A wharf with a long memory.

Darwin stands on the country of the Larrakia people, its traditional owners. Stokes Hill, beside the wharf, is a registered Aboriginal sacred site for the Larrakia, and no development or ground-disturbing work is allowed within its boundaries.

The story of the wharf is one recent chapter in a much longer history of this harbour and its people.

A timber jetty was built below Stokes Hill in 1885–86. The Town Wharf replaced it in 1903, and the present wharf, of steel and concrete with timber decking, was completed in 1956.

It was Darwin’s main wharf until the port at East Arm opened in 2000. Today it is a place for restaurants, harbour cruises, fishing and small boats.

• Read the history of the wharf→

On 19 February 1942, two Japanese air raids struck Darwin. Ships were sunk in the harbour, the wharf was hit and at least 236 people were killed, among them wharf labourers working that morning.

Memorials on the wharf remember them, and the facility’s Bombing of Darwin experience tells the story through virtual reality, holograms and a replica Japanese Zero. The History page offers a longer introduction, and the timeline gives a short route through selected milestones.

• Read the history of the wharf→
• Explore the timeline→