The Palmerston Magpies Football Club began in 1970 and was originally known as the Internationals. At that time most players were English and Greek soccer players. In 1973 North Darwin Football Club was formed, with the club winning a premiership in 1980/81 under the leadership of Coach Ian Smith and Captain John Stokes (father of current AFL footballer Matthew Stokes). North Darwin Football Club moved to Palmerston in the 1995/1996 season and became the Palmerston Magpies Incorporated the following season, at which time the club moved to Palmerston to play home games for 1 season at Archer Oval. Following a move back to Marrara as our home ground, the club played in 4 grand finals 1999/2000 to 2002/2003 and won 2 premierships in 2000/2001 and 2001/2002.

Palmerston Magpies Inc is the only club in the NTFL that represents its own City. The City of Palmerston, home of the Palmerston Magpies Inc, is located 21km south of Darwin. The City was developed in the 1980s and has been one of Australia's fastest growing areas being declared a city on 2 August 2000. With an average age of 28, Palmerstons population of 30,000 is primarily made up of families. Approximately 30 per cent of the population is under 15 years of age. The predicted population is 45,000 by 2020. The City Centre has two major shopping complexes (including the Territory's only Target store), City Council offices, Library, various sporting clubs, restaurants, hotels and bars, Skate Park, cinema, smaller shops and a newly constructed Indoor Stadium. The City itself currently has 10 suburbs - Driver, Gray, Woodroffe, Moulden, Durack, Farrar, Gunn, Rosebery, Bakewell, and Marlow Lagoon. Other areas are already designated for future development as the population grows. Although Palmerston is mainly residential, it also has two light industrial areas - Pinelands and Yarrawonga. From a football perspective, Palmerston is potentially one of the best recruiting towns in Australia in terms of players who have been produced. In this respect it is vital that the Club remains strong in order to develop local talent and help players achieve their full potential whatever their level of sporting ability may be.

Palmerston Magpies home ground is the Southern Cross Oval, a $2 million facility located at Charles Darwin University Palmerston Campus. The Palmerston Magpies Inc have a 10 year lease with a further 10 year option with Charles Darwin University. The oval was purpose built for Palmerston Magpies and features a treatment room, 2 large change rooms, an umpires change room, toilet facilities including disabled amenities, a kiosk and a 6 metre full length veranda. There will be a rail perimeter fence around the oval which can be used for signage and a grassed mound all around one wing. We are hoping to program 5-7 home games at this new venue for the upcoming 2009/2010 NTFL season. Training is on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Bar and kiosk facilities are available on both training nights with meals available on Thursday nights and all are welcome to attend.