DCOH, one of the Northern Territory’s leading development, construction, and property companies, is proud to announce a landmark partnership with Marriott International, the world’s largest hotel company, to rebrand the existing Smith Hotel Darwin into the Courtyard by Marriott Darwin. This transformation marks Marriott’s first property in the Northern Territory and is a significant milestone for DCOH and the Darwin hospitality market.

The rebranding will follow the completion of an extensive renovation, targeted for completion by the end of Q1/2025. The property will then debut as Courtyard by Marriott Darwin, offering a refreshed and elevated experience for travellers and locals alike. Key features of the newly branded hotel will include 186 thoughtfully designed guest rooms, an outdoor pool, a gym, and a modern restaurant serving Australian-Asian cuisine.

Strategic Collaboration with Trilogy Hotels In a first for Marriott International, the hotel will be managed by leading independent hotel management company Trilogy Hotels.

Scott Boyes, CEO of Trilogy Hotels, shared his enthusiasm for the partnership:

“We are thrilled to bring Marriott to Darwin in a big way, partnering with DCOH to elevate this property to new heights. Together, we will maximise the unique opportunities this market holds, ensuring the hotel’s success and delivering exceptional experiences for guests.”

Delivering a World-Class Offering for Darwin Shane Dignan, Managing Director of DCOH, highlighted the importance of this transformation:

“When it comes to unlocking the full potential of our key CBD assets under Trilogy, the Darwin community deserves the very best, and that means bringing an outstanding global brand like Marriott to the Darwin marketplace. As a proud Northern Territory hotel owner, we’re excited to showcase what makes Darwin such a unique and special destination. The Courtyard by Marriott Darwin will enhance the city’s accommodation offerings and provide a world-class experience for guests visiting this vibrant city.”

Transforming Darwin’s Travel Experience The new Courtyard by Marriott Darwin will provide an authentic connection to the city’s dynamic lifestyle and cultural landmarks. Centrally located in Darwin’s CBD, the hotel will place visitors at the heart of the city’s entertainment, dining, shopping, and cultural scenes, with easy access to attractions such as the Darwin Entertainment Centre, The Esplanade, and Mitchell Street’s vibrant dining precinct, including the new piano bar Sweethearts, and alfresco bar Flicks, as part of The Cinema Collective.

Hospitality NT CEO, Cathy Simmonds supports the investment to the Territory:

“It’s great to see this huge signal of investor confidence in Darwin’s thriving hospitality scene. Bringing a global name like Marriott to the Territory is a sign of growth to come, meaning new opportunities and experiences for locals and visitors alike.”

A Boost for Darwin’s Tourism Sector The arrival of Courtyard by Marriott Darwin aligns with the Northern Territory’s broader vision to attract more global brands and elevate the destination’s profile.

The CEO of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality NT, Suzana Bishop welcomes the development:

“Having more major international hotel companies enter the Darwin accommodation scene is a vote of confidence for the Territory as a destination, and we welcome Marriott International’s expansion into Darwin.”

This collaboration represents an exciting new chapter for DCOH, Marriott International, and Trilogy Hotels, as they collectively redefine hospitality in Darwin. With a strong focus on quality, innovation, and connection to the local community, the Courtyard by Marriott Darwin is set to become a premier choice for travellers seeking exceptional experiences in the Top End.

Taking time to reflect before the next big thing! CDU City Campus project through its evolution.

As the first Orientation and intake of students to the Charles Darwin University (CDU) City Campus is soon to commence, and we look towards our next major project, we paused to take some time to reflect.

Begun in 2021 and completed, on time and on budget in 2024, the project was challenging, exciting and unique. A vision for a modern, contemporary building for learning and knowledge sharing, with state-of-the art technology integration and inviting, engaging public spaces, the project became a reality through DCOH’s close work with CDU.

The building not only had to meet the vision for its purpose as a university campus and community precinct, but also had to be able to withstand Darwin’s unique climate and weather as well as cater to the heritage listed, approximately 150 year old Boab tree; a huge Boab that sits front and centre at the Campuses entrance. A feature that optimises the top end and its unique tropical landscape, and the rich, longstanding connection to country and culture of the Larrakia people.

The project saw employment of 173 indigenous Australians, some 12% of the entire workforce of around 1700 people. There were a total of 839 days on site as the team of NT and non-NT residents, permanent employees and contractors worked side by side across two build ups and two wet seasons to produce what is arguably Darwin CDB’s most unique build.

