Humpty Doo

The name of the town has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=29zh3dIgmv8C&pg=PR10 |title=Welcome to Horneytown, North Carolina, Population: 15: An insider's guide to 201 of the world's weirdest and wildest places |publisher=Adams Media |author=Parker, Quentin |year=2010 |pages=x |isbn=9781440507397 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

It first appeared in 1910 as Umpity Doo, and is of uncertain origin. The following derivations have been suggested:{{Cite web |title=DLPE - Place Names - Origins - Suburbs & Localities |url=http://www.lpe.nt.gov.au/place/ntplaces/greaterdwn.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060208172438/http://www.lpe.nt.gov.au/place/ntplaces/greaterdwn.htm#H |archive-date=2006-02-08 |access-date=2006-03-08}}{{Cite news |date=2018-02-08 |title=Do you know how Humpty Doo got its name? Historians humpty don't |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-08/humpty-doo-name-mystery-history/9400266 |access-date=2025-04-02 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |title=Humpty Doo (Administrative Area) |url=https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/placenames/view.jsp?id=2047 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=NT Place Names Register}}

1. from the army slang term "umpty", used for the dash when reading Morse code
2. from a colloquialism meaning "everything done wrong or upside down"
3. from Umdidu, or Umdudu, an Aboriginal name supposedly meaning "popular resting place"

The Djerimanga (also known as Wulna) people are recognised as the traditional owners and first inhabitants of an area, from the present day site of Humpty Doo east into the Adelaide River wetlands. Their way of life remained unchanged until the first contact with European explorers in the 19th century, most likely during the 1864 expedition to explore the areas surrounding the Adelaide River, led by Boyle Travers Finniss.{{cn|date=April 2022}}

In September 1869, Surveyor General of South Australia, George Goyder, completed work to divide the hinterland surrounding the present day Litchfield Shire into {{convert|10|sqmi||adj=on}} parcels. These parcels were subsequently divided into smaller allotments, and made available to settlers as pastoral leases and freehold titles.{{cite web|url=http://www.litchfield.nt.gov.au/index.php?page=goyder-s-hundreds |title=Litchfield Council - Goyder's Hundreds |publisher=Litchfield.nt.gov.au |access-date=2012-06-17}}

Following the discovery of gold near Pine Creek during the 1880s, the subsequent influx of Chinese miners to the Northern Territory led to a high demand for food crops such as rice.{{Cite web |title=Humpty Doo Rice Trail |url=https://www.ricetrail.com.au/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=www.ricetrail.com.au}} Rice planted on the floodplains near Humpty Doo was used to meet this demand, with some success.[http://www.smh.com.au/news/northern-territory/humpty-doo/2005/02/17/1108500201628.html "Humpty Doo"],"The Sydney Morning Herald", Sydney, 8 February 2004 Experiments with other tropical crops, including sugar cane, coffee and rubber, were attempted, most of these planted in the vicinity of Beatrice Hill to the east of the present day town.{{cn|date=April 2022}} Experiments were made with livestock too and it was hoped that the banks of the Adelaide River could be developed to include loading facilities for live cattle export.{{cn|date=April 2022}}

By 1887, plantations on the floodplains had been abandoned due to the financial difficulties of the land owners. Despite this, rubber trees and coffee bushes showed particular potential. A single harvest of 10 tons of coffee beans was exported to Melbourne during the short lived experiment.Litchfield Council [http://www.litchfield.nt.gov.au/index.php?page=agriculture-at-beatrice-hill "Agriculture at Beatrice Hill"]

In 1910, the name "Umpity Doo" first appeared, to describe buildings and improvements on a survey plan of Agricultural Lease No. 28, held by Oscar Herbert. Herbert died in 1974 at nearby Koolpinyah Station.{{cite web|url=http://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/placenames/view.jsp?id=2047|title=Place Names Register|website=www.ntlis.nt.gov.au}}

