Virginia man Malcolm Henness accused of illegally running backpackers Buffalo Beach Hostel on his property
A Top End man accused of building a backpackers hostel and growing a crop of cannabis on his property has faced court on a fresh charge.
Police & Courts
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A Top End man has been accused of running a backpackers hostel and growing a commercial crop of cannabis on his property on Darwin’s rural fringe.
Self proclaimed Buffalo Beach Hostel manager Malcolm Dorono Henness appeared in Darwin Local Court on Monday facing a fresh bail breach charge.
The 63-year-old has been accused of illegally converting his Virginia property into a hostel in early 2020 by setting up a number of demountables on the ‘rural living’ zoned block, in contravention of the Planning Act.
The Development Consent Authority has alleged Mr Henness illegally developed on his land to create the ‘Buffalo Beach Hostel’, with ads for the accomodation appearing on Booking.com, Trivago, Wanderer and Cycle in July 2020.
The court has previously heard in excess of six people were living at the Virginia ‘hostel’ from time to time.
However, Mr Henness has denied the allegations and maintained listings for the ‘Buffalo Beach Hostel’ were actually a “share house” arrangement, rather than a hostel.
Mr Henness was also charged in September 2022 with cultivating a commercial quantity of a prohibited plant, possessing and supplying drugs, and possessing property in commission of an offence.
In October 2023 the ‘hostel manager’ was also charged with a breach of his bail, however Mr Henness appeared for the first time on that charge on Monday — a year after the charge was laid.
His lawyer Joshua Begbie said Mr Henness had a “range of diagnoses” which had resulted in a history of noncompliance with the court appearance orders.
However, Mr Begbie was able to secure fresh bail for Mr Henness.
All of his matters were before the court on Monday, and he will next appear in Darwin Local Court for a directions hearing on November 11.
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