Birdum was the terminus of the North Australia Railway from 1929 until the outbreak of World War II.

While the town remains very much unheard of, even amongst Territorians, it features on an unusually high proportion of vintage 20th century world globes, thanks to the position it once held at the end of the line.

An evacuation hospital was constructed at Birdum by the United States Army 135th Medical Regiment in September 1942.

The Royal Australian Air Force constructed a Base Personnel Staff Officer (BPSO) and Telecommunications Camp near Birdum.

The following places listed on the Northern Territory Heritage Register are located within Birdum: