Frogs Hollow hostel in Darwin could soon be student housing

Developers have submitted a new plan to convert an existing building into student accommodation. Read what’s planned and where it is.

Developers want to transform a disused backpacker hostel into student accommodation in Darwin’s CBD.

Tchia Nominees and Tsougranis Properties lodged an application on Friday to develop 30 single rooms at the old Frogs Hollow backpacker hostel at 27 Lindsay St.

The 1360m block is directly across the road from Frog Hollow gardens, set behind extensive landscaping that largely screens the building from the street.

The hostel was built in the early 1990s to provide 142 bed accommodation for visitors.

The hostel closed at the start of the pandemic and has not since reopened.

In a submission to the Development Consent Authority, planners Cunnington Rosse said the proposal will provide student accommodation in support of nearby “education establishments” but will not be limited to that use.

Frogs Hollow backpackers

The Lindsay St site is less than 200m to Charles Darwin University’s city campus, which is currently under construction.

The development said works are largely contained within the existing building and include the conversion of existing dormitories, internal common areas and caretakers unit, each with ensuite bathroom and basic cooking facilities.

Proposed exterior works include removal of the existing pool and landscaping within the front, side and rear setbacks.

A schematic of how the proposed conversion should look.

A covered outdoor common area and laundry will go at the rear of the block as well as an extension to the carparking area to accommodate a total of 16 spaces, including two accessible spaces.

Twelve new carparking spaces will be provided at the rear of the site.

The design includes new landscaping at the front, side and rear of the block, new stairs at the front and rear designed to current building standards.

A new screened bin storage area, perforated panel balustrading along the first and second floor walkways and a new covered entrance will be added as well as a bike storage area.

Zoned CB, the application said the proposal is considered to be of a “scale and intensity” in line with the role and function of the central business district, “considering the location of the site outside of the CBD core and the scale of development in the immediate locality”.

Charles Darwin University’s CBD campus is expected to open in November.

Designs for the conversion are on the Development Consent Authority website. Submissions can be made until Friday March 15.