Page 276 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

274  THE NOR THERN TERRIT OR Y

1 Darwin P Old Town Hall
Smith St. 7
Following European settlement in 1864, for the first century The limestone ruin of the Old
of its life Darwin was an outpost of the British Empire, with Town Hall lies at the bottom of
vast cattle farms established around it. In its short, colourful Smith Street. The original
history it has experienced the gold rush of the 1890s, life as council chambers, built in 1883,
became a naval workshop and
an Allied frontline during World War II and almost total store in World War II. Later it was
destruction in 1974 by the fearful winds of Cyclone Tracy a bank and then a museum,
(see p276). Darwin has now emerged as a modern but relaxed before being destroyed by
town where more than 50 ethnic groups mingle, including Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Curved
Asian-born Australians, Aboriginals, Europeans, particularly brick paving built against the
remaining wall symbolizes the
Greeks, and Chinese.
fury of the cyclone’s winds.
= Smith Street Mall P Brown’s Mart
Bennett & Knuckey sts. 7 12 Smith St. Tel (08) 8981 5522. 7
The heart of Darwin’s shopping Opposite the town hall ruins is
area is Smith Street Mall, with its Brown’s Mart, built during the
glass air­conditioned plazas gold boom in 1885. A former
shaded by tall tropical trees. mining exchange, it now houses
Always full of buskers, tour an intimate theatre. The iconic
operators offering trips, locals space hosts bands, plays, work­
and visitors, the mall is a favourite shops and other live shows.
meeting place. Noteworthy
buildings include the 1890
Victoria Hotel, one of the few
old structures in town to survive
Cyclone Tracy. During the dry
season, many outdoor events
are held at Raintree Park, at the
Shady palm trees in Bicentennial Park, northern end of the mall. Front entrance of Parliament House
seen from The Esplanade
P Parliament House P Old Police Station
Y Bicentennial Park Mitchell St, State Square. Tel (08) 8946 and Courthouse
The Esplanade. 7 1512. Open 8am–4:30pm daily. 8 Cnr Smith St & The Esplanade.
This lush, green park, with its May–Aug. 7 ∑nt.gov.au/lant Tel (08) 8999 7103. 7
pleasant shady walks and Dominating the edge of Darwin’s The 1884 limestone Old Police
panoramic lookouts, is home to sea cliffs is the new Parliament Station and Courthouse have
many World War II memorials. House. With architecture that both been restored after being
One commemorates the attack appears to borrow from both damaged by Cyclone Tracy
by Japanese bombers which Middle Eastern and Russian styles, and are now used as the
flew over Darwin Harbour on this imposing building is home Office of the Administrator.
19 February 1942, sinking 21 to the Territory’s 25 parliamen­ Across the road, overlooking
of the 46 US and Australian tarians, who administer just the harbour, is Survivors’ Lookout,
naval vessels in port and 200,000 people. It has a granite where photographs and written
killing 243 people. It was and timber interior which is filled accounts tell of Darwin’s wartime
with Abor
with Aboriginal art. Self­iginal art. Self­iginal art. Self guided
the closest Australia came with Abor role as an Allied frontline.
to war on its own soil. and free 90­minute guided tours Thousands of US and Australian
are available; times and days troops were based in the Top
P Old Admiralty House vary by season, so check the End, which endured 63 bombing
Cnr Knuckey St & The Esplanade. website for full details. raids by Japanese forces (see p61).
Across the road from Lyons
Cottage is Old Admiralty House,
once the headquarters of the
Australian navy and one of the
oldest surviving buildings in
Darwin. It was built in the 1930s
by the territory’s principal
architect, Beni Carr Glynn
Burnett, in an elevated tropical
style using louvres, open eaves
and three­quarter­high walls
to aid ventilation. Darwin’s Old Police Station and Courthouse
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p489 and pp517–18