The Gagudju Crocodile Hotel, also known as Kakadu Crocodile Hotel or just the Croc Hotel is a 3.5 star hotel located in Jabiru, Northern Territory, within Australia's Kakadu National Park. Owned by the Indigenous clans of the Gaagudju people, it was the first major tourism development in the National Park and is notable for its unique design in the shape of a crocodile. Since 2014, the hotel has been operated by the Accor group under the Mecure brand.
Following the declaration of Kakadu as a National Park in 1979, the township of Jabiru was established as a closed community to house workers at the Ranger Uranium Mine. The Park's second management plan in 1986 recognised the potential for the town's role to be expanded as a service centre to support tourism related development in consultation with traditional land owners.[1]
The Gagudju Association, representing Aboriginal clans from the Kakadu area, submitted plans for the hotel in 1987. The design was for a two-story, 110-120 room hotel including restaurants, bars and conference facilities contained within a structure shaped like a crocodile.[2] Although the animal carries spiritual significance to the Gaagudju people, the international success of the film Crocodile Dundee in 1986 also influenced the chosen design.[3]
The hotel was constructed by the John Holland Group, opening in 1988. While the Gagudju Association first approached Four Seasons Limited to manage the hotel,[2] the Southern Pacific Hotels Group operated it from its opening until the company was acquired by Bass Hotels in 2000.[4] Prior to the management rights being acquired by the Accor group in 2014, the hotel was branded as a Holiday Inn.
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