Median house price
—
No data available
NT · Darwin Council
The Gardens, 0820
Est. population · Jun 2025
806
Growth (1 yr)
+1.8%
Growth (5 yr)
+7.0%
Median age
36
Median income
$2,156/wk
Employment rate
65.7%
Languages at home
25.5%non-English
Most common: Nepali, Australian Indigenous languages, Mandarin
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
- Education hub
- Excellent transport
- Café precinct
Suburb profile
The Gardens is a well-connected smaller community in Darwin Council with everyday amenities close at hand. Residents are mostly families and working professionals, with plenty of young families in the mix. Overseas-born and multilingual households are a noticeable part of the local population.
Education outcomes and school provision stand out relative to comparable suburbs. Outdoor life is easy here, with generous parks and room for kids, dogs and weekend strolls. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield.
Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. An emerging neighbourhood feel is building here, with new households gradually reshaping local life.
Against similar metro suburbs, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because local dining and lifestyle amenities lag behind, despite relative strength in community and employment, plus safety. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
The Gardens snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
806
+1.8% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
13.5%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#7
among Metro Darwin · Emerging
Pop. growth
79th
percentile in NT
Advantage (IRSAD)
9/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
70th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 50.0/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 18% of Northern Territory's suburbs
- National rank
- 2178th in Australia
- State rank
- 29th in NT
- Peer rank
- #7 among Metro Darwin · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #25 among Metro Darwin suburbs
- Data confidence
- 61%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
806(June 2025)
+1.8% annual · +7.0% over 5 years · 79th percentile in NT
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.8%
- 5-year growth
- +7.0%
- Change in 1 year
- +14
- Change in 5 years
- +53
- Growth rank in NT
- 79th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~850), extrapolated at +1.0% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 726
- Median age
- 36
- Median household income / week
- $2,156
- Dwelling vacancy
- 13.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 45 of 333
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 65.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 6 / 209 / 69
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 7
- Median school ICSEA (7 schools)
- 1,054
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 70th
School list
- St John's Catholic CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 957 · 28th percentile · LBOTE 59% · 287 students · Top SEA quarter 18% · 0.6 km awayView on My School →
- Northern Territory School of Distance EducationSecondary · Government · ICSEA 837 · 4th percentile · LBOTE 59% · 252 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →
- Darwin High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1050 · 68th percentile · LBOTE 51% · 1,286 students · Top SEA quarter 28% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
- Darwin Middle SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1065 · 74th percentile · LBOTE 57% · 663 students · Top SEA quarter 35% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
- Stuart Park Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1054 · 70th percentile · LBOTE 39% · 492 students · Top SEA quarter 27% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Larrakeyah Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1086 · 80th percentile · LBOTE 65% · 480 students · Top SEA quarter 36% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- St Mary's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1076 · 77th percentile · LBOTE 54% · 180 students · Top SEA quarter 34% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Public transport
7 public transport stops in this suburb
- Darwin High School
- Gilruth Ave at Casino
- Gilruth Ave at Gardens Oval
- Gilruth Ave at Mindil Beach
- Gilruth Ave opp Casino
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Amenities
204 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 restaurants · 2 cafes · 3 playgrounds · 1 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 6 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 19/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 2.75
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 5.51
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 8.26
Food & drink(4)
- Eva’s CaféCafe
- Saltwater @ BundillaCafe
19 Conacher Street
- CanteenRestaurant
- il Piatto RestaurantRestaurant
Shopping(1)
- Mindil Beach Sunset MarketMarketplace
Community(1)
- Darwin Middle SchoolSchool
Atkins Drive, The Gardens
Sport & outdoors(12)
- Gardens ParkPark
- Gilruth EscarpmentPark
- Mindil Beach ParkPark
- Park (3)
- Playground (2)
- Tree HousePlayground
- Gardens OvalSports field
- Sports field
- Swimming pool
Entertainment(7)
- Museum
- Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern TerritoryMuseum
19 Conacher Street
- Theatre
- Theatre
21 Geranium Street, The Gardens
- Cycad Garden LookoutViewpoint
- Viewpoint (2)
Transport(6)
6 bus stops
Other(47)
- Artwork
- Bbq (2)
- Bench (5)
- Bicycle Parking (5)
- Mindil Beach Casino & ResortCasino
- Sky City CasinoCasino
- Darwin High SchoolCollege
Bullocky Point, The Gardens
- St John's College Chevalier CampusCollege
- Drinking water (9)
- Fountain
- Boab GardenGarden
- Borassus LawnGarden
- Brownies ToadstoolGarden
- Central GreenGarden
- Coconut LawnGarden
- Cycad GardenGarden
- Darwin AmphitheatreGarden
- Desert RoseGarden
- Dragon CoutyardGarden
- Food GardenGarden
- Garden (57)
- Heritage LawnGarden
- PlaygroundGarden
- Rainforest LoopGarden
- Secret Moonlight GardenGarden
- Sensory GardenGarden
- Shade GardenGarden
- Tiwi Wet ForestGarden
- WaterfallGarden
- WoodlandGarden
- Gift ShopGift
- Mindil Beach Casino & ResortHotel
- Information (6)
- Visitor CentreInformation
- Lakeside Mini GolfMiniature Golf
- BenchOutdoor Seating
- InfinityOutdoor Seating
- Outdoor Seating
- Parking (33)
- Staff and StudentsParking
- VisitorsParking
- Parking Space (8)
- Picnic Table (10)
- Public toilets
- Shelter
- Shower
- Crocodile DarwinYes
Maria Livers Drive
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Gardens ParkPark
- Gilruth EscarpmentPark
- Mindil Beach ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 177
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Darwin Private Hospital (11.1 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 8
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 9.9
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 31° / 25°
- Rainfall
- 1,010 mm · ~90 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 31° / 24°
- Rainfall
- 491 mm · ~61 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 30° / 20°
- Rainfall
- 8 mm · ~1 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 32° / 24°
- Rainfall
- 171 mm · ~21 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via state planning hazard mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- NT Fire Protection and Fire Management zones — Bushfires NT / Department of Lands, Planning and Environment · current · Updated · Shapefile boundaries (CC BY 4.0)
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Solomon
- Member of Parliament
- Luke John GOSLING (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 78,702
- Turnout (2025)
- 79.3%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -7.1 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 48.7%Labor 51.3%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 9.4 km away).
Coalition 45.3%Labor 54.7%
3.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -6.5 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- Stuart ParkLabor 52.2% · Coalition 47.8% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
- DarwinLabor 56.0% · Coalition 44.0% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
- ParapLabor 58.2% · Coalition 41.8% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
- LudmillaLabor 56.8% · Coalition 43.2% TPP (2025)3.2 km away
- MillnerLabor 58.8% · Coalition 41.2% TPP (2025)6.6 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 9/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 7/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
This suburb ranks highly for
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
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