Your guide to Christmas shopping in Smith St Mall Darwin
A wide range of gifts and goodies can be sourced all in the one convenient location in Darwin’s Smith St Mall. Read what you can get.
Northern Territory
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From fashion to homewares, books to chocolate, there is something for everyone in Darwin’s long-time retail strip, the Smith Street Mall.
The NT News caught up with dozens of retailers in the city heart shopping stretch this week to showcase what they have on offer in the lead up to Christmas.
Pure Indulgence Fine Chocolates
Nestled amongst a range of bespoke stores in the whimsical Star Village Arcade, this quaint chocolate shop is a hidden gem in the CBD ready to tempt your tastebuds.
Melissa Williams, whose mum Jill Garland owns the store, said it had been operating for 26 years.
“Mum used to have a souvenir shop and decided she didn’t want to support Chinese-made stuff anymore … she used to always go away and bring yummy chocolates back so thought ‘why couldn’t I do it here’,” Melissa said.
“They said she’d fail but she is still here 26 years later.”
Melissa said the store’s wide range of chocolates were sourced from all around Australia, and at this time of year varieties with booze-filled centres were the most popular.
“We do gifts, we have grab bags of yummy chocolate and we have all of our hampers done up for Christmas along with the yummy handmade chocolates we have,” she said.
“You can come in and if you need a $10 Kris Kringle gift we can fix you up, we do all ranges really.”
Pure Indulgence Fine Chocolates is open 9.30am-4pm Monday to Friday and Saturday 10am - 2.30pm right up until the weekend before Christmas.
Sophie’s Boutique and Gifts
Stepping into Irene Singh and daughter Sophie’s store in Smith Street, there is plenty to catch your eye.
From handmade teddy bears to fashion and accessories, this unique store has something for everyone.
While the store has been operating in the Darwin CBD for close to two years, it has only been in its current spot close to the Knuckey St end of the mall since August.
Store director Irene said the boutique was previously in the Paspaley building for about a year, before spending about six months in The Galleria.
But, like many small Darwin businesses, it was at the Mindil Markets where it was first born.
“Being local and handmade we were at Mindil Markets for nine years and because all of our customers asked us to open a shopfront so they can buy all year round, we created this space,” Irene said.
“We have all the way from babies, little kids – boys and girls clothing ranging up to about size six, then we have mens hats, bow ties and belts and then for the ladies we have their dresses, especially for fascinator season when Darwin Cup comes along, handbags and accessories that go with it.”
Outside of fashion, the boutique stocks Indigenous fabrics that are used to create Indigenous- themed products, with all royalties going back to the artists.
Flowers, handmade cards, kids travel pillows, earrings, keyrings, Darwin-themed glassware and much more also lines the shelves.
Sophie’s Boutique and Gifts will be open every day until Christmas Eve, Monday to Sunday from 9am – 5.30pm.
Groovycom
In a world dominated by digital technology, it is essential to have an expert trader in every CBD.
That’s where Nigel Bohm comes in.
Nigel runs Groovycom, a mobile accessory shop which stocks everything you need to keep your device running well and looking good.
“We have all your mobile device accessories – covers, chargers, memory cards – all that sort of stuff.
“I have been involved in shops in Smith St for about 15 years but under this name seven years.”
Groovycom is open from 8am – 4pm Monday to Friday, 9am – 2pm on Saturday and 10am – 2pm on Sunday.
House of Fulton
For the past 26 years, House of Fulton Jewellery has been a staple of the Darwin CBD.
The dazzling displays in the windows of owner Pat Fulton’s fine jewellery store are sure to lure in plenty of customers.
“We specialise a lot in opal and amber and all of my opal is Australian from Coober Pedy or Lightning Ridge and most of my jewellery is quite unique,” Pat said.
“My price point for the low end of the market with nice pieces in sterling silver you can get something for around $40.”
House of Fulton will be open every day, bar Sunday, up to and including December 23, from 10am – 4pm.
Just Looking
When it comes to retail, Suzie Hesketh has nearly five decades of experience – most of it in the Smith Street Mall.
The owner of Just Looking, also known as JL Pop-up, says she considers herself to be ‘very fortunate’ for her 47 years in business.
Her boutique, which stocks a wide range of women’s fashion from casual wear to gowns, is a kaleidoscope of colour.
“Our Christmas gift to our customers at the moment is we have lots of things at $20, $50 and $99, we are just trying to pass on a bit of cheer,” Suzie said.
“We are selling lots of things for Christmas parties, a few Christmas gifts and now they are starting to look for New Year’s Eve.
“Foot traffic looks limited but actually we are okay.”
Just Looking is open 9.30am – 5pm Monday to Friday, 9am – 3pm on Saturday and 10.30 – 2pm Sunday, except for Christmas Eve.
