Club History

The RSL Darwin - Its Foundations

The first evidence of the RSL Movement in Darwin appears in an advertisement in the Northern Territory Times and Gazette of 23rd August 1917 calling for a meeting of returned men at the Club Hotel in Mitchell St. This was endorsed by J. Wilson as Honorary Secretary. No report of the initial meeting was published, although it may be significant that the next meeting was called for 6th September 1917 in the more sober venue of Bell's Tea Rooms. It was then decided to organise a concert and dance in order to raise funds for the embryo Darwin organisation.

As the Great War drew to a close funds were raised in various Territory Communities to erect a Cenotaph in Darwin to honour those who had died on active service. The Cenotaph was dedicated in April 1921. The original Cenotaph has survived two major cyclones and World War II air raids. It is now situated on the Old Darwin Oval on The Esplanade overlooking Darwin Harbour.

In 1922 a Soldiers' Memorial Hall was completed by a local builder, Harold Snell, who had served in France. The Hall was opened on 20th October 1922.

During the early months of 1941 a series of meetings finalised a constitution applicable to a licensed Club. The licensed Club opened for business in the Soldiers' Memorial Hall on 6th June 1941.

The original building was sold in 1970, trading continued in a temporary premises until the existing building was completed in 1972. This building has since been extended and its interior upgraded on a number of occasions.