Images: 0800-501 to 0800-550 Darwin Gallery of historical B&W photos converted to colour.

0800-502 Padre Chris Goy and Rev Clyde Toft outside the Methodist Church Knuckey Street Darwin Circa 1937 - 1942.

Image Source: Original B&W
Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/737767
Photographer: Steenholdt, Wilf

Image Source: Original Colour
https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-142508215/view
Creator? Flynn, John, 1880-1951

Description:
Padre Chris Goy and Rev Clyde Toft outside the Methodist Church Darwin where they preached on alternative Sundays.

Don...
Nestled amidst the hustle and bustle of Darwin's bustling city streets stood a beacon of history and resilience - the territory's oldest church. Once a dilapidated and forgotten structure, the former Wesleyan Methodist church has undergone a remarkable transformation.

Built in 1897, the church was designed to withstand the harsh tropical climate of Darwin, including cyclones and termites. It has stood the test of time, surviving World War II bombing, more than 19 cyclones, and years of neglect and abuse.

But in 2000, the NT Government recognized that the building's survival was uncertain and made the decision to reconstruct and move it to the Darwin Botanic gardens. And in 2014, it was renamed Eva's Cafe after Evlampia Holtze, paying homage to its rich history while also providing a new chapter in its story.

Posted -2022

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0800-502

0800-503 Otto Peters' Store Mitchell Street, Palmerston. Port Darwin 1875.

Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/883388
Foelsche Collection Date: 03/06/1875

Description:
Otto Peters' Store, Mitchell Street, Palmerston.

Don:
On February 25th 1875, the steamship Gothenburg, owned by McMeckan, Blackwood, & Co., struck a reef off the coast of Queensland and became a total wreck. Only 22 of the 137 passengers were saved.

One of the deceased passengers, Mr. Otto Peters, was a well-known businessman in the mercantile community. He had previously worked at a wholesale establishment before starting his own retail business, Peters & Martin, which was successful.

After a few years, he retired with a few thousands to his credit and traveled before starting a new business in the Northern Territory. He was also a passenger on a previous perilous voyage on a ship called the Springbok. Mr. Peters was unmarried.

Posted -2022

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0800-503

0800-504 Port Darwin harbour & Fort Hill taken from Stokes Hill Circa 1880s.

Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/879617
Peter Spillett Collection ;

Description:
Port Darwin harbour & Fort Hill from Stokes Hill.

Don:
Fort Hill was a majestic hill that once stood tall on Darwin Harbour in the Northern Territory of Australia. It was a site of great historical significance, being the location of George Goyder's survey camp established in 1869. The hill was not only a beacon of colonial history but also holds a special place in the hearts of the local community.

It was the earliest European burial site in Darwin, after the tragic death of John William Ogilvie Bennett, a draughtsman on Goyder's 1869 survey expedition. Bennett was fatally speared by Aboriginal people on the Adelaide River and was buried at a site on the top of Fort Hill. Another early settler, Richard Hazard, was also laid to rest on the hill after he passed away on 2 August 1869.

During World War II, Fort Hill played a vital role as it had two oil tunnels bored into the side of the hill, which were used to fuel the war efforts. But, in 1965, the hill was removed to make way for the iron-ore loading wharf, and the remains of Bennett and Hazard were relocated to Darwin Cemetery on McMillians Road. Although the hill no longer stands, the memories and history of Fort Hill will forever be etched in the annals of Darwin's history.

Posted -2023

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0800-504

0800-505 Qantas Empire Airways Hanger Built in 1934. Parap Darwin. Today it is the Motor Vehicle Enthusiasts Club and Museum.

Image Source: Kerry Mark.

Peter Grice:
The building is now heritage listed and belongs to the NT Museum. The Motor Vehicle Enthusiasts Club live there on a licence and repair, maintain and exhibit their vehicles there. The Hangar also houses some Museum owned pieces like the Sand Fly steam engine and the Margaret Rose steam traction engine from the failed Fogg Dam rice farm. In addition there is also a collection of Stationary Engines that belong to Leo Izod who is the same age as the hangar and his dad owned the first Holden Dealership in Darwin.

Don:
In 1934, the Sidney-Williams Company erected an impressive pre-fabricated hangar in Darwin for Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, in time for the Centenary Air race. This state-of-the-art facility was used by the first Australia-England air service operated by Qantas and Empire Airways, as well as the inaugural Adelaide–Darwin air service operated by Qantas and Guinea Airways. After the Ross Smith airstrip was deemed inactive in 1946, the hangar was repurposed as a mechanical workshop and a store.

Posted -2023

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0800-505

0800-506 Stokes Hill Power Station Darwin 1967.

Citation address: https://hdl.handle.net/10070/750829
Lois & Geoff Helyar Collection. Date: 01/04/1967

Description:
Stokes Hill power station, oil tanks and wharf. Aerial view.

Don:
Stokes Hill Power Station was an oil-fired thermal power station in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. It was the largest power station in the Northern Territory at the time, yet was considered unreliable and inefficient due to its high operating costs. As a result, the government had to heavily subsidize power bills for Darwin residents. The station was opened in 1962, with a capacity of 15 MW, and was upgraded to a maximum of 141 MW by 1977. After Cyclone Tracy hit in 1974, the station closed and was not fully operational again until 25 January. It was decommissioned in 2002, with a new gas-fired power station, Channel Island Power Station, replacing it.

Posted -2023

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0800-506

0800-507 The Telegraph Fleet, Port Darwin, 1871 At left is Bengal with Sweet's ship Gulnare immediately behind, then Hibernia, Investigator and Edinburgh.

Photographer: Samuel White Sweet

Description:
Telegraph Fleet responsible for laying cable in Darwin Harbour. On the left are two ships (Gulnare and Bengal) tied up alongside each other. Astern is Hibernia, Investigator & Edinburgh on the far right in deeper water.

Sweet’s trademark anchor is lower right among the bushes.

On 26 October 1871, the three ships, carrying the submarine cable arrived at Port Darwin. After laying the cable on the beach below the BAT offices, the ships steamed away to Banjoewangie on the east coast of Java where the cable was connected to the line which stretched across land and sea to England.

Posted -2023

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0800-507