Victoria Hotel, Darwin

The Victoria Hotel, or The Vic as it is commonly known, is a heritage listed pub located in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

The Victoria Hotel was built by Ellen Ryan, one of the Territory's wealthiest women, who owned land and several mining leases.

[3] The two-storey hotel was made of local, multi-coloured porcellanite stone, with a facade dominated by a parapetted gable and verandahs.

[7] Known as the "Great Hurricane", it killed 28 people, sank 19 vessels in the harbour including the entire pearling fleet, and caused around £150,000 damage (equivalent to £21,500,000 in 2023) throughout the town.

[8] In 1908, the hotel accommodated Henry Dutton and Murray Aunger, the first motorists to cross the Australian continent from Adelaide to Darwin.

[9] Known as the government take-over, the hotel was the focal point for political turmoil and union unrest between 1911 and 1919, which came to a head on 17 December 1918 in what was known as the Darwin Rebellion.

[10] Ross and Keith Smith and other aviators connected with the air race from England to Australia stayed at the hotel in December 1919.

[4][3] The well-known Government architect Beni Burnett, who had a very significant influence on Darwin architecture from the late 1930s, stayed at the hotel for several years.

In September 1941, rioting soldiers in the Darwin city area caused superficial damage to the hotel, such as broken windows and furniture.

During this period, the hotel was a popular 'watering hole' frequently attended by crocodile shooters, buffalo hunters and mining prospectors, as well as the local office workers and bank staff.