Location, location, location!

The Tin Shed, Port Douglas.

If there ever is a time to use the phrase, it is to describe this picture-perfect place ideally positioned on Dickson’s Inlet in Port Douglas - The Tin Shed. With its seductive waterfront views out to Low Isles and the Coral Sea, and beyond to the magnificent Daintree rainforest, it is the heart and soul of the community. Steeped in history, this is a must-do on your next trip to Port Douglas.

The Tin Shed story began in 1877 when it was built by the Divisional Sugar Board to store and load sugar, a major source of income for the town, for transport to Cairns. Consent was obtained in 1979 for the mooring facilities to be used by Port Douglas and District Boat Club members, who in return repaired and maintained the building. After securing a 30-year lease for the site in 2009, the site was extensively renovated and the name officially changed to Douglas Community and Sports Club Inc. Unofficially though, it has been affectionately called ‘The Tin Shed’ since the eighties.

Inside the community club you can still see the original sugar board building interior, proudly restored and displayed alongside the modern bistro setting. The talking point of the shed is the spacious, light and airy deck, complete with willowing shade sails. The quintessential Queensland veranda is nothing if not alluring, and arriving here evokes an instant sense of relaxation as you settle in to enjoy the sea breezes and stunningly beautiful surrounding landscape over a beverage and a bite to eat.

With proximity to the waterfront, fishermen bring their daily catch directly to the door for the chefs to prepare such fresh FNQ favourites as barramundi, coral trout, gold band snapper, nannygai, red emperor, and an array of delicious seafood options. Arguably the most impressive is their seafood tower for two, a bona fide feast of Far North Queensland’s finest.

The menu has something for everyone, for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a great range of bistro classics, a children’s menu and even an afternoon snack board available seven days a week. All these at affordable prices for the entire family to enjoy.

A favourite pastime for the locals is to catch up with mates at The Tin Shed, grab a bucket of fresh jumbo prawns straight off the boat along with an icy cold beer or cocktail, and watch the reef boats return at the end of the day - a perfect way to while away an afternoon in FNQ. If you happen to visit on a Sunday, live music adds to the ambience and the experience is even better.

Above the bistro on the second level is The Bacardi Bar, an air-conditioned lounge with even more spectacular views. With a range of beers and ciders on tap, and cocktails perfect for those balmy tropical days, the venue is fast becoming a preferred venue for intimate weddings and private functions, with the bistro popular for Christmas parties and corporate events.

The Tin Shed is a not-for-profit enterprise with the community at the core of everything they do. Profits from the club are returned to the Douglas Shire through grants to local sporting and community groups. In 2022, The Tin Shed donated over $150,000 to clubs and groups through the sponsorship of community events.

The venue may have changed with the times, but the heart and soul of The Tin Shed will always remain the same, providing the Port Douglas community with an iconic local hangout that can in turn benefit the community.