Kakadu National Park, and Aboriginal arts and culture. Jabiru features a small town plaza that includes government offices, magistrate's court and emergency services.^{[citation needed]}

Recreational facilities include the Jabiru town lake (picnic areas and barbecues), freshwater fishing for barramundi (a local specialty), the Yellow Water cruise, day-trips to Ubirr Rock, Twin Falls and other natural features of Kakadu National Park.^{[citation needed]}

There is a sports and social club, an Olympic-size swimming pool (the only place guaranteed safe from crocodiles to swim), cricket ovals where cricket and Australian rules football are played. Magela Field in Jabiru is home to the Jabiru Bushratz RUFC, who celebrate their 25th year in 2008. There is also a 9-hole golf course which is the only licensed premises for takeaway alcohol; however only members can buy takeaway alcohol there. Visitors can consume alcohol in opened containers on licensed premises.^{[citation needed]}

West Arnhem Regional Council, with the support of Library & Archives NT, delivers public library and information services in Jabiru which are free to all residents of the region, with options also being available to short-term residents and visitors.^[4] The library aims to provide a culture-rich environment with a focus on collecting materials, in all formats, with a focus on the Kakadu and West Arnhem region.^[5]

Climate[]

Jabiru has a tropical savanna climate (Aw), typical of most of the Top End. Jabiru experiences heavy rain that often results in widespread flooding along the Arnhem Highway and Kakadu Highway. During 2006–07 Jabiru had its biggest wet season on record cutting both highways after almost 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) of rain fell over a 3-month period. The Arnhem Highway was cut off for several weeks as the West Alligator bridge was severely damaged. Temperatures can drop below 10 °C (50 °F) in the winter/dry season from May to August and peak at over 40 °C (104 °F) during the buildup season from September to November. Spectacular electrical storms are also frequent during this period, before the prolonged rains of the wet season arrive. The wet season is usually associated with the monsoon rains and tropical cyclones and it occurs between December and March (the southern hemisphere summer), when thunderstorms are common and afternoon relative humidity averages over 70 percent during the wettest months.

References[]