Andromeda sits really high in Darwin. I viewed it 2 nights ago with my 10x50 binos from a light polluted street in Wanguri!
You can use your hands to calculate arcs of the sky.
http://oneminuteastronomer.com/860/measuring-sky/
EDIT: I just read your original post again, only properly this time. If you have worked out that it's transit is around 35°, then that won't change a great deal. The time at which it happens will change, but not the altitude.
Clear skies.