Stokes Hill Oil Pump House

This steam driven fuel oil pump house was part of the 1926 changeover of strategic refuelling bases from Thursday Island to Darwin.

The change accompanied the conversion from coal to oil as fuel for Navy ships.

It represents an important milestone in the development of Fortress Darwin and is a reminder of early developments of an Australian defence strategy.

The pump house survived the devastating bombing of Darwin during the Second World War.

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Engineering Heritage Recognition Program

Marker Type	Heritage Engineering Marker (HEM)
Award Date	December 2003
Heritage Significance	The Steam-driven Oil Pump House is one of the few remaining vestiges of a precinct which has great significance in the development of Darwin. Its establishment was part of the infrastructure to support a broader plan by the Navy to convert their coal-driven ships to oil. The relocation of the refuelling facility from Thursday Island to Darwin in the late 1920s had a lasting effect on the future of the city, through the development of its military infrastructure and strategic importance.
Nomination Document	Available here.
Ceremony Booklet Ceremony Report	Not Available
Plaque/Interpretation Panel Image	Not available

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References:
Peter Dermoudy, Steam Pump House - Stokes Hill, Darwin, 1989.