Dundee Beach

Dundee Beach is a locality in the Northern Territory of Australia, located approximately 59 km (37 mi) southwest of the territory capital of Darwin.

Dundee Beach is a locality in the Northern Territory of Australia, located approximately 59 km (37 mi) southwest of the territory capital of Darwin.

The 2016 Australian census which was conducted in August 2016 reports thatDundee Beach had 207 people living within its boundaries.

Development in the area began in the 1990s, originally as a weekend retreat for Darwin residents. The local economy is still largely dependent on tourism, with fishing being the main attraction. Community services and amenities include a small school established in 1998, a volunteer fire brigade and several sporting and social clubs.

One of Australia's earliest artifacts of European origin was found by a 13-year-old school boy on Dundee Beach in 2010. Initially believed to be a Portuguese Swivel gun dating from the 1500s, the discovery prompted international media attention and renewed speculation about early Portuguese exploration of Australia prior to the arrival of Captain Cook on the East Coast in 1770.However this claim has been disputed by the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory following analysis of sand inside the gun's barrel dating it closer to 1750. The museum instead speculated it was likely dropped overboard by Makassan traders who were known to visit the area to harvest Sea cucumber and trade with local Aboriginal peoples. This indicates the gun was more likely a copy of a Dutch or Portuguese design, manufactured in South East Asia.