Roadmasters House Museum Darwin

Roadmasters House Museum, 1 McMinn Street, Darwin.

Trevor Menzies MSIA has provided the photographs and text.

The heritage listed building is leased by the Crown to the National Trust NT for the nominal rent of $1 per annum. A requirement of the lease is that it be used as a museum and be open to the public for 16 hours each week from February to November. The Museum displays historic maps and photos that tell the story of Darwin from the early days to the present time. These exhibits are complemented by a collection of historic surveying and drafting equipment dating back to the first settlement in 1869.

The Museums’ operations are overseen by a Management Committee comprising the National Trust NT President, the Museum Manager and 3 other National Trust members . I am the Museum’s Curator / Manager. Contact details of the principal officers are given below.

Since opening in 2016, the Museums’ operations and activities have been sponsored by MSIA, NT Division, and the Surveying and Spatial Sciences
Institute (SSSI).

NT Division funds have now been exhausted and the SSSI is no longer in existence having been merged into the Geospatial Council of Australia which is currently being wound-up.

Map Display

Operating and maintenance costs are met by the National Trust. These include building repairs and maintenance, cleaning, display material, utilities, insurance, etc. There is no entry fee but some revenue is raised through visitor donations. However, the income falls short of requirements now that MSIA NT Division and SSSI sponsorship has ceased.