Nhulunbuy

Nhulunbuy (12°11′S 136°46′E) is the name of the township created on the Gove Peninsula in the Northern Territory of Australia when a bauxite mine and deep water port were established nearby in the late 1960s. The town housed the workers and their families who were employed by the Swiss Aluminium company. The mine is now owned by Alcan. At one stage there were over 100 different nationalities present. Population during the 1970s rose to approximately 3,500 with 1,000 students at the combined primary and high school. In 1981 a new high school was opened.

By the nature of its inception, the town drew people from all over Australia and the world who quickly settled into the Northern Territory way of life—relaxed and informal.

Permits are required to drive to Nhulunbuy—over 700 km of unsealed roads—so most supplies and visitors are brought by air or sea.

James Strong who went on to be the chairman of Qantas lived in the town at one stage when he was the head of the mine and port operations.

Nhulunbuy is only 20 km from the indigenous community of Yirrkala, famous for its aboriginal art.