Yirrkala, Northern Territory — interactive Google street map, satellite and terrain views, Street View, live local weather conditions and 7-day forecasts, real-time local and world news, and an editorial description of Yirrkala, in the East Arnhem Region local government area.
| Locality | Yirrkala |
| Territory | Northern Territory (NT) |
| Local Government Area | East Arnhem Region |
| Country | Australia |
| Timezone | Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) - no daylight saving |
| Remoteness | Very Remote Australia |
| Latitude | -12.24539 |
| Longitude | 136.8771 |
| Population | 851 |
| Density | 102.5 /km² |
| Area | 8.3 km² |
| Elevation | 28 m |
| Postcode | 0880 |
| Area Code | 08 |
| Distance to Darwin | 656 km east |
Yirrkala is a locality in the East Arnhem Region local government area of Northern Territory, Australia. It is a small community with a population of 851. The locality covers an area of 8.3 km², giving a population density of about 102.5 people per km². It sits at an elevation of around 28 m above sea level. It lies approximately 656 km east of Darwin. Yirrkala is located at 12.2454°S, 136.8771°E. It observes Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) - no daylight saving. Postcode: 0880. The Australian Bureau of Statistics classifies the area as Very Remote Australia.
Yirrkala rests where the red earth surrenders to the blue of the Arafura Sea, a place defined by the gentle rise of ancient hills and the whispering scrub that hugs their slopes. It lies 655.8 km east of Darwin City, NT (from Darwin City, NT: bearing 89°T), and is situated 13.2 km east-south-east of Nhulunbuy. The air here carries the faint, sweet scent of salt and eucalyptus, a constant reminder of the sea's proximity and the vast, untamed land stretching inland. Sunlight, when it breaks through the humid haze, bleaches the sandy tracks and warms the weathered corrugated iron roofs, casting long shadows that lengthen and shift with the passing hours. The land itself seems to breathe, a slow, steady inhale and exhale of heat and light, punctuated by the calls of unseen birds and the distant murmur of waves.
This corner of East Arnhem Land is steeped in a history that predates recorded time, a living connection to the Yolŋu people who have cared for this country for millennia. The local economy, while influenced by broader Australian enterprises, remains deeply rooted in the traditions of art and culture, with Yirrkala renowned globally for its distinctive bark paintings and intricate wood carvings. The sea provides sustenance, a bounty of fish and crustaceans that have long been a staple, and its shores, often fringed with mangrove forests, offer a stark beauty. Yirrkala’s story is one of resilience and continuity, a testament to the enduring spirit of its people and their profound relationship with this luminous, elemental landscape.
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This page provides an interactive Google map of Yirrkala, Northern Territory with street, satellite and terrain views and integrated Street View imagery. Live weather conditions with current observations and a 7-day forecast are powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while an editorially written description provides background on Yirrkala, in the East Arnhem Region local government area.
Detailed location data for Yirrkala includes the postcode (0880), telephone area code (08), and local government area (East Arnhem Region), with an ABS remoteness classification of Very Remote Australia. These are among the most commonly searched location details for any Australian city, town or locality.
Location data is drawn from Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020) and enriched with GeoNames and Australian Bureau of Statistics data, matched by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Yirrkala is identified even where the name is shared across multiple localities.
| Page generated | June 2026 |
| Location data | Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020); enriched with GeoNames and ABS 2021 Census data, matched by coordinate proximity |
| Description | Editorial description generated with AI assistance from verified Geoscape, ABS and GeoNames location data. |