In 1954, after some experimentation by CSIRO and based on previous successful rice crops, a joint Australia-U.S. company called Territory Rice Ltd. was formed and established the Humpty Doo Rice Project, with a plan to irrigate the sub-coastal plain of the Adelaide River in order to commercially produce rice. The rice project was 20 km east of the present town, on part of the Humpty Doo Station where the name "Humpty Doo" was first used. The plan was a complete failure due to several factors: an invasion of geese, soil that was too saline, and an insufficient amount of drainage, all combined with poor management.{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/Northern-Territory/Humpty-Doo/2005/02/17/1108500201628.html |title=Travel article in the Age |publisher=Theage.com.au |date= 8 February 2004|access-date=2012-06-17}} The company gave up the land to the government in 1962. The irrigation dam, called Fogg Dam, still exists and is a good site for bird watching.

Local resident, Neville Skewes, opened a small store on Mount Bundey Road (now the Arnhem Highway) in 1967. At this time, there was very little development, with most of the surrounding area being bushland. On 11 September 1971, after being granted a liquor licence, Skewes and his wife Helen opened the Humpty Doo Hotel-Motel. The opening of the Hotel coincided with further improvements to the road east to Kakadu and Arnhem Land, and encouraged further urbanisation of the area around Humpty Doo.{{cite web|url=http://www.litchfield.nt.gov.au/index.php?page=humpty-doo-hotel |title=Litchfield Council - Humpty Doo Hotel |publisher=Litchfield.nt.gov.au |date=1971-09-11 |access-date=2012-06-17}}

In 1982, the Royal Australian Navy opened the Humpty Doo Transmitting Station. This replaced a facility at Coonawarra East that was destroyed by Cyclone Tracy in December 1974. The station supports the naval base {{HMAS|Coonawarra}}, located in Darwin.{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/establishments/hmas-coonawarra |title=HMAS Coonawarra - Royal Australian Navy |publisher=Navy.gov.au |access-date=2012-06-17}}

On 21 July 2007, the town played host to the first of the 'Triple J goes AWOL' concerts, sponsored and organised by the national youth radio station Triple J.

The Humpty Doo Hotel is well known and features in several bush ballads, including "The Man from Humpty Doo" by Ted Egan and "Humpty Doo Waltz" by Slim Dusty. It opened in 1971, survived Cyclone Tracy in 1974 and has since become a local icon. In addition to comfortable visitor accommodation, the hotel features a bar area with open walls, a concrete floor, and an iron roof. Local live music acts regularly perform here.{{cite web |date=2010-02-04 |title=Darwin: Your shout at the Humpty Doo Hotel |url=http://www.ourpatch.com.au/australia/users/pippas83/blogs/2143-your-shout-at-the-humpty-doo-hotel |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222134221/http://www.ourpatch.com.au/australia/users/pippas83/blogs/2143-your-shout-at-the-humpty-doo-hotel |archive-date=2010-12-22 |access-date=2012-06-17 |publisher=OurPatch}}

File:Big Crocodiles in Humpty Doo, Northern Territory, 2021.jpg

Another tourist attraction is the Big Boxing Crocodile outside the United Petroleum station (formerly known as the Bush Shop) on the Arnhem Highway. This humorous attraction is a reference to the large crocodile population in the area and is one of the many famous "big things" found around Australia.{{Cite web |last=Bardot |first=Bigs |date=2021-05-13 |title=The Big Boxing Crocodile, Humpty Doo, NT - Land of the Bigs |url=https://landofthebigs.com/big-boxing-crocodile-humpty-doo-nt/#google_vignette |access-date=2025-04-02 |language=en-AU}}

Graeme Gow's Reptile World is also an attractive stop for tourists on their way to Kakadu, with a collection of at least 300 species of snake.

The Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve is approximately 25 km (15.5 mi) east of the town and can be accessed off the Arnhem Highway. The reserve is situated on the Adelaide River floodplains, and is one of few publicly accessible natural wetland environments in the Top End all year round. The reserve is a wildlife refuge, and is significant both as a remnant of the failed Territory Rice Ltd venture, and its cultural significance to the local Aboriginal people. Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve features many walking trails and observation areas. Ranger guided activities are also available. At the end of the wet season, in around March–April, native wading birds including jabirus can be observed in large numbers near the dam wall.{{cite web |author=Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport |title=Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve - NRETAS Internet Site |url=http://www.nretas.nt.gov.au/national-parks-and-reserves/parks/find/foggdam |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616171737/http://www.nretas.nt.gov.au/national-parks-and-reserves/parks/find/foggdam |archive-date=2012-06-16 |access-date=2012-06-17 |publisher=Nretas.nt.gov.au}}

Wishart Siding, a heritage listed relic of the North Australia Railway is located near the junction of the Stuart and Arnhem Highways a short distance west of town. The site dates back to 1915 and was used as an accommodation facility for maintenance workers when the line was operational. It is the only facility remaining of its kind along the alignment of the former railway.[http://www.heritage.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahpi/record.pl?RNE17317 Australian Heritage Places Inventory] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025010902/http://www.heritage.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahpi/record.pl?RNE17317|date=2009-10-25}}

The Window on the Wetlands Visitor Centre overlooks the wetlands of the Adelaide River floodplain. The centre sits on top of Beatrice Hill the site of several failed agricultural experiments. Visitors to the centre receive an introduction to the eco-systems of the Northern Coastal Wetlands region. The centre features interactive touch screen displays about the native wildlife and local history, and there is an observation deck on the top floor that provides the best views of the surrounding environment, culturally significant to the local Aboriginal people. Entry is free and the centre is open all year round, seven days a week. The building itself is designed to blend into the natural contours of the landscape.{{cite web |date=2012 |title=Visitor Centre |url=http://www.nretas.nt.gov.au/national-parks-and-reserves/parks/windowwetlands/windowwetlands#recreational |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430005607/http://www.nretas.nt.gov.au/national-parks-and-reserves/parks/windowwetlands/windowwetlands#recreational |archive-date=2012-04-30 |website=NRETAS |publisher=Northern Territory Government}}

Humpty Doo, like the rest of the outer Darwin area, experiences a tropical savannah climate (Köppen Aw), with two distinct seasons. The wet season is when the highest rainfall occurs and runs from November–December through until April. During these months the area is subject to the effects of monsoon troughs and there is the threat of tropical cyclones. The wet season is characterised by higher average temperatures, high humidity, and a greater proportion of rainy days and often associated thunderstorms.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

The dry season, from May to October, brings lower humidity, significantly cooler overnight temperatures, and minimal rainfall. It is characterised by sunny days with clear skies.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

{{Weather box

|location = Humpty Doo (Middle Point)

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|Jan high C = 32.6

|Feb high C = 32.0

|Mar high C = 32.4

|Apr high C = 33.1

|May high C = 32.5

|Jun high C = 31.3

|Jul high C = 31.3

|Aug high C = 32.9

|Sep high C = 34.7

|Oct high C = 35.6

|Nov high C = 35.1

|Dec high C = 33.8

|year high C = 33.1

|Jan low C = 23.8

|Feb low C = 23.9

|Mar low C = 23.6

|Apr low C = 22.1

|May low C = 19.4

|Jun low C = 16.1

|Jul low C = 14.9

|Aug low C = 16.8

|Sep low C = 20.1

|Oct low C = 22.7

|Nov low C = 23.7

|Dec low C = 23.9

|year low C = 20.9

|Jan precipitation mm = 332.6

|Feb precipitation mm = 284.0

|Mar precipitation mm = 254.7

|Apr precipitation mm = 88.4

|May precipitation mm = 22.0

|Jun precipitation mm = 1.6

|Jul precipitation mm = 0.8

|Aug precipitation mm = 2.4

|Sep precipitation mm = 12.9

|Oct precipitation mm = 57.4

|Nov precipitation mm = 125.8

|Dec precipitation mm = 228.6

|year precipitation mm = 1419.4

|Jan rain days = 17.4

|Feb rain days = 16.2

|Mar rain days = 14.9

|Apr rain days = 5.8

|May rain days = 1.6

|Jun rain days = 0.1

|Jul rain days = 0.2

|Aug rain days = 0.3

|Sep rain days = 1.3

|Oct rain days = 4.8

|Nov rain days = 9.6

|Dec rain days = 13.4

|year rain days = 85.6

|source 1 = {{cite web

|url= http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_014090.shtml |title= Summary Statistics for Middle Point Rangers |publisher= Australian Bureau of Meteorology}}

|date=April 2012

}}

There are several schools in Humpty Doo catering for students in Transition through to Year 12.

