About

Brown’s Mart, in the heart of Darwin’s CBD, is a versatile venue comprising an indoor theatre, outdoor courtyard area, bar, rehearsal room and a multi-purpose room capable of holding 80 people. Its administration building houses a number of arts organisations including Music NT, 32 degrees, Happy Yess, Darwin Theatre Company and APRA

The theatre is one of Darwin’s most historic stone buildings and has many uses before being converted into a theatre in the early 1970s. It has hosted numerous music and theatrical events in the theatre and in the large courtyard.

Positioned right in the heart of Darwin with immediate access to the bus terminal, Smith St. Brown’s Mart backs onto Civic Park and the removable fencing means large scale events can extend into the park. Capacity ranges from 90 to 400 depending on inside or outside use and how the seating is deployed.

Brown’s Mart is the venue to attract a wide variety of music from all genres ranging from Dance Music through to Classical. Artists of national and international acclaim who have performed at Brown’s Mart include Yothu Yindi, The Black Keys, Michelle Nicolle Quartet, Drum Drum and Dave Graney.

For further information about the venue please contact the venue manager.

Brown’s Mart Arts Ltd Board of Management

Chair – Ex-Justice Sally Thomas AM. Sally Thomas AM was appointed a Stipendiary Magistrate of the Northern Territory in July 1978 and appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in 1992. Sally Thomas has been Chairperson of the Northern Territory Winston Churchill Fellowship since 1992 and is patron of numerous organisations.

Board Member – Ken Conway.Ken helped establish Brown’s Mart and was a long standing Executive Officer of Brown’s Mart Community Arts. He has assisted in establishing a number of local arts organisations including the NT Writer’s Centre, Corrugated Iron Youth Arts, The Multicultural Arts Office, Darwin Fringe Festival and Tracks.

Board Member – Merrilee Mills. Merrilee has undertaken extensive post-graduate studies in many arts and education related fields. As a freelance arts worker, Merrilee has worked in Australia and New Zealand, Germany and the UK. She is a highly skilled, muliti-artform based and versatile Territory artist able to work with people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

Board Member–Jackie Halsey. Jackie has experience in working with community organisations through a long career with government across human resource management, public relations and marketing, project management, and arts development.  Jackie has approximately 10 years experience in arts administration/development and represented the Northern Territory as a Director on the Board of Regional Arts Australia.  Jackie has a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) and a post graduate qualification in public sector management.

Board Member–Lesley Faehse. Lesley Faehse is a Chartered Accountant and Director of the Darwin Office of RBS Morgans, Stockbrokers and Financial Planners.
Lesley first came to the Northern Territory in 1970 and, after Cyclone Tracey, lived in Alice Springs for 10 years before moving back North.
She is a Board Member of Music NT and her long association with the Arts has been in a range of supporting roles to her large family who are almost all musicians.  Lesley believes in the magic of live performance.