A BUSY FRONT DOOR

 There are many vantage points in   Darwin  from  which  the  passing armada  of  vessels , friendly and  otherwise , can  be  viewed . One such spot  is  the special   observation  platform  on  the  Esplanade , below .   

 

It  comes with a  handy guide to ships, flags , sunsets  and  local  vegetation 

Vessels large  and small  can  be seen  , including  Paspaley  pearling boats, tankers , naval  ships , trawlers , distinctive  LNG  carriers  . Long  gone  are  the  days when  the Yellow Peril could actually be seen invading  the port. It was a  boat  deliberately  named such  by  the  late poet , environmentalists  and  activist , John Tomlinson.

One of  the   Paspaley  vessels , above ,  is  named  after  Marilynne Paspaley, daughter  of   Nicholas Paspaley , master  pearler and founder of  the business.  A  former  Darwin  ABC  presenter  and  newsreader  ,   film and  TV actor , she  received  the   Order  of  Australia   for  marketing   pearls  and    jewellery.

 

Border patrol .