Burnett House is a historic building that forms part of the Myilly Point Precinct in

Darwin, Northern Territory Darwin ( Larrakia: ') is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. The city has nearly 53% of the Northern Territory's population, with 139,902 at the 2021 census. It is the smallest, wettest, and most northerly of the Australi ...

. It is the only remaining two storey house designed by architect

Beni Burnett Beni Carr Glyn Burnett (1889–1955) was the Commonwealth principal architect for the Northern Territory of Australia. He designed many well-known heritage buildings in both Darwin and Alice Springs. He is known for designing innovative, climate-a ...

. It is managed by the

National Trust of Australia (Northern Territory) The National Trust of Australia, officially the Australian Council of National Trusts (ACNT), is the Australian national peak body for community-based, non-government non-profit organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's In ...

History

Burnett House was built in 1938. It was designed by Beni Burnett, Architect Grade One in the Works and Services Branch of the Department of the Interior. It was one of several houses for senior public servants and military personnel. Burnett House survived the

Bombing of Darwin The Bombing of Darwin, also known as the Battle of Darwin, on 19 February 1942 was the largest single attack ever mounted by a foreign power on Australia. On that day, 242 Empire of Japan, Japanese aircraft, in two separate raids, attacked the ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Two bullet holes are visible in the front fence and fragments of a bomb were also found in the garden years later The dwelling was heritage listed as part of the Myilly Point Precinct in 1994. In 1999, the

announced its intention to buy Burnett House and the adjacent property known as Mines House. It was reported that the Commonwealth Government had offered both properties to the National Trust for $400,000. Territory Senator Grant Tambling said he would prefer they were given to the Trust. In 2002 the Commonwealth Government, which still owned the property, called for expressions of interest for the "future ownership and management" of Burnett House and others in the same area. Senator

Nigel Scullion Nigel Gregory Scullion (born 4 May 1956) is a former Australian politician who served a senator for the Northern Territory from 2001 until 2019. He was a member of the Country Liberal Party (CLP) and sat with the National Party in federal parl ...

claimed the houses had already been "gifted" to the people of the Northern Territory. The Commonwealth Government denied this.

Design

Burnett House is a "K Type" house, designed specifically for tropical conditions. Considered radical for its time, it is two storeys, with living areas downstairs and bedrooms upstairs. It is built from lightweight materials such as

asbestos Asbestos ( ) is a group of naturally occurring, Toxicity, toxic, carcinogenic and fibrous silicate minerals. There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous Crystal habit, crystals, each fibre (particulate with length su ...

cement sheeting, corrugated roof cladding and a unique form of louvres with patterning by casement windows. The roof is steeply pitched with an asbestos ridge vent at the top, allowing air to circulate from open eaves through the ceiling space and out the ridge. It also incorporates asbestos louvres, glass casement windows and screened walls to allow for maximum air flow throughout. It also features three-quarter height partitions between rooms.

References

External links

* {{coord, -12.45074, 130.82970, type:landmark_region:AU, format=dms, display=title Buildings and structures in Darwin, Northern Territory Northern Territory Heritage Register Houses completed in 1938 National Trust of Australia