Lulu & Daw
Also in the Star Village Arcade is fashion and homewares retailer Lulu & Daw which specialises in Australian labels.
Frankie Neild said the store had been operating in the arcade for seven years.
“Everything is Australian brands and designers even down to the beauty products and the cards - literally everything,” Frankie said.
“We also have some things made by locals, such as earrings, we like to support local designers if we can.”
Outside of a wide variety of ladies’ fashion, the store stocks babywear, homewares and gifts and has also teamed up with neighbouring operator Star Barber to showcase a few racks of menswear from Assembly The Label.
“We have heaps of gifts,” Frankie said.
“We have had a lot of people coming in for Kris Kringle with budgets which is quite tricky but we have tried our best to get little bits of everything. It really depends on your budget - we can get creative.”
The store will host a special late night shopping event tonight (Thursday), trading until 6.30pm with complimentary champagne for customers and 10 per cent off storewide.
Lulu & Daw’s regular opening hours are 9.30am - 4pm Monday, 9.30am - 5pm Tuesday to Friday and 9am - 3pm Saturdays.
Embella
The shopfront for famed Darwin jewellery brand Embella is also part of the Star Village Arcade family.
Designed and founded by owner Sally Rogers Willsher, the iconic boho brand grew from humble begginings at the Mindil Beach Markets, 20 years ago before opening a shopfront a decade ago.
Working in the Smith Street Mall store are Olivia Reddan and Aila Herron, who said the brand was ‘very popular’ with Darwin ladies, particularly the Hill Tribe silver range.
“We can recognise it on everyone and we get a lot of partners come in buying for their wives and girlfriends because they know they love this Darwin style,” Olivia said.
“It is very recognisable.”
Aila said while there was also a shop in Yamba in northern New South Wales, Embella was definitely a Darwin-associated brand and was locally designed.
“We have a workshop upstairs where we make a lot of our jewellery and other things we source from tribes in Thailand,” Aila said.
Embella will trade from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and 9am-3.30pm Saturdays.
Life n Style Darwin
A newcomer to Smith Street Mall, jewellery specialist Life n Style Darwin has been open for just six weeks now.
Owner Tanja Troughton said business was going well so far and she had been warmly welcomed to the mall.
“We are mainly a fashion jewellery shop. We sell everything from freshwater pearls and finishing with stainless steel which is a nice hypo-allergenic that doesn’t tarnish type of product,” she said.
“We do a little bit of homewares and then a little bit of stuff for the tourists.”
With 30 per cent of storewide until Christmas, Tanya said customers could find gifts as low as $30 all the way up to $100.
Life n Style trades seven days a week, 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, 9am-3pm Saturdays and 10am-2pm on Sunday.
Hoskings Jewellers
Operating in Darwin for more than 30 years, Hoskings Jewellers are a mainstay of the Smith Street Mall.
Duty manager Donna Sinclair said the family-owned business had a great range of jewellery and even a dedicated South Sea pearl room
“We specialise in saltwater pearls and we have a lovely collection of diamonds and Australian opals,” Donna said.
“Christmas trade is going well, a lot of locals are coming in; because we are a family business and well known in Darwin we have our regular customers.”
Donna said there were ‘lots of bargains in store’, with the Christmas catalogue sale in full swing as well as separate sales and markdowns across the store.
“Our Samantha Abbott earrings are a great seller and start from $29.95,” she said.
“Hoskings has a wide range of price points.”
Hoskings’ Smith St store is open right through until Christmas Eve, from 8.30am - 4pm Monday to Wednesday, 8.30am - 4.15pm Thursday to Friday, 8.30am - 4pm Saturday and as of this coming Sunday is opening as well but for slightly shorter hours.
Jinglin Jewellery
Sitting at the counter of her store in the Voyage Arcade off Smith Street, Jing Lin deftly strings pearls and threads beads creating earrings and necklaces.
She has been creating and selling her handmade jewellery since first opening her store in the Air Raid Arcade in 2016, but relocated to Smith Street in 2019.
While proudly showing off her Christmas themed earrings, Jing Lin also has a variety of clothing and art in her store.
The skill that goes into her craft is reflected in the price, with the easier creations starting at $20 for earrings and going all the way up to $500 for a barracuda pearl necklace.
With the Voyage Arcade set to shut from December 24 to January 8, Jing Lin is hoping for a lift in sales heading into Christmas.
“Last year was really good but this year from November I feel it is really down, Christmas is a little bit up and down some days,” she said.
Jinglin Jewellery is open from 9.30am-4.30pm Monday to Saturday.
Me and My Llama
A cute, boutique shop tucked in a pocket off Smith Street, Me and My Llama offers women a range of unique earrings, shoes, handbags and home décor items.