The Campus includes a sprawling outdoor frontage on street level with features for leisure activity such as lawns and benches, exercise equipment and a Basketball Half-Court and ping-pong tables. Underground, across 2 basement levels are 230 parking bays, and on through the buildings front doors a spacious, modern lobby area and Grand Stair Case. The Campus has two levels that are open to the public and house the Northern Territory Library and Archives as well as a CDU Library and an art gallery. There are two levels dedicated to students where teaching will deliver in courses such as Business, IT and Accounting, and a further 2 levels dedicated to CDU staff. There are multiple balconies and alfresco areas with an array of plant life and of course the stunning views offered by Darwin’s surrounds.

The building features the ultimate in sustainable cooling technology, and a 99.75KWp solar system made up of 266 solar panels. Around 1400 tonnes of reinforcement bars and 17000 square metres of concrete were installed across the total 566,190 man hours worked as part of the project.

The final result is a one we are very proud of. Contributing to community through economic and employment opportunity, we also saw 61 apprentices, 6 trainees and 6 school-based workplace learners take part in the project.

We can now stand back, at 54 Cavenagh Street, in the heart of Darwin’s CBD and look on at the building with a sense of achievement and community pride. A project we are happy to be able to showcase, and demonstrate our capability to deliver high-quality, superbly finished builds while supporting local community and ensuring client satisfaction.

📽️ Check out our video that gives you a birds-eye view of the build.

We look forward to our next major Darwin project. Watch this space!

At DCOH, we know our people are our future. Our employees, our clients and our varied stakeholders. Investing in staff and supporting the next generation of leaders is key to our future focused model that sees us positioned to continue to grow and work with a local team.

Committed to building better in the Territory, we are proud to contribute to economic growth and employment opportunity for Territorians.

Daisy Tulari, a proud Malak Malak woman, is our most recent school-based apprenticeship graduate, joining the DCOH team as part of her Certificate III in Business workplace learning. She has now completed her Certificate and is employed full-time as a Trainee Administrative Assistant.

She is a welcome addition to the team and used her time, both in her study and in the workplace, wisely. Not only did she complete her Certificate III in Business this year, she also completed a Senior First Aid and CPR Course, obtained her provisional drivers license and OHS Construction White Card and achieved her Year 12 High School Certificate. She was also acknowledged as a Finalist for the National Australian Women in Construction’s 2024 Achievement by an Indigenous Woman award and the School-based Trainee of the Year award by the Northern Territory Government Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade’s 2024 NT Training Awards.

We are so pleased to take the opportunity to support young people like Daisy, who are committed to their learning and development and make the most of the opportunities they have access to. Daisy has shown her willingness to learn, an eagerness to participate and dedication to contributing to a positive team culture.

Daisy said she found the school-based apprentice scheme really valuable, and was surprised by how much she enjoyed the process. “One minute I was the brand new trainee, with no office or construction experience in my life, to now performing my assigned tasks with confidence. I’ve gotten comfortable and familiar with everyone and it was so nice when everyone congratulated me for doing my Business course,” she said.

“The unconditional support and help I got from DCOH will be stuck with me for the rest of my life and career. My team leader Rowena, DCOH’s Local Industry Capability Manager, has been the best manager I could have asked for. She cared about my studies and schooling, and was always there to motivate me and support me to thrive. Having a good manager is very valuable.”

She says she has enjoyed working with DCOH because it feels like a community. “Everyone is connected and helps one another. Also the opportunities and events DCOH signed me up for has really helped me come out of my shell and boost my confidence as a young adult.”

Daisy is part of the projects team and performs her role as Trainee Administrative Assistant on site at the Project Office. Supporting young Territorians like Daisy to gain valuable education, training and employment forms a significant part of our commitment to maintaining a strong, experienced and satisfied local workforce.

We currently have 3 other apprentices and another trainee, and we can’t wait to share their success stories as they progress through their early career journey’s with DCOH.

Check out some of the photo’s from Daisy’s time with DCOH below.

DCOH is excited to announce the appointment of a new management group to oversee the operations of its three premier properties: Novotel Darwin CBD, The Smith Hotel, and Frontier Hotel.

This exciting change marks a new chapter for our hotels as we partner with an experienced and dynamic hospitality management company to elevate guest experiences and enhance service offerings.

The decision to bring in a new management team reflects our commitment to ensuring our properties maintain the highest standards of excellence. The new management group brings a wealth of expertise in the hospitality industry and will focus on delivering enhanced services, fresh initiatives, and modernised amenities across all three hotels.

Shane Dignan, Managing Director of DCOH, commented: “This is a significant step forward for our hotels and a strategic move to ensure we remain at the forefront of the hospitality industry. We are confident that under the Trilogy Hotels leadership, our hotels will continue to thrive and deliver exceptional experiences to our valued guests.”

