It includes the central business district of the capital, Darwin City, and represents two-thirds of its metropolitan population.

[1] The Larrakia people are the traditional owners of the lands and waters in and surrounding the Darwin local government area.

Darwin is known as Garramilla in Gulumirrgin, one of the languages of the Larrakia people, but there are many place names within the area.

In 1955 a statement added to the Local Government Ordinance provided for the Constitution of the Municipality of Darwin.

Councillors from each ward are elected using a Single Transferable Vote (STV) proportional system.