Where can I see public art in Darwin?
There’s a self-guided public art trail around central Darwin, but it’s also worth looking in the Supreme Court building, Paspaley building and Christchurch Cathedral.
Darwin may play on a rough and rugged image, but it also has an artistic streak. Walk through the Northern Territory capital and you’ll find plenty of public art.
Darwin Supreme Court building
A good starting point in Australia’s most northerly city is the Supreme Court building. Here, a stunning floor mosaic tells the Dreaming story of seven sisters who ran so fast away from a ‘cheeky man’. They went into the sky and became stars.
The mosaic is based on a painting on the upper level, and is a spectacularly faithful recreation.
There are also some huge, intricately decorated poles from the Tiwi islands, and a rug that bears distinctive Aboriginal art symbols. Again, this tells the story of the seven sisters who became stars. The rug is particularly fitting, as it was the subject of a landmark legal case. The estate of artist Tim Leura sued the rug manufacturer for breach of copyright, and won. It was the first time that Aboriginal intellectual property was acknowledged by the inclusion of ‘cultural damages’.
7 great Darwin experiences to book before arriving
- Swim face to face with an enormous crocodile in the Cage of Death.
- Enjoy the romance of Darwin Harbour on a sunset dinner cruise aboard a traditional fishing ketch.
- Explore Darwin’s food and art scenes on a 3.5 hour walking tour – with lunch or dinner included.
- Flit between Darwin’s top attractions with a hop-on, hop-off bus tour.
- Combine a wildlife tour with the famous jumping crocodiles cruise.
- Get a history fix on a Bombing of Darwin WWII tour and harbour cruise.
- Get the adrenalin pumping on a high speed airboat or jetski tour.
Self-guided public art trail
You don’t have to go inside to see public art in Darwin, however. Several works sprinkle around the city centre, and the city of Darwin has put together a self-guided public art trail. The most lovable of these works is arguably Chinute Chinute by Koolpinya Richard Barnes. The bronze sculpture depicts a chubby owl-like tawny frogmouth. This is a spiritual ancestor of the Larrakia people, the Traditional Owners of the Darwin area. Chinute Chinute is believed to live in the Stokes Hill area.
Other hotspots for public art in Darwin include the Paspaley building. Here, the pearling giant has commissioned several showstopping works.
There’s also the Christchurch Cathedral, which was rebuild in a striking modern style following Cyclone Tracy in 1974. There’s a hugely impressive stained glass window which represents fishing nets and the upsurge in waves during a cyclone. It’s designed as a memorial to the Northern Territory fishermen who died during Cyclone Tracy, but stands alone as an arresting piece of artwork.
Six amazing day trips from Darwin that will improve your visit
- Litchfield National Park day tour – including jumping crocodile cruise. (💲 Great value 💲)
- Tiwi Islands Indigenous cultural experience including ferry.
- One day or four day Kakadu National Park tour.
- Kakadu scenic flight – with gorges, waterfalls and epic floodplains. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Full day Katherine day tour – including Katherine Gorge cruise.
- Arnhem Land full day tour – with ancient rock art.
The best places to stay in Darwin
You can check out deals on a wide range of Darwin accommodation options. But these are some of the best choices.
- For luxury on a special occasion: The superior suites with direct lagoon pool access at the Mindil Beach Casino Resort.
- For the buzziest location at the Waterfront: Adina Apartment Hotel Darwin Waterfront.
- The one with the best guest ratings: Hudson Parap.
- For affordable city centre apartments with a pool: City Gardens Apartments.
- For the magic combo of quality, price and location: Travelodge Resort Darwin.
More art in Australia
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Where can I see Aboriginal art in Albury, New South Wales?