The History of Darwin High School Tank
by Niki Koukouvas

The Darwin High School Tank that now is a gymnasium, amphitheatre, dance and drama facility and community hall. Seventy years ago was used as a water supply. Building of the Tank began in 1917 and it was used as a water supply for the Vestey's Meatworks. It was only used for a few years before the meatworks became idle. The army occupied the meatworks buildings as a transit camp during World War 11 and the Tank was used for a water supply during that time. After the army vacated the meatworks, the Tank continued to hold water , depending on the season, and at times was an emergency water supply for the town, but was often used by the local kids for swimming.

The tank is a rectangular reinforced concrete structure divided into two compartments measuring 37 metres by 46 metres. The structure consists of a vertical slab spanning between horizontal beams, which are in turn supported by buttresses at 5 metre centres.

In the early mid 1950's the tank was used, but to a limited storage capacity (two million gallons). An offer was made to the Education department in 1982 to take over the tank for educational recreational facilities, but for financial reasons they could not. In 1984 Townes had the idea of putting a roof on the tank and converting one half into swimming pool and the other half into an assembly hall. however he did not pursue the matter until he heard that the NT Department of Transport and Works had designed a new school gymnasium and was about to demolish the tank. He rang the Education department with his alternative idea and was given one week to write a submission on it. He had said to them "We've already lost most of our historic buildings."
In 1984 also, staff and students from Darwin High School and also the public had come up with the idea to make the water tank into a gymnasium because the school needed one. From an interview that I made with Mrs. Boland I found out that back then they did not have a gymnasium so they used to play P.E. (sports) in A covered way and it wasvery hard for the teachers to teach in a proper way and for the students to keep running around for the ball.

However, the submission met the deadline and received strong support from the Heritage Commission and the NT Environmental Council. Officials in the Education Department were skeptical initially, but soon joined in the enthusiasm shown by the School Council and the public. With work already well advanced on demolition the project was due for completion at the end of the year 1986. Once the tank was finished, it was to provide a flexible and spacious facility for use not only by school students but for community meetings and other events as well.

For most of its seventy years the tank, redolent of the Pyramids in Egypt or Stonehenge in England or the Colosseum in Rome, has simply squatted upon the bluff of Bullocky Point vying for its place in history. It was as if some giant pre historic albatross had come to rest with its head and neck tucked away somewhere , awaiting time.
The tank is now a multi-purpose complex with one half serving as a gymnasium and a dance, drama auditorium and other half as an open air theatre. During 1986-7 the school and the community at large watched with interest and even, at times, with awe as first the massive walls were breached, then the eye-catching roof was added and finally the huge interior under went its fitting out.
On March 17, 1987 the completed facility was handed over to the School. The occassion was celebrated by a lunchtime basketball contest between students and staff, with the whole School observing. Staff won.
The School is justifiably proud of the role it has played in the development of Darwin and the Northern territory and in the fact that it continues to provide an excellent opportunity for students to gain a sound basis for their future.