Numbulwar
NT 822 • Northern Territory
About Numbulwar
Numbulwar is a small, primarily Aboriginal community on the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Northern Territory, approximately 570 kilometres south-east of Darwin within the Roper Gulf Region local government area. With a population of 681 residents, around 95 per cent identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, with the Nunggubuyu people and their Wubuy language central to community life alongside Kriol. The community occupies a compact 5.2 square kilometre area on the Gulf coast and was established in 1952 as the Rose River Mission by local Aboriginal communities and the Church Missionary Society.
Numbulwar offers basic community services including a general store, police station, community school, engine repair shop, and post office. The community is remote and is primarily accessed by air or boat, with no sealed road suitable for regular use by the general public. Community governance passed from the mission to the Numbulwar Numburindi Community Council in the 1970s, and the vast majority of dwellings are social housing. Despite its isolation, Numbulwar maintains a strong cultural identity rooted in Nunggubuyu traditions, with Wubuy spoken by older generations and a deep connection to the sea and surrounding Country.
Numbulwar falls under postcode 822 and is governed by the local council Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Spillett electorate.
Location
Transport & Commute
Bus Services
- No bus services — N/A N/A
Commute to Darwin CBD
🛣️ Remote community; accessible by air or boat only. Charter flights available from Darwin and Katherine.
A compact remote community where basic facilities are reachable on foot within the community, but all external access requires air or boat travel
Supermarkets Nearby
No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.
Schools
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Nauiyu (Daly River)