Place Names Register Extract

Northern Territory Library

Extract date: 10/03/2026

Name Northern Territory Library
Type Designation Library
Place Id 23198
Place Type Infrastructure
Status Recorded
Date Registered
Location (Datum GDA94)  
Latitude: -12° 27' S (Decimal degrees -12.46002)
Longitude: 130° 50' E (Decimal degrees 130.84175)
Locality / Suburb  
  Darwin City
Local Government Area  
  Darwin City Council
Alternate Names  
  State Reference Library
History/Origin The Northern Territory Library has occupied several locations within the Darwin CBD.

The institution began as the State Reference Library, opening in 1980 on a single floor of a government building in Cavenagh Street. By 1986, the library had expanded to occupy the entire building to accommodate its growing collection and public usage.

In 1995, the library relocated to the newly completed Parliament House in State Square. At this time, it was amalgamated with the Parliamentary Library to form the Northern Territory Library. For nearly three decades, it operated from this location, serving as the Territory's primary repository for heritage and research materials.

The Parliament House location of the library officially closed on 24 December 2024. In early 2025, the library reopened within Danala, the Charles Darwin University Education and Community Precinct on Cavenagh Street. This move co-located the state collection with modern educational and community infrastructure.

Register & Gazettal information

Date Gazettal Comment
  (None Found)  

The Northern Territory Gazetteer is maintained by the Place Names Section,
Department of Lands, Planning and Environment.
GPO Box 1680, Darwin NT 0801. Ph 08 8995 5333.
place.names@nt.gov.au

© Northern Territory of Australia
The Northern Territory of Australia does not warrant that the information in this extract or any part of it is correct or complete and will not be liable for any loss damage or injury suffered by any person as a result of its inaccuracy or incompleteness. You are encouraged to notify any error or omission in the material by calling the Place Names Section.