Dan Murphy’s Darwin push to pass important step

LIQUOR giant Dan Murphy’s is a step closer to coming to Darwin, with council recommended to accept a liquor licence application

Dan Murphy's logo

LIQUOR giant Dan Murphy’s is a step closer to coming to Darwin, with council recommended to accept a liquor licence application.

Council staff have “not identified any reason that would be grounds for objection” to the application which will see the industry powerhouse come to the Northern Territory for the first time.

The new facility will operate under shorter trading hours, however, closing at 9pm instead of 10pm on weeknights, and opening an hour later than the existing BWS at 10am on weekends.

Dan Murphy’s parent company, Endeavour Drinks, General Manager corporate services Shane Tremble said council’s approval was an important step to overcome.

“While the application will ultimately be determined by the NT Liquor Commission, the consent of Darwin Council to the building of the premises is an important step in the process,” he said.

“Council’s consent to the construction of the Dan Murphy’s store will bring Australia’s leading drinks retailer one step closer to serving the Darwin community.”

Once approved by council, the application will go through to the Northern Territory Liquor Commission. The franchise will take the licence from the BWS on Stuart Hwy in Stuart Park in a “substitution of premises,” and moving to a new location on the corner of Osgood Dr and Bagot Rd in Eaton.

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The licence will allow for the franchise to host supervised tastings at its Eaton-based venue and an online ordering service.

The store will be open every day of the year, barring Sundays, Christmas Day and Good Friday.

City of Darwin Alderman Jimmy Bouhoris said it was great to see a big company like Dan Murphy’s come not just to the Territory but to the Northern suburbs of Darwin.

“I’m looking forward to it coming to Darwin and giving us the wide selection and variety that they have,” he said.

“I’m very excited to have it out here (in Eaton) and it gives us all greater choice.”

The grog store is set to focus on supplying finer liquors to Territorians, with the application noting “there will be an area dedicated to premium wines and the focus of the Dan Murphy’s store shall be on the sale of a wide range of wines”.