Humpty Doo Primary School, located on Freds Pass Rd, is a public school for Transition - Year 6 students. The site also has a pre-school and offers an after school childcare program. The school includes students from diverse ethnic backgrounds: 15% of students identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders, another 25% of the student population are from Vietnamese, Thai, Filipino, Indonesian, Cambodian, Spanish, Dutch, or Chinese language backgrounds.{{cite web|author=Department of Education and Training |url=http://www.det.nt.gov.au/smarterschools/videos/humpty-doo-primary-school/transcript-humpty-doo-primary-school-video |title=Department of Education and Training - Transcript - Humpty Doo Primary School video |publisher=Det.nt.gov.au |date=2012-02-17 |access-date=2012-06-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804092806/http://www.det.nt.gov.au/smarterschools/videos/humpty-doo-primary-school/transcript-humpty-doo-primary-school-video |archive-date=2012-08-04 }} There were 394 students enrolled at the school as of August 2010.{{cite web|url=http://directory.ntschools.net/SchoolProfile.aspx?asset=00092&childAsset=00092 |title=DEET Directory - School profile |publisher=Directory.ntschools.net |access-date=2012-06-17}}

Saint Francis of Assisi School and Early Learning Centre on Challenor Circuit is a Catholic school that provides an alternative for students in Transition to Year 7. The school was established in 1997 and draws enrollments from across the rural outer Darwin. As of 2012, the total student enrollment is approximately 160. The principal is Neal Maxwell.{{cite web|url=http://www.education.net.au/education/ST-FRANCIS-OF-ASSISI-SCHOOL/2207/ |title=St Francis of Assisi School - Humpty Doo - The National Education Directory Australia Pty Ltd |publisher=Education.net.au |access-date=2012-06-17}}

The town has a public secondary school, Taminmin College, formerly Taminmin High School. Established in 1983, the college provides middle years schooling for students in Years 7 – 9, a senior college for Years 10 – 12 and Vocational Education and Training (VET) pathways. Student enrollments are drawn from an area of over 7000sq km. School facilities include a 150ha conservation area for the study of conservation and land management, a 75ha mixed produce and livestock farm for agricultural studies, an air-conditioned gymnasium, sports fields, and a library which is open to students and the wider Humpty Doo community. The school prepares senior students to sit their [NTCET] examinations, as well as having programs in place to provide vocational pathways such as trade apprenticeships on completion of studies. The current principal is Mrs. Sue Healy.Taminimin High School website http://www.taminmin.nt.edu.au/ As of August 2019, there were 1110 students enrolled at the college.{{cite web|url=https://directory.ntschools.net/#/schools/details/taminhs |title=DEET Directory - School profile |publisher=Directory.ntschools.net |access-date=30 September 2021}}

Tertiary and further vocational education and training are available through Charles Darwin University, with campuses in both Darwin and Palmerston.

The Humpty Doo waste transfer station is one of three waste management and recycling facilities operated by the Shire of Litchfield, and is the only station accommodating commercial waste. It is open 7 days per week. There is a fee that applies for commercial users. Non-recyclable waste is compacted and transferred to the Shoal Bay Waste Management Facility. The facility is capable of handling cardboard and paper, glass bottles, whitegoods, steel, plastic containers, aluminium cans, cardboard, green waste, and oil.{{Cite web|title=Waste and Recycling|url=http://www.litchfield.nt.gov.au/services-projects/waste-and-recycling|access-date=2021-05-23|website=Litchfield Council|language=en}}

