Darwin RSL: Embattled sub-branch wants to construct carpark on CBD site of burnt down clubhouse

Darwin’s embattled RSL, which was handed a poisoned chalice when it received a multimillion dollar insurance payout from its burnt down clubhouse, will seek to generate cashflow from its vacant site.

The Darwin RSL sub-branch, whose divided members still can’t decide what to build on the site of their former clubhouse, which was demolished in 2020 after it was gutted by fire, wants to generate cash flow by developing a temporary car park.

The Returned & Services League of Australia (South Australia Branch) Darwin Sub-Branch Inc lodged a development application over 27 Cavanagh St, Darwin, earlier this month.

According to a report submitted in support of the proposal, the vacant 1880 sqm block would be converted into a carpark with a maximum of 57 spaces.

The carpark would only be available for short-term customers between the hours of 7am–6pm, Monday to Friday.

“Long term carparking or storage of vehicles within the car park will be a prohibited use,” the report said.

The fire-ravaged Darwin RSL building being demolished close to two years after a fire gutted it. Picture: Che Chorley

“The land being used as a car park will provide benefit to the CBD area in reducing parking congestion as well as the land being active use and not an attraction for itinerants or loitering.”

The carpark would be accessible via Austin Ln and would admit motorists using license plate recognition CCTV cameras, which would be installed as part of the development.

The carpark is “not the desired lifetime use of the site,” the report said.

The ruins of the Darwin RSL years after a fire destroyed the venue. Photograph: Che Chorley

“The owner of the land does propose to develop the site at a future time once funding and joint investment can be secured,” it said.

Darwin RSL members have been without a formal clubhouse since the evening of June 23, 2018, when a fire, later determined to be non-suspicious, ripped through its upper floor.

The building was demolished in late 2020, after Darwin RSL received a multimillion dollar insurance payout.

The payout proved to be a poisoned chalice for the sub-branch, whose members, roughly cleaving along generational lines, were unable to determine how best to rebuild.

A fire engulfed Darwin RSL. PIC SUPPLIED

Waters were further muddied when a plan to rebuild on the Esplanade, near the Cenotaph, was scotched when plans were at an advanced stage, sending Darwin RSL back to the drawing board.

Speaking to the NT News on Monday, acting president Dan ‘Tank’ Tellam said polarised members were no closer to falling in behind a single, unifying proposal for 27 Cavanagh St.

“It’s very frustrating at the moment,” he said.

Darwin RSL Sub-Branch acting president Dan 'Tank’ Tellam, pictured in 2021 receiving the Chief Minister's Volunteer of the Year Award. Picture: Facebook

“We’re still no nearer than where we were before. Everything seems to be dragging.

“We really don’t know whether we are going to go up 12 floors or 20 floors.

“Being the meat in the sandwich, we’ve got to keep our members happy.

“It burnt out in a day, but it can’t be rebuilt in a day.”

Despite the sub-branch’s travails, Mr Tellam leapt to the defence of the riven organisation, which had its charter suspended for 90 days in December last year by parent body RSL South Australia.

RSL SA president Dave Petersen accused Darwin RSL of being dysfunctional, but Mr Tellam returned serve, saying that pastoral care was provided to the families of three veterans and a war widow who died over the Christmas break.

“They definitely get looked after, everyone gets a hand up,” he said.