Bre Joseph said her store was great for newcomers, but had also cultivated a tight-knit, loyal following.
“We have our loyal customers who are basically like friends to us, but almost everyone who walks through our door are lovely and we bounce off from that.”
The cheapest items – such a pair of earrings – can fall as low as $20 and the most expensive, such as shoes, up to $250.
“There’s a lot of great present options for your loved ones – something as small as earrings are really nice.”
Me and My Llama is open from 10am - 4pm Monday to Thursday, 10am - 4.30pm Friday and 10am - 3.30pm on Saturday.
Darwin Drybar
Hairstylist Carly Grovers knows the ladies who walk through her door well and it’s something she’s proud of.
“We provide personalised service and care, I love the clients and I know them very well.”
Drybar Darwin is a cute, quiet and comfortable hair salon situated in the Star Voyage Arcade off Smith Street.
The cheapest service – a quick blow drying – sits around $40. The most expensive, being a full colour: “$230 to $250.”
Ms Grovers said her store was a good fit for Smith Street.
“(We’re) a little boutique, locally owned business… us and all the other businesses here are the heart of the (CBD).”
Darwin Drybar is open 10am - 5pm Tuesday to Wednesday, 10am to 6.30pm on Friday and 10am - 4pm on Saturday.
Damadi Skincare
Another gem of the Star Voyage Arcade, Damadi Skincare not only sells its products on-site, but crafts them too.
Soap guru and store owner Angie Brabet has a passion for what she crafts - and it’s her customers who give her the motivation.
But who are these people who go out of their way to buy a soap bar?
“My customers are discerning, because they’ve seen it, smelt it, tried it, done it and tried all the expensive brands.”
The cheapest item, valued at $7.50, is a handcrafted, beautifully scented soap bar which Ms Brabet personally forged.
Damadi opens its doors from 10am - 4.30pm Tuesday to Friday, and 10am - 2pm on Saturday
The Bookshop
The Bookshop has been operating for almost two decades.
Territory author Sean Guy has worked for the beloved store for 12 year of those years and says “everyone” has stepped through the door.
“Young, old, male, female, everything in between, all the demographics – we’ve got something for everyone.” Mr Guy said the average new release book rests at $34.99 and that his store offered great value. “If you come in with $100 you could either get two, beautiful hard covers or three or four nice books.”
Mr Guy said the store would active over the festive season with doors open 10am – 2pm on Sundays, 9am – 3pm on Saturdays and 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday.
RM Williams
The only RM Williams store in the Territory belongs in Smith Street, and manager Sharon Bakker is proud to deliver Territorians high-class, cutting edge leather fashion wear.
Known for their boots and akubras, Ms Bakker said she was determined to not let stereotypes mislead customers.
“We don’t just serve countrymen, it’s your everyday person,” Ms Bakker said.
“Women’s as well, not just men – we serve everyone.”
RM Williams sells its cheapest product – a bottle of lemon and beeswax – at $19.
The cheapest fashion items are hats starting at $45.
Ironically though, the most expensive item is one of Territorian origin – a $4899 pair of crocodile boots.
RM Williams is open 9am – 5.30pm on Monday to Tuesday, 9am – 5pm Wednesday to Friday, 9am – 4pm on Saturday and 10am – 3pm on Sunday.
Smith Street Newsagency
Tracy Wedel is a veteran of Smith Street.
For 29 years, Ms Wedel has served in the Smith Street newsagency and said running a small business was tough but she was doing her best to provide great service for her customers.
“(The) store is probably the worst it’s ever been,” she said.
“We had to halve the shop because theft as well – which is still ongoing.”
Despite the battle, Ms Wedel said she continued to serve her diverse customers with joy.
“The minimum someone could expect to pay is 10 cents for envelopes and there’s no limit to the maximum,” she said.
“Most people this time of year love their Kris Kringles, everyone’s coming in looking for their gifts and that usually ranges between $15 and $25.”
The Smith Street newsagency is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am – 5.00pm, 8.30am – 3pm on Saturday’s and 9am – 1pm on Sundays.
Paul Arnold Gallery
The Paul Arnold Gallery does the NT’s natural beauty justice.
The gallery features some of Mr Arnold’s best photography taken by foot or from the sky.
The festive season means many of the valuable items are at a “bargain” price, with the cheapest items – pop-up fans – being $10 and the most expensive – acrylic, wall mounted art – priced at $4000.
Cat Frost said the digital artwork would make a “special” Christmas present.
“We have lots of little collections and souvenirs, but the wall-mounted artwork are definitely the special items of the Gallery.”
The Paul Arnold Gallery will be open Monday to Friday from 9am – 4pm and Saturday from 9am – 3pm.
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