“We are passionate about hotels as much as we are about our local community in Darwin. As proud hotel owners, we’re eager to harness Trilogy’s expertise to unlock the full potential of our key CBD assets while highlighting what makes Darwin a top destination. We are keen to partner with Trilogy Hotels to achieve this” said Shane Dignan.

Guests can look forward to:

• Enhanced guest services and luxurious amenities
• Innovative dining and entertainment experiences
• Exciting new packages and exclusive promotions
• A continued commitment to sustainability and community involvement

The transition to the Trilogy Hotels management will be smooth, with all existing staff and operations remaining in place. We are excited for the future and look forward to delivering the same warmth and hospitality our guests have come to expect, with new and improved offerings.

This comes with recent news of Alex Murray being appointed to the Portfolio General Manager of Thyme Hospitality.

“I am excited to announce Alex’s promotion and look forward to seeing him lead the portfolio of Thyme Hospitality hotels and venues in collaboration with partners Trilogy Hotels and Accor,” said Shane Dignan.

“Alex is a great appointment and adds considerable operating strength to a wonderful portfolio of Darwin hotels. Alex is an outstanding hotel professional and is highly regarded by his owners, team, and the local community. This appointment is very well deserved, and Trilogy is looking forward to working with Alex, DCOH, Accor, and their respective teams to operate these great hotels in a great city.” said Scott Boyes, CEO of Trilogy Hotels.

About Trilogy Hotels

Launched in December 2023, Trilogy Hotels portfolio of thirteen properties covers areas from Sydney and Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Canberra, and Darwin, with over 2,500 rooms under their leading expertise and management. Building on their strong growth, the independent hotel management company Trilogy plans to drive and enhance DCOH’s three hotel assets in line with the market’s expected strong rebound, while leveraging its teams’ extensive expertise and proven track record in the local market.

Trilogy Hotels CEO Scott Boyes is eager to support DCOH in further establishing its hotel portfolio in Darwin.

“The Northern Territory holds a special place in our hearts as a key market in Australia driven by its own unique trends, indigenous culture and world-class attractions,” says Scott Boyes, CEO of Trilogy Hotels.

“We plan to showcase the best of Darwin’s food and beverage scene, champion local produce and people, specifically our hotel teams” continues Scott Boyes.

The three assets are ideally located in the Darwin city centre and within close walking distance of one another.

The Smith Hotel: This lifestyle hotel features 186 rooms, an outdoor pool, a rooftop gym, and an observation platform. Guests can enjoy Australian-Asian cuisine at D Bar & Restaurant.

Novotel Darwin CBD: The 140-room hotel boasts a tropical indoor rainforest atrium with cascading vines, two meeting rooms, a fitness centre, and views of Darwin Harbour. Ideal for corporate and
leisure travellers alike, the property offers Indigenous-inspired meals at the Esplanade Restaurant and Terrace and a unique rainforest-like atmosphere at the Atrium Bar and Garden.

Frontier Hotel: This 91-room hotel offers great value for leisure travelers, including an outdoor pool, fitness centre, and The Punters Bar, a traditional pub-style venue.

You can learn more about Trilogy Hotels by clicking HERE.

One of DCOH’s major project commitments in the Northern Territory has reached a successful conclusion with the completion of the Charles Darwin University (CDU) City Campus, Danala | Education and Community Precinct.

This state-of-the-art facility has officially opened its doors, welcoming students, staff, and the public to explore its world-class features. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and labour shortages, DCOH delivered the project on time and within budget. This achievement was made possible through diligent collaboration, stakeholder engagement, a commitment to local sourcing, and the dedication of a loyal subcontractor workforce.

The formal opening, held on Saturday, 5 October, was attended by DCOH representatives including Managing Director Shane Dignan, General Manager Developments Drew Miller, Construction Manager Lachlan Michell, and Assistant Project Manager Jay McNeice.

They joined distinguished guests such as The Honourable Catherine King, Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; The Honourable Jo Hersey, NT Minister for Education and Training, Early Childhood Education and Public Service; Mr. Luke Gosling OAM, Member for Soloman; and CDU Chancellor Mr. Paul Henderson AO, Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman, and Larrakia Elder Ms. Bilawara Lee.

The campus is a significant architectural addition to Darwin’s CBD, offering advanced features and progressive spaces for the Territorian community. The new CDU campus houses a variety of facilities including an art gallery, Moot Court, libraries, Territory FM radio station, Northern Territory State Library and Archives, and cutting-edge teaching spaces. The design showcases two 22-meter-high internal atriums and a grand staircase featuring local timbers and luxurious finishes. DCOH has helped bring CDU’s vision to life, creating a modern space for knowledge sharing and learning, while incorporating the latest technologies and materials. This project marks a new era for education and community engagement in Darwin and the Northern Territory.

