FACILITIES

• The park stretches between Davern street and Stobo crescent connecting the two sides of the neighbourhood
• Shaded playground on sandpit, for adventurous climbing and balancing challenges
• Bench under a mature tree overlooking the play area

Who was Stobo?

A memorial tag is attached to a rock, serving a tribute to Robert Henry Stobo, Deck Cadet of the Merchant Navy, killed on M.V. Neptuna in 1942 at the age of 16. 

Stobo's father, grandfather, and great-grand father were all prominent in Australian shipping. He was always passionate about the sea and, when allowed, would accompany his father on marine salvage operations. At just nine years old, he acted as a 50th mate on the pilot steamer Captain Cook, impressing with his seafaring skills.

He later secured a cadetship with Burns Philp and joined the Neptuna in January 1942 as a Deck Cadet. The Neptuna was loaded with two hundred depth charges and a very large quantity of anti-aircraft shells for the Navy and Army, docked in Darwin Harbour when Japanese bombers attacked. 

The ship was berthed alongside the main wharf awaiting maintenance. The first bomb hit the ship below the waterline and she began taking on water; she then received a direct hit causing her to catch on fire. The Neptuna blew apart, creating a huge mushroom cloud caused by the explosion of the ammunition she was carrying.