Burnett House

Burnett House is a heritage property in Darwin, located at 4 Burnett Place in Larrakeyah. It is the only surviving example of B.C.G. Burnett’s Type ‘K’ design and is notable for its unusual two-storey layout. A coloured compass set into the ground-floor concrete slab is one of the house’s distinctive features.

The building’s history reflects Darwin’s changing fortunes. It was damaged during Cyclone Tracy in December 1974, later stood vacant and boarded up, and was restored for the National Trust in 1988. The property was officially opened as the Trust’s headquarters on 18 April 1989 and took the name Burnett House in recognition of its designer. Visitors interested in local architecture, heritage and the history of Darwin will find plenty of context in the building itself.

The house is set among gardens, which host Devonshire Teas on the second and fourth Sunday afternoons during the dry season, from May to September. Afternoon-tea bookings and upcoming dates are listed through the Burnett House NT Facebook page and the National Trust’s events information. Parking, a shop, gardens and group bookings are also available. General entry is $5 per person, with the property open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 1pm during the dry season. It suits visitors exploring Darwin’s heritage, as well as small groups looking for a scheduled cultural outing.