Darwin’s Wisdom Bar hits property market more than a year after closing doors

A prominent multistorey Darwin CBD venue is on the market. See the pictures.

Wisdom Bar and Cafe was listed for sale in June 2025

Better known to locals as both a house of fun and a house of pain, a Darwin CBD bar has hit the market.

Agents Knight Frank listed Wisdom Bar and Cafe at 48 Mitchell St in early June, with an expression of interest process set to conclude on July 23.

Formerly home of the old Territory Government dental clinic, the site was purchased in 2009 by Darwin’s McCourt family

With the Territory economy riding high on the back of the Inpex LNG project, the McCourts developed Wisdom – as in the teeth – into a popular, breezy venue that dovetailed neatly with other bars on the nightclub strip.

Their ownership included securing development approval for a second tavern on the site over three levels to be known as The Fox and Ale House, with provision to operate 10 poker machines, in addition to the 10 already in the Wisdom venue.

in front of the bar at Wisdom Bar and Cafe.

The sale includes the existing three-storey building with ground floor bar, cafe, kitchen, beer garden and poker machine room with alfresco dining space.

The building sits on a site area of 1,440 sqm, is zoned Central Business and has a maximum development height of 90 metres.

The plan for The Fox and Ale House included a 2am adult entertainment license and new tavern license, both of which are suspended until November 2026.

Knight Frank managing agent Peter McVann said last year’s opening by Top End Hospitality Group of the Cinema Collective marked a turning point for the hospitality sector.

Wisdom Bar and Cafe sale June 2025

“If you look at the Darwin market at the moment, there’s been a lot of movement from people coming in locally positioning themselves to be ready for an upswing,” Mr McVann said.

“There’s also a lot of money coming in from interstate as well for the right assets, which we saw with the TraveLodge sale.”

Mr McVann said he and the Knight Frank team would now seek out NT and interstate buyers on their way towards clinching a deal.

“We’ve probably approached 50 parties from across Darwin and interstate about the opportunity. We’re getting good interest in Darwin across the board with all the asset classes we’re selling.

“It’s no secret the last 10 years have been really tough and there’s been no development in private hands for the last decade, but now these people are coming out. With oil and gas developments and Defence, the economy is going in the right direction.”

The NT News has attempted to contact the McCourt family.

For more information or to arrange a private inspection contact Peter McVann on 0412833276 or [e-mail].