McArthur
NT 852 • Northern Territory
About McArthur
McArthur is a vast remote locality in the Gulf region of the Northern Territory, centred on the McArthur River basin in the southwest Gulf of Carpentaria hinterland. Spanning approximately 30,844 square kilometres of tropical savanna and river country, the area sits within the Barkly and Gulf regions and is approximately 965 kilometres southeast of Darwin. The locality is most widely associated with the McArthur River Mine, one of the world's largest zinc and lead deposits, and with the pastoral and Indigenous communities of the surrounding Gulf country.
The McArthur River area is characterised by rugged savanna woodland, seasonal floodplains, and the McArthur River itself — a significant waterway that flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria near Borroloola. The nearest community is Borroloola, a small Gulf town that provides essential services including a supermarket, health clinic, and school for residents across the region. Life in this locality is defined by the rhythms of the wet and dry seasons, pastoral activities, and the operations of the mining industry, with fly-in fly-out workers and station staff making up much of the transient population.
McArthur falls under postcode 852 and is governed by the local council Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Katherine electorate.
Location
Transport & Commute
Bus Services
- No scheduled bus service — Darwin or Katherine No regular services — private vehicle or fly-in fly-out only
Commute to Darwin CBD
🛣️ Extremely remote Gulf country; Borroloola (~50km east) is the nearest town; air access available via Borroloola Airport
Virtually no walkable infrastructure across this vast remote locality; a vehicle is essential for all daily needs
Supermarkets Nearby
No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.
Schools
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Buntine Highway