Doctor's Gully
Doctor's Gully is just to the north of the Esplanade. It can be reached by road or by a path leading from the northern end of the grassy area beside the Esplanade. The first Europeans to visit landed here. The area was originally market gardens, and then it became the site of the first hospital. During the war it was a base for flying boats, and some remains of the wartime activities can still be seen at low tide. Doctor's Gully.
Lyons Cottage
Lyons Cottage is a building interesting in its own right and it also contains an interesting display of photographs. It was built in 1925 to house employees of the British and Australian Telephone Company and demonstrates a colonial style of architecture mostly found in India, Malaya and Singapore. After the Second World War, it was used by the Mayor of Darwin, John Lyons, and became known as Lyons Cottage.
Myilly Point Precinct
Located here are four pre-war houses which are the headquarters of the National Trust. This, the Myilly Point Precinct, was originally housing for high-ranking government employees.
Oil Storage Tunnels
After the Japanese had bombed the oil tanks on the hills in Darwin several times during the Second World War, it was decided that it might be a good idea to put the tanks underground where they would be less vulnerable. Therefore tunnels were constructed and underground storage areas built. This was all done by hand and the underground storage areas were ready just as the war finished, and so were never used. Recently one of these tunnels has been opened to the public. It contains a collection of photographs depicting Darwin during the war years. Kitchener Drive (08 8985 6333).
Old Admiralty House
Old Admiralty House was built as the residence of the North Australian Naval Commander and is a fine tropical-style elevated building, it's sturdy core survived Cyclone Tracy.Corner of Knuckey Street and the Esplanade
Old Courthouse and Police Station
The Old Courthouse and Police Station were built for the South Australian Government in 1884. They suffered greatly from Cyclone Tracy, but have been restored, and are now used as the offices of the Northern Territory Administrator.
Old Town Hall
In a small park opposite the bus station are the ruins of the Old Town Hall. It was built in 1883 and survived until Cyclone Tracy in 1974. Now it has been left as a ruinous reminder of the forces of nature. Who could image that a sturdy stone building could be almost totally destroyed by the winds of a single night? The Territory is indeed a place where one learns to respect nature.
Overland Telegraph Line
A memorial to the Overland Telegraph Line is situated on the Esplanade, not far from Parliament House. This is the point at which the undersea telegraph cable from Banjawangi in Java to Darwin was brought ashore in 1872, enabling the first telegraph messages to be exchanged between Australia and Britain.
Stokes Hill Wharf
Stokes Hill Wharf
is at the tip of the Darwin
city area. On the way there,
you will pass an artificial
reef and fishing platform.
This is a working wharf,
but the area also has
restaurants, cafes, shops
and entertainment.
200 Territorians
On the cliff top running parallel to the Esplanade is a series of commemorative tiles dedicated to 200 typical Territorians. They are not all famous figures, but they all performed jobs upon which the Territory relied. There are people such as Ah Toy's, the greengrocers from which vegetables were shipped all over the ‘Top End' by air freight. There are stockmen and missionaries, politicians and aboriginal leaders. Then there is Eddie Connellan, who ran the Territory airline Connair (unofficial motto, ‘There's no tellin' with Connellan'), and many other colourful characters.
