Place Names Register Extract

Walker River

Extract date: 29/03/2024

Name Walker River
Type Designation Stream
Place Id 19401
Place Type Feature
Status Recorded
Date Registered
Location (Datum GDA94)  
Latitude: -13° 34' S (Decimal degrees -13.5806)
Longitude: 135° 50' E (Decimal degrees 135.8383)
Locality / Suburb  
  East Arnhem
  Numburindi
Local Government Area  
  East Arnhem Shire Council
History/Origin Named by David Lindsay on 11 September 1883 during his Arnhem Land expedition of the same year. Lindsay in his diary (SAPP 239/1884) wrote 'I have named this the "Walker River," after the leader of the Blue Mud Bay prospecting party, who was murdered near here by the natives some eight years ago.'


Thomas Walker

Thomas Walker was murdered in October 1875 and the Bridson and Blue Mud Bay Party Subscription List was set up later in that year to assist the widow of Thomas Walker and others at the time. (NTTG 6 Dec 1875).

An interesting article appears in the NTTG of 30 Nov 1875 when a Thomas Walker, a Virginia Company employee, drowned at Stapleton Creek.

Register & Gazettal information

Date Gazettal Comment
  (None Found)  

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GPO Box 1680, Darwin NT 0801. Ph 08 8995 5333.
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