Darwin World War II Oil Storage Tunnels is a short walk from Darwin Waterfront area. After the above-ground oil storage facilities at Stokes Hill was destroyed during Japanese air raids in 1942, the local authorities realised the need for an underground storage facility.
In May 1943, the construction of this purpose-built facility at Kitchener Drive commenced. Built at a cost that is equivalent to A$75 million in today’s dollars, this oil storage tunnels was never put to use during the war. In addition, the construction was never truly completed, with only 5 out of 11 tunnels built. The facility was opened in 1992 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Bombing of Darwin.
We bought our tickets at a simple ‘ticket counter’, which is little more than a foldable table in front of the entrance. Besides being a proof of payment, the ticket can be used as a postcard too.
The entrance of the oil tunnels.
A quarter of narrow passageway into the tunnels is occupied by pipeworks.
At the end of the passageway stands Tunnel No. 6, which is not open for access. At 77m long, 5m wide and 4.5m high, the tunnel has its base covered by a shallow depth of water. This tunnel was the only commercially used tank within the facility. It was used by local Golden Fleece distributor, Stan Kennon, for storage of kerosene. The kerosene was aviation fuel for the RAF and RAAF bombers, in the early 1950s. Unfortunately, the tunnel imploded in 1955 and the fuel spewed out into Darwin Harbour. Since then, the tunnel was decommissioned.
In front of Tunnel No. 6 is a string puppet sculpture by Robyn Davy as a stark representation of the effects of war. Made from salvaged items, the puppet depicts past and present servicemen and civil workers who had experienced war.
Tunnel No. 5 is the tunnel open for public to walk through. It is 172m long, 5m wide and 4.5m in height. Within Tunnel No. 5, poster-sized information boards walk visitors through the history of Darwin and the fateful air raid by the Japanese on 19 February 1942, the largest single attack by a foreign power on Australia. Then the story of how the tunnels was built through to the end of war.
Usually, we will go through the information quickly but something caught our attention; the words ‘Singapore Strategy’. That’s something new, something we have never come across in our history textbooks. In 1923 following the Imperial Defence Conference, the strategy was developed and Darwin was chosen as a key location within Australia-Singapore defence line. With that, Darwin was recommended to be a naval refuelling station which was the main reason these oil storage tunnels were built. I don’t understand these strategies much so am in fact quite puzzled over it. Darwin is a 4.5 hours flight away so it will inevitably take longer by sea, I wonder how effective will Darwin be as a refuelling station when a good portion of the fuel will be expended during the journey.
The air in the confined space was stale and humid, the few wall-mounted oscillating fans not of much help except to move the air round a little. It did not take long for us to feel hot and sticky. But the storyline on the walls kept us engrossed and spent 40mins inside the tunnels.
End of the tunnel.
The tunnels are open 7 days a week. From May to September, the opening hours are from 9am to 4pm. From October to April, the opening hours is shortened by 3 hours. Note that the tunnels are close most of December from 1 to 27 and New Year’s Day. Admission charge is A$8.50/adults, A$7.50/senior and A$5.50/child. And for the math whiz, go for a shot at guessing the total capacity of Tunnel 5 or 6 and contact Darwin Tours for a prize.
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Read about my trip itinerary and the places visited in A Weekend In Darwin .
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