Women of the Top End: The Heart of Darwin’s Hospitality

Support women. Support mothers. Be patient. Be kind.

In Darwin, the hospitality industry isn’t just built on food; it’s built on women. Women who lead kitchens, run venues, raise families, juggle full-time jobs and still show up every day with strength, creativity and heart.

As a mother-daughter business ourselves, we see it all up close. Every week we turn up for shoots with cameras, ideas and Abi’s little boy, Jaya, on her hip, and the way these women welcome him says everything about the community we’re lucky to be part of. Not once has he been treated as an inconvenience. Instead, he’s embraced like family.

In the Top End, hospitality isn’t competitive... it’s a community

WOMEN WHO INSPIRE US

• Thao - Bannsang 

  A powerhouse who works full-time in government and runs one of Darwin’s most loved Korean restaurants. She’s present, calm, hands-on, and her leadership shines through her entire team.

• Kirsty - Oyster Bar (Darwin, SA, WA) & Handsome Max (Adelaide) 

  A mother managing three Oyster Bars across three states while guiding a café in Adelaide. She’s the definition of a super-mum; steady, capable and endlessly supportive.

• Nandhita - Saltwater @ Bundilla  

  A mum who not only runs a busy foreshore café but recently completed a bachelor's degree. Her drive, discipline and warmth ripples through her entire team.

• JoJo & Gloria - Rendezvous  

  A mother–daughter duo who have worked side-by-side for years. JoJo in the kitchen and Gloria front of house. With long hours, shared goals and every challenge faced together, their bond is as much a part of the restaurant as the food.

• Monica - The Last Supper 

  A strong, generous woman who works beside her husband while creating safe, inclusive spaces for women across the NT, including meet-and-greets and silent reading nights. Monica makes sure that no woman feels alone here.

• Susannah - Ben’s Bakehouse 

  She took over the bakery ten years ago when no one else wanted it, and has quietly transformed it into one of Darwin’s favourites. Susannah is hardworking, humble and fiercely dedicated.

• Brigid - Business Owner & Advocate  

  Running four businesses while mothering two children, Brigid openly shares her journey through motherhood, pregnancy loss and advocating for better NT maternity services.

• Monica - Holy Smokes  

  Alongside her husband, she built Holy Smokes so he could live out his dream of smoking meat, while she built a family of seven children. She’s an incredible cook, a fierce multitasker and living proof that behind every great man is a woman making it all happen.

WHY THESE STORIES MATTER

Behind every dish is a woman holding up her team, her family and her community.

These women (and so many more), are the backbone of Darwin’s hospitality. They’re leaders, mentors, mothers, creators, builders and advocates. Darwin is stronger because of its women.

Michelle & Abi Dishin’ Up Darwin