Real estate expert Glenn Grantham said the best time to move to the NT is in wet season

The secret to staying in the Territory for longer has been revealed, with weather a major factor in retaining the transient population.

Darwin property agent Glenn Grantham has advice for people contemplating migrating to Darwin. Arrive during the Wet.

While the message is delivered mostly tongue-in-cheek, the Raine and Horne general manager reckons the transition from temperate climates to the humidity is better absorbed without a lead-in phase.

“Extreme weather conditions affect all people, especially people who move here from down south,” he said.

“The theory is if you can last two months, you’ll last six months and last 20 years but it’s difficult for some people to adjust.”

He said while it doesn’t happen every day, it’s not uncommon for tenants to try and break a lease because they want to flee the humidity.

Chris Horsman of Fannie Bay beating the build up heat. Real estate expert Glenn Grantham says the best way to get acclimatised is to come during the hottest period. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“It’s an acquired taste,” he said. “There is an element of people who turn around and say it’s too hot. They actually say it’s too sticky. It’s more about the humidity than the heat.

“You’re better off coming to Darwin during the Wet Season so you know what you’re in for.”

Heat does matter.

That’s why in 2021 CSIRO, the Federal Government, NT Government and City of Darwin released the Feeling Cooler in Darwin strategy, looking into heat mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Stephen Cook, CSIRO local co-ordinator for the Darwin Living Lab,, said focus groups identified the challenges faced staying cool and health burden on groups that are exposed to the heat including construction and other outdoor workers, sportspeople, teachers and childcare workers.

“The focus groups highlighted the strategies that local workers use to adapt to the extreme heat at this time of year” Mr Cook said. “They might start work super early and take regular breaks. It was mentioned that outdoor workers who come from other states can take a while to adjust to coping with heat and understanding how to manage that.

“In particular it is a real challenge for those outdoor workers.

“They mentioned the impact on productivity at this time of year and with climate change it’s only going to get hotter.”

For sportspeople, playing during wet season games at night is an option.

“Childcare workers and teachers discussed more trees and shading and for outdoor workers being able to retreat to an car air-conditioned site office or iced-water and slushies.”

In a 2018 report, CDU Northern Institute senior research fellow Dr Kerstin Zander investigated links between heat stress and population density, focusing on Manilla in the Philippines.

Her conclusion: Heat stress harms people’s health, impairs well-being and reduces productivity.

“As well as increasing the chance of disease, heat stress can also lead to substantial economic losses through reduced labour productivity and higher levels of work-related accidents,” Dr Zander said. “Add to this increased energy demand and the link between heat stress and more crime, and the need to improve the capacity of the urban population to cope with heat becomes very apparent.”

Worse, the study found airconditioning was losing its impact.

“In play is the proposition that widespread use of airconditioning could be reducing people’s ability to handle the heat.”

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