Overview

The township of Nhulunbuy is situated on the Gove Peninsula, in the North Eastern corner of Arnhemland.

Our population is made up of approximately 4,500 European Australians and a surrounding population of about 8,000 Indigenous Australians.

Nhulunbuy was originally established as a mining town when Nabalco began operating in the early 1970’s. It is now a centre for State and Federal Governments who service the township and the East Arnhem District. Nabalco currently lease the Gove Peninsula and township area from local Aboriginal communities and play a large role in supporting the community.

The Nabalco operation consists of the mining and export of bauxite as well as processing it to export quality alumina and are our regions largest employer.

Services Available in Nhulunbuy

Accommodation

Nhulunbuy has a variety of accommodation available for visitors including a motel, a hotel and Gove House. There is also an Aboriginal Hostel accommodating people visiting town from remote communities.

Airport

Gove Airport is located approximately 20kms from the town. Qantas and Ansett Airlines have a number of jets pass through Gove Airport every week. Access to Gove is via Cairns or Darwin.

The airport also has the facilities to service the smaller airlines that operate out of the area, for example MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship), Air Frontier or Layhna Air.

Ambulance

The St. Johns Ambulance Service provides 24hr a day emergency ambulance cover to Nhulunbuy and surrounding areas.

Art and Craft

Local art and craft is available at numerous outlets in and around Nhulunbuy, including the Nambarra Art and Craft Centre and the Buku - Larrngay Art and Craft Centre at Yirrkala.

Banking

The town accommodates three major banking institutions. Westpac have a branch located in the Town square. Their ATM accepts cards from all major banks.

The Post Office acts as an agent for the Commonwealth bank.

The NT Credit Society has a branch located within the town’s shopping centre. Currently, It does not have an ATM.

EFTPOS is available from many shops and a money machine, taking major cards is located in the Arnhem Club.

Barge

The barge from Darwin comes to Nhulunbuy every week. Many people do their bulk shopping in Darwin and have it shipped to Nhulunbuy. It is also the method by which large items like cars or boats are brought to Nhulunbuy, especially during the Wet season. If you are relocating from interstate, your household belongings are likely to be barged to the area rather than using the more expensive airfreight.

Churches

Nhulunbuy has several different churches including, Assembly of God, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Baha’i Faith, Wesleyan Church of Tonga in Australia and the Uniting Church.

Times for services and details of their weekly activities can be found in the local newspaper, “The Arafura Times”.

Community Services

There are a variety of community services available in Nhulunbuy including a Crisis Accommodation Centre and the Community Neighbourhood Centre, which runs all kinds of activities and get togethers.

Fire Brigade

There is a fire brigade service in Nhulunbuy. It is made up of paid employees and a team of volunteers.

Fuel

There is one service station in Nhulunbuy, a BP outlet. It provides all types of car and boat fuel.

In many Aboriginal communities, the normal fuel available is either Diesel or Avgas. It is not usual to find unleaded fuel or normal fuel on a community - this is to assist in the prevention of petrol sniffing.

Medical Services

The Gove Hospital services half of the Arnhem region and provides quality care with critical care patients will be airlifted to Darwin where required. Twenty four-hour emergency care is available at Gove District Hospital.

The hospital also accommodates a resident Physiotherapist with serval other specialists visiting on a regular basis.

A private General Practise is located in the town centre, along with a resident Dentist and visiting Optometrists.

Newspapers

“The Arafura Times” is a weekly publication and is the only local newspaper available.

National and state newspapers are flown in daily, however, some may be a day old.

Permits

As the town itself is situated on Aboriginal Land, a permit issued by either the traditional landowners or their representatives. A permit is require by all non-Aboriginal residents or visitors who wish to travel beyond the Nabalco Co Ltd lease area.

To obtain recreational permits you can apply to Dhimurru Land Management Aboriginal Corporation. However to travel outside nominated recreational areas, permission must be sought from the traditional landowners. Failure to adhere to these laws can result in prosecution and fines of up to $1000. It should be mentioned that the police could and do randomly ask to see recreational permits in designated areas.

Many of the recreational areas around Nhulunbuy have had advisory signs erected to assist residents and visitors to the area. To avoid misunderstandings or problems the signs and their warnings should be read and adhered to. For example, crocodiles that are common in the Top End inhabit many of the areas. Stingers also inhabit the waters around the area from October to May, but can be found all year round.

< h2>Police

There is a police station in Nhulunbuy, but on occasion, calls are diverted to Darwin if the station is unattended.

Post Office

Nhulunbuy has a large post office, which also acts as an agent for the Commonwealth Bank.

Incoming mail arrives in Nhulunbuy each weekday morning. Outgoing mail leaves Nhulunbuy at the close of business each weekday.

There is no home or business delivery of mail, so Post Office Box’s are available for rent. A parcel service is available. Large parcels a likely to be sent by barge.

Schools

Nhulunbuy has a public Pre School, a Primary school and a High School.

NT University and Batchelor College have branches in Nhulunbuy that offer a range of courses. They also prove facilities and services to assist those completing distance or external courses. Ranges of recreational short courses are available, changing from on semester to the next.

Shopping

There are two supermarkets in Nhulunbuy as well as many specialty shops. All basic needs are provided for, including butchers, a local bakery, chemist, newsagency and a large hardware store.

Shopping by phone or by catalogue is readily available by all major shopping outlets, from most states. Goods usually include a small delivery fee and are sent via Australia Post.

Sport and Recreation

There is a wide range of sporting and recreational facilities in Nhulunbuy. There are clubs and associations for every kind of sport from football to tennis, shooting or swimming.

There is a full sized golf course, Olympic sized swimming pool, a surf lifesaving club, a yacht club and a BMX track for the children. Diving and charter fishing facilities are also available.

You can visit The Arnhem Club, The Gove Resort Hotel or dine out one of our cafes or private restaurant.

A number of craft clubs is available, including pottery and patchwork.

ore information can be obtained from the local newspaper that publishes details of all sport and recreational activities.

Transport

A number of taxis service Nhulunbuy and the local communities, along with a small bus service.

A bus service is available to and from the airport. It meets every incoming jet to Gove and will transport people to and from town for a small fee.

TV and Radio

Nhulunbuy itself receives four TV Channels; the ABC, Imparja (from Alice Springs), Channel 10 (from North Queensland) and SBS.

8EAR is the local radio station that broadcast from 5am till around midnight, then switch over to TOP FM in Darwin. The ABC is also available. Other national stations may be available depending on your location.

Communities may also be able to access the BRACS system - an Aboriginal controlled media service.