Two giant blocks at Darwin’s old fuel tank farm have hit the market

Two massive sites long earmarked for residential development have hit the market. Read why they’re special.

Darwin's old tank farm

Two large tracts of land that were previously part of Darwin’s old Woolner fuel tank farm have hit the property market.

Both zoned general industry (GI), the two blocks were once part of the old Darwin fuel tank farm that was relocated to East Arm over a number of years in the first decade of the 21st century.

The larger of the two properties listed as at 6 Stuart Highway is more than 4.4 hectare and is owned by Mobil Oil Australia.

At 1.4 hectares, the smaller property just down the Dinah Beach Road hill is owned by Australian fuel company Ampol.

There were hopes when the final tanks were relocated that the area would be rezoned and converted into residential housing, but the vision never materialised and both blocks have been vacant for more than a decade.

Remediation works have been done at both sites after being used for petroleum storage over a number of years.

Representing NTC Property, agent Nigel Sharp said the decision around the larger block’s sale was made by the vendor.

6 Stuart Highway, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“Some larger corporations are selling unused and under used sites at the moment,” Mr Sharp said.

“They’re not using them, they’re paying rates and most are in pretty good locations as well.

“Sentiment and confidence in the Territory is up more than it has been in other years, but this is just about timing for the vendors.

“Obviously this is a huge site on the fringe of a capital icty with great development potential.

“We anticipate significant interest from local and interstate developers given the prime location and substantial landholding.”

Expressions of interest for the site close on April 11.

Mark Jagla from Colliers said the smaller block is part of a larger sell-off by Australian-owned Ampol Limited.

“It’s part of a broader property sale process nationally being conducted by Colliers.

“I would think it could be a residential development site or there’s no reason why it couldn’t be used for commercial use either.”

Darwin’s old tank farm site. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

The property is on the open market.

For years in the 1990s, relocating the fuel storage tanks from near the CBD occupied politicians and planners, with the 1996 Central Darwin Planning Concepts and Development Opportunities one of a number of reports identifying the site’s potential if the tanks were removed.

The One Mile Dam town camp sits between both sites, with about 20 residents currently occupying the site.

For details contact Nigel Sharp at NTC Property on 0422 275 920 or Mark Jagla at Colliers on 0412 277 475.

Originally published as Two giant blocks at Darwin’s old fuel tank farm have hit the market