The Northern Territory is a federal Australian territory in north-central Australia. It is the third largest Australian federal division with an area of but the least populous with inhabitants as at June 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2019. The Northern Territory is divided administratively into 18 Local government areas (LGAs) generally known as Councils who are responsible for providing local government services.Northern Territory LGA History
The most recent local elections were held in 2025. The next elections are scheduled to be held on 25 August 2029.
Area types
As of 1 July 2008, there were two classifications of local government in the Northern Territory: Municipalities (predominantly inner-city suburban areas and smaller rural towns), of which there were five; and Shires or Regions (predominantly rural or outer suburban areas), of which there were eleven shire councils.
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 ( out of ) 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).
Most of the unincorporated areas disappeared as a result of local government reform in 2008. The area remaining unincorporated is , 1.47 percent of the total, and and contains 3.0 percent of the population in June 2019.
By comparison, in the only other states or territories in Australia with unincorporated areas, only 0.02% of the population of New South Wales, 0.002% of Victoria's population and 0.6% of the population of South Australia, live in unincorporated areas.
Current local government areas Local government area Council seat Region Type Year est. Land area Population Notes km2 sq mi 2021 2022 Alice Springs, Town of Central Australia Town Barkly Region Barkly Tableland Region Belyuen Shire Belyuen Greater Darwin Shire Central Desert Region Alice Springs Central Australia Region Coomalie Community Government Council Greater Darwin Council Darwin, City of Greater Darwin City 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 Katherine, Town of Katherine Town Groote Archipelago Region Groote Eylandt Arnhem Land Region Split from East Arnhem Region in 2024 Litchfield Council Freds Pass Greater Darwin Council MacDonnell Region Alice Springs Central Australia Region Palmerston, City of Greater Darwin City Roper Gulf Region Katherine Katherine Region Tiwi Islands Region Darwin Greater Darwin Region Victoria Daly Region Katherine Katherine Region De-amalgamated in 2014 into Victoria Daly and West Daly Regional Councils Wagait Shire Greater Darwin Shire Formerly the Cox Peninsula Community Government Council, established on 28 April 1995. West Arnhem Region Arnhem Land Region West Daly Region Wadeye Katherine Region https://dhcd.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/155922/West_Daly_Restructure_Order_2014.pdf Part of Victoria Daly Regional Council from 2008 until 2014 de-amalgamation
Former local government areas
Prior to 1 July 2008, local government areas in the Northern Territory were classified as either : Community Government Councils of which 51 existed, Incorporated Associations (Commonwealth) of which three existed, Municipalities of which six existed and Special Purpose Towns of which there is only one example.
Towns Town of Jabiru (special purpose town) Town of Tennant Creek
Community Government Councils Alpurrurulam CGC Angurugu CGC Anmatjere CGC Arltarlpilta CGC Belyuen CGC (now Belyuen Shire) Binjari CGC Borroloola CGC Coomalie CGC (now Coomalie Shire) Cox Peninsula CGC (now Wagait Shire) Daguragu CGC Elliott District CGC Jilkminggan CGC Kunbarllanjnja CGC Lajamanu CGC Ltyentye Apurte CGC Marngarr CGC Mataranka CGC Nauiyu Nambiyu CGC Numbulwar Numburindi CGC Nyirranggulung Mardrulk Ngadberre Regional Council Pine Creek CGC Tapatjatjaka CGC Thamarrurr Regional Council Timber Creek CGC Tiwi Islands CGC (now Tiwi Islands Region) Walangeri Ngumpinku CGC Wallace Rockhole CGC Watiyawanu CGC Yuendumu CGC Yugul Mangi CGC
Incorporated Communities Aherrenge Community Ali Curung Community Amoonguna Community Aputula Community Areyonga Community Galiwin'ku Community Gapuwiyak Community Ikuntji Community Imanpa Community Kaltukatjara Community Maningrida Community Milingimbi Community Milyakburra Community Minjilang Community Mutitjulu Community Nganmarriyanga Community Ntaria Community (Hermannsburg) Nyirrpi Community Papunya Community Peppimenarti Community Ramingining Community Umbakumba Community Urapuntja Aboriginal Corporation Walungurru Community Warruwi Community Yuelamu Community
Unincorporated Area Unincorporated Area: A contiguous 92 percent of the area did not belong to any local government area. The LGAs were enclaves within unincorporated territory.
See also Local government in Australia List of places in the Northern Territory by population
References
Sources