Ngukurr is along the Roper Highway about 195 kilometres west off the Stuart Highway, further west of Roper Bar. Its name comes from the low hill which overlooks the river.

It was a mission from the years 1908 to 1968, run by the Anglicans. In fact, it was the first Christian mission in Arnhem Land, having been chosen as a site by the Bishop of Carpentaria, Bishop Gilbert and the Reverend A.R. Ebbs in 1907. This original mission was situated some 8 kilometres from the settlements present day site.

There were several difficulties encountered in the early years, culminating in the flood of 1940 which literally washed the mission away. Hence the new site for the mission, this second one being built on higher ground, as they were naturally enough fairly sensitive to the threat of future flooding. It was an isolated spot and the delivery of mail and general supplies was unreliable in those early years, coming as it did via a fairly unreliable barge.

There was not much development here during the war years, but the arrival of the 'welfare era' brought with it an improvement of services. The Anglicans were finding it difficult to adequately deal with the ever augmenting needs of this growing settlement. Eventually in 1968, they handed over the responsibility to the Welfare Division of the Northern Territory Administration.

The main tribal groups in the area are the Mara, Alawa, Ridharrngu, Wandarrang, Nunggubuyu, Ngandi, Ngalakan and Rimbarrnga.

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