Beach cordoned, police sent to Nhulunbuy to deal with unexploded ‘ordinance’

Australian Defence Force and Territory Response Group officers have been sent to a Territory town late on Friday to examine a suspected bomb at a popular beach. LATEST FROM POLICE.

Australian Defence Force and Territory Response Group officers have been sent to a Territory town late on Friday to examine a suspected bomb at a popular beach.

A safety exclusion zone was created and an area cordoned off at Nhulunbuy Beach after an unexploded bomb was identified.

NT Police said on Friday morning its members were currently responding to a report of the “unexploded ordnance” in the vicinity of the Nhulunbuy Surf Life Saving Club.

A Friday morning social media post alerted the community to the unwanted discovery.

The cordoned area is near Eugenia Ave.

“Senior Sergeant Danny Bell of Nhulunbuy Police advises that Nhulunbuy Police are currently responding to a report of an unexploded ordinance which has been uncovered on the beach in the vicinity of the Nhulunbuy Surf Life Saving Club,” the post read.

“Police are liaising with specialist units in relation to the device and have created a safety exclusion zone around it pending further advice.

“The exclusion area includes the Surf Lifesaving Club carpark at the end of Eugenia Ave and the beach front to the northwest for a distance of 200 meters.

“Police ask that the public avoid this area while the situation is being resolved and further advice will be provided as is required around area access.”

Senior Sergeant Bell told the NT News that Australian Defence Force and Territory Response Group officers would fly to Nhulunbuy on Friday afternoon to assess the scene and determine a solution.

He said the response began after a member of the public spotted and photographed the object and drew its presence to police attention at about 8.15am.

“TRG and ADF were sent photos and they have suspicions but will run tests and try and identify it,” Senior Sergeant Bell said.

“The indications are though it’s an ordnance of some type.”

Nhulunbuy beach.

The length of time it had been on the beach and for how long remains a mystery.

“It’s highly unlikely to have been there since the war ended. It’s only just under the surface,” he said.

“We can’t confirm what it is but there is a suspicion it’s a relic, but from time to time incendiary flares are dropped for military or civilian purposes.

“We should find out later today.”

Long-time Nhulunbuy resident and Historical Society member David Suter said the area was a high-traffic zone that had also experienced plenty of disruption through construction since World War II.

“Along that coastline in World War II there were small machine gun posts and they were more around Yirrkala mission tan this end, so it is surprising there is any sort of ordnance in that area.

“I’m surprised to hear they’ve found a bomb there. It’s the access to the beach and a lot of people walk along there.

Gove Peninsula Surf Club isn’t too worried.

“The Surf Club spends time down there with the surf lifesaving stuff they do. It’s interesting that after all the earthworks during the construction of the family flats, and that was all levelled ground and there’s a big carpark down there as well.

“There’s been significant disturbance over the years but we’ll wait and see.”

Gove Peninsula Surf Club appeared unruffled by the discovery, urging patrons on social media to not “let a little unexploded WWII bomb ruin your Friday arvo plans”.

The venue is still open from 5pm for dinner and drinks, they said.

“We promise the only thing explosive will be the flavour coming out of Wayno’s kitchen.”

Nhulunbuy, like much of coastal Northern Territory, was a target for World War II Japanese bombers.

Casualties were reported when the mission camp at Millingimbi, near Nhulunbuy, was bombed and Boomerang aircraft were destroyed in Japanese raids on Nhulunbuy in 1943.

Police have been contacted for additional information.

In June 2024, a WWII explosive was discovered in the Darwin Harbour.

Visitors were evacuated from the Stokes Hill Wharf and surrounds and a Defence spokesman later confirmed the ordinace was a Japanese WWII 60kg high explosive bomb.

It was later safely detonated.