Wagait Beach, Northern Territory
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Wagait Beach Northern Territory |
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Rocks at Imaluk Beach
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 Wagait Beach
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| Coordinates | 12°26′08″S 130°44′53″E / 12.43556°S 130.74806°ECoordinates: 12°26′08″S 130°44′53″E / 12.43556°S 130.74806°E | ||||||||||||
| Population | 369 (2011 census) | ||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 0822 | ||||||||||||
| Location | 128 km (80 mi) from Darwin | ||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Wagait Shire | ||||||||||||
| Territory electorate(s) | Daly | ||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Lingiari | ||||||||||||
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Wagait Beach is a locality approximately 8 km west of Darwin, on the opposite side of the harbour. It makes up the Wagait Shire local government area. The population was approximately 370 in 2011. Wagait Beach is not part of Darwin, but many of its residents use the Mandorah ferry to travel to work in Darwin.
Wagait Beach is on the north coast of the Cox Peninsula, which forms the western side of Darwin Harbour. It is part of the Hundred of Bray, as surveyed by Goyder in 1869-70. "Wagait" (also spelled "Waugite") is a local Aboriginal language word meaning beach or salt water country. It also refers to the people from that country: i.e., salt water people.
In 1942, after the Bombing of Darwin, a military base was established at Waugite Point on the north east of the Cox Peninsula, and a huge observation tower was constructed, with a communications bunker underneath it. Waugaite tower was destroyed by Cyclone Tracy in 1974. The precise origin of the name of the community is unclear, but the beach adjacent to Wagait Point is called Wagait Beach. One source claims that the community was named after the tower, which is unconvincing as the tower was named after Waugite (Wagait) Point and so clearly isn't the origin of the name. Whether or not the beach was known as Wagait beach before the tower was built is not known.
The Wagait Community is home to many artists, musicians and writers. Wagait Beach hosts several annual cultural events. At Easter is the annual Wagait Beach Bicycle Carnaval & Mardi Gras. In July is the Mandorah Ukulele Folk Festival. In August is the annual Wagait Arts Festival.
Wagait Beach can be accessed by a 15-minute passenger ferry trip, from Cullen Bay (Darwin), to Mandorah. Mandorah is 5 km from Wagait Beach. There is a bicycle path from Mandorah to Wagait Beach. It is a 128 km drive from Darwin via the Cox Peninsula Rd through Berry Springs.
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Wikipedia