Darwin Resort History (Winnellie, Darwin NT)

Darwin Resort is a long-standing part of the Darwin story. Located on Stuart Highway in Winnellie, Northern Territory, our property has welcomed travellers for decades, evolving from a much-loved local landmark into the refreshed resort you see today.

Formerly known as The Leprechaun Resort, today’s Darwin Resort is almost unrecognisable from the original Leprechaun Motel, first built in 1969.

​

A Darwin landmark since 1969

The Leprechaun began with humble beginnings as a motel and caravan park in Winnellie. Over time, it became a familiar stop for visitors exploring the Top End, offering a relaxed place to rest, reset, and enjoy the Northern Territory lifestyle.

​

Surviving Cyclone Tracy (1974)

In 1974, Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin and changed the city forever. While much of Darwin’s built landscape was destroyed, The Leprechaun survived with only minor damage, though it did lose its roof, which locals famously described as being “ripped off like a tin can”.

In the years that followed, The Leprechaun continued operating while Darwin rebuilt from the ground up.

​

From boom years to abandonment

As Darwin grew into one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities, becoming a major centre for commerce and tourism, The Leprechaun did not keep pace with the economic boom. By 2010, the property had fallen into disrepair and was eventually abandoned.