Place Names Register Extract

Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles

Extract date: 29/03/2024

Name Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles
Type Designation Rock
Place Id 12336
Place Type Feature
Status Registered
Date Registered 9 November 2009
Location (Datum GDA94)  
Latitude: -20° 33' S (Decimal degrees -20.56139)
Longitude: 134° 15' E (Decimal degrees 134.26139)
Locality / Suburb  
  Warumungu
Local Government Area  
  Barkly Shire Council
Alternate Names  
  Devils Marbles
History/Origin Devils Marbles was dual named to Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles in November 2009, with Karlu Karlu being the local indigenous name for the feature.

Devils Marbles is believed to have been named during the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line.

John Lewis in an account of his time during the construction of the Overland Telegraph Line (1872), and published in 1922 as "Fought and Won" , he writes (pg 82):
'Our next camp was on the Wycliffe .... At the Dixon we made our next camp. We passed through extraordinarily shaped stones in the Davenport range. The country was of granite formation and many of the stones were round like marbles; in fact they were called the "Devil's Marbles" and in some cases were standing one on top of the other, as though placed there by tradesmen.'

Register & Gazettal information

Date Gazettal Comment
09/11/2009 Added to the register
18/11/2009 NTG G46

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GPO Box 1680, Darwin NT 0801. Ph 08 8995 5333.
place.names@nt.gov.au

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