Arnhem Land

The peninsular plateau in N Australia, E of Darwin; named after the Dutch ship which arrived here in 1618; chief town, Nhulunbuy; now contains Kakadu national park, and a reserve for Aborigines; bauxite and uranium mining.

Arnhem Land is an area of 97,000 km² in the north-eastern corner of the Northern Territory, Australia. Until the mid-1950s under direct rule from the territory capital Darwin, it is now controlled by the Northern Land Council on behalf of the local Aboriginal inhabitants.

The climate of Arnhem Land is tropical, with a wet and dry season.

Arnhem Land also contains the Gove Peninsula on its north east corner.

Arnhem Land is notable for its Aboriginal rock-art, at Ubirr Rock and in the Canon Hill area. In one remote shelter, several hundred kilometers from Darwin, there is a depiction of the whole wharf at Darwin, including buildings and boats, the Europeans themselves being painted, with their hats and pipes, some without hands (which they have in their trouser pockets); one human figure near the East Alligator River crossing is painted with a gun and long pigtails down his back, identifiable as one of the Chinese labourers brought to Darwin in the late 19th century.

Arnhem Land is also the home of the members of the influential rock band Yothu Yindi, many of whose members are Indigenous Australians.

Arnhem Land is notable also for the temporary ground paintings ritualistically created by indigenous inhabitants of Arnhem Land.