Take a look at the stunning photos from the opening event, capturing the architectural beauty of the building, the exquisite interior features and the pride of the DCOH team.

Northcrest, NT – A groundbreaking application submitted has unveiled the development plan for what is the largest subdivision application ever lodged in the history of the Northern Territory.
The ambitious project promises to transform the landscape of the former Berrimah Farm and offer unparalleled amenities to its future residents.

The company behind this is DCOH, where Managing Director Shane Dignan continues to champion the Territory forward.

Northcrest, a Northern Territory Government masterplanned community with major project status, is a landmark subdivision of the 168-hectare site formally known as Berrimah Farm. The Northcrest site is approximately 5 kilometres southeast of the Darwin Airport, 10 kilometres east of the Darwin CBD and 7 kilometres northwest of the Palmerston CBD. The site is part of the Berrimah Farm Area Plan which, among other elements, facilitates the development of the locality for the residential suburb of Northcrest.

The development seeks to create 935 lots across the Southern Precinct of the Northcrest estate, including 909 Residential Lots, 24 Open Space Lots, 1 Community Purpose Lot and 1 Tourist Commercial Lot. The development will occur across 21 separate stages and excludes the Berrimah Farm Science Precinct.

This will total 1500 residential lots in Northcrest with 300 houses already built and another 200 lots currently under construction. This attributes a 3 X multiplier or ~1 billion on the economic contribution to the economy.

Some of the future plans include:

– A total of 21.5HA of Open Space and parkland with war memorial feature
– Childcare Centre
– McDonalds (under construction)
– Commercial office buildings – NLC (under construction)
– Service Station and Car Wash
– Supermarket
– Senior Living and Residential Apartments
– Community Tavern Restaurant
– Service Commercial and Light Industrial

The proposed residential lots range from 420m2 to 1509m2 in size with all lots to be connected to public transport networks, reticulated water, sewer, electricity and telecommunications. DCOH continues to install the tens-of-millions of dollars in headworks infrastructure, all of which have been solely funded, for not only Northcrest but the surrounding district.

Shane Dignan of DCOH is very proud to bring this development to Territorians, offering a place where everyone can establish their dream homes with all the conveniences of a modern lifestyle by providing land supply for population growth and improving liveability for the Territory.

Secure your titled land now and take advantage of the benefits offered by the NTG HomeGrown Territory Grants. For Sales information please contact Angela Truten on 08 7942 8891 or sales@northcrest.au. For more information on the Northcrest community is available online at the Northcrest website.

IMAGE: Future Staging Plan

We were thrilled to announce that #LandForces2024 took place at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from September 11th to 13th!

This was Australia’s largest Defence industry exposition, and we were excited to dive in.

Our Managing Director, Shane Dignan, and Local Industry Capability Manager, Rowena Wong, welcomed distinguished National and International Defence Force delegates, Primes, and Industry partners at our stand G041. 🤝

We showcased the capabilities and potential of DCOH in collaboration with Defence NT, Territory businesses, and industry bodies. Together, we supported and drove investment in Defence activities, projects, and spending within the Northern Territory! 💪

Land Forces featured:
✅ 995 exhibitors from 31 nations
✅ 77 conferences, presentations, and symposia
✅ 130+ official delegations from Defence, Government, and Industry

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a coffee and a chat at stand G041!

Casuarina Aquatic and Leisure Centre has officially opened!

We are delighted to share the exciting news of the grand opening of the brand-new community pool, a project we have been proud to be a part of. This state-of-the-art facility is set to become the heart of our community, providing space for relaxation, fun, and fitness!

The official opening marked a significant milestone in our mission to enhance community amenities and provide top-notch recreational facilities.

A big thank you to everyone involved in bringing this project to life. Your hard work and dedication have created a wonderful space for the community to enjoy!

In 1987 DCOH was a small construction and roofing company just finding its feet in the Darwin market, but the business has grown exponentially since then.

Over the 30-plus years since, DCOH has evolved into a multi-faceted, vertically integrated business which now designs, develops, builds and operates a range of projects.

Read more: https://territoryq.com.au/dcoh-is-part-of-territory-fabric/

23 May 2024

What an incredible evening it was! We’re delighted to announce that our company launch event was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating this milestone and sharing our vision for the future. The atmosphere was buzzing with inspiration, meaningful connections, and unforgettable moments. Stay tuned for more highlights from the event!

If you are looking for an amazing venue to host your next event, contact Novotel Darwin CBD!