Our History

Dinah Beach originated in the early days of the pearling fleets operating out of Darwin. Luggers were careened here roughly at the point where the entrance to the club is now situated.

After WWII, pearling began to decline and a few intrepid yachties began to drag their boats ashore where the luggers had once been. There, among the mangroves, our founding members built and repaired their boats and created the spirit that has pervaded our club ever since.

The Association was formed in 1982.

From these small beginnings, the facilities were conceived and developed by members past and present, some of who have become life members and whose names are inscribed on the guttering beneath the tarpaulin roof of the club.

We named our covered area “The Song Saigon Bar”, after the Vietnamese vessel which brought boat people to Darwin in the 70’s and was beached here for a while.

The below arial photo was taken in 1983 and shows the careening poles in position, but our wharf was not yet built. The neighbouring area has undergone significant change, with much land reclaimation occuring since then. The original Tiger Brennan Road is top left.