• The World Wrestling Entertainment character Outback Jack–portrayed by Peter Stilsbury between 1986 and 1988–was billed as coming from Humpty Doo. The character was an outback bushman in the vein of Crocodile Dundee.
• Professional Australian rules footballers to have come from Humpty Doo include Nakia Cockatoo and Tayla Thorn."[https://www.afl.com.au/news/110439/taylas-path-from-humpty-doo-to-role-model Tayla's path from Humpty Doo to role model]" by Ashley Bolt for afl.com.au on 11 March 2017.
• Harold Thomas, the designer and copyright holder of the Australian Aboriginal flag moved here in 1972 and still lives there.{{Cite news |date=2022-01-25 |title=The man behind the iconic flag now free for all Australians: Who is Harold Thomas? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-25/aboriginal-flag-who-is-harold-thomas/100779922 |access-date=2024-05-21 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}

• The 9th Fighter Squadron of the 49th Fighter Group attached to the United States' 5th Air Force gained the nickname "Humpty Doo Fighters" while stationed in the area in 1942. The squadron was accommodated in a camp referred to by Lucien Hubbard as Humpty Doo after the cattle station with the same name while acting as a publicity correspondent. The actual campsite location was further south than the township of Humpty Doo, to the east of Noonamah.{{cite web |url=http://www.flyingknights.net/humptydoo.htm |title=Fighters at Humpty Doo |publisher=Flying Knights Model Aircraft Club |access-date=2012-06-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317125537/http://www.flyingknights.net/humptydoo.htm |archive-date=2012-03-17 |url-status=dead }}
• A rhabdovirus isolated from the midge Lasiohelea spp. at Humpty Doo is referred to as the "Humpty Doo virus". No cases of human infection by Humpty Doo virus are known. In the literature of virology, it is only referenced as infecting kangaroos.{{cite journal |title=Isolation of arboviruses from insects collected at Beatrice Hill, Northern Territory of Australia, 1974-1976 |vauthors=Standfast HA, Dyce AL, St George TD, Muller MJ, Doherty RL, Carley JG, Filippich C |journal=Aust J Biol Sci |pmid=6152599 |volume=37 |issue=5–6 |year=1984 |pages=351–66|doi=10.1071/bi9840351 |doi-access=free }}
• A bacterial species of the genus Burkholderia was first isolated during routine screening of a water well in Humpty Doo. Burkholderia humptydooensis has been proposed as its taxonomic name.{{cite journal|title=Burkholderia humptydooensis sp. nov., a New Species Related to Burkholderia thailandensis and the Fifth Member of the Burkholderia pseudomallei Complex |vauthors=Tuanyok A, Mayo M, Scholz R, Hall CM, Allender CJ,Kaestli M,Ginther J,Spring-Pearson S, Bollig MC, Stone JK, Settles EW, Busch JD, Sidak-Loftis L, Sahl JW, Thomas A, Kreutzer L, Georgi E, Gee J, Bowen RA, Ladner JT, Lovett S, Koroleva G, Palacios G, Wagner DM, Currie BJ, Keim P |journal=Appl Environ Microbiol|pmid= 27986727 |pmc=5311406 |volume=83 |issue=5 |year=2017|doi=10.1128/AEM.02802-16 }}
• From September 2009 to December 2009, the numbers station Cherry Ripe is believed to have been broadcast from Humpty Doo until its discontinuation.{{cite web |url=http://www.simonmason.karoo.net/page14.html |title=E3 Lincolnshire Poacher |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202060629/http://www.simonmason.karoo.net/page14.html |archive-date=2019-02-02 |access-date=2019-02-02}}
• The wishbone spider species Aname humptydoo owes its specific epithet to being collected from Humpty Doo.{{cite journal |last1=Raven|first1=RJ |last2= |first2= | date=1985 |title= A revision of the Aname pallida species-group in northern Australia |url= |journal=Australian Journal of Zoology |volume=33 |issue= |pages=377–409 [397] |doi= |access-date=}} It is yet to be recorded from any other locality.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20031210083957/http://www.walkabout.com.au/locations/NTHumptyDoo.shtml Walkabout]

{{Litchfield Municipality Suburbs and Towns}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Towns in the Northern Territory