Place Names Register Extract

Rosebery

Extract date: 10/06/2026

Name Rosebery
Type Designation Suburb
Place Id 2076
Place Type Administrative Area
Status Registered
Date Registered 17 October 1984
Location (Datum GDA94)  
Latitude: -12° 30' S (Decimal degrees -12.5083)
Longitude: 130° 59' E (Decimal degrees 130.9913)
Locality / Suburb  
  (None Found)
Local Government Area  
  Palmerston City Council
History/Origin The suburb of Rosebery commemorates the County of Rosebery (1884-1977) which was named after the Fifth Earl of Rosebery who was born in London in 1847 as Archibald Philip Primrose, was a British statesman. His father was a representative Peer of Scotland and he succeeded to the Earldom in 1868. He graduating from Christ Church, Oxford in 1866. Rosebery took pride in his racehorses and had the distinction of winning the Derby whilst Prime Minister of Britian.

Lord Rosebery had the reputation as a social reformer but the Liberal Administration broke up in 1885. In 1883, he and his wife went around the world and came to India and Australia in 1884. It is known that he held a title to land in Darwin at the corner of Smith and Knuckey Streets On his return from his world trip, Rosebery joined Mr Gladstone and became Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in his Ministry.

It was during his overseas visit in 1884 that the South Australian Government decided to name additional Counties in the Top End. After the initial group of Palmerston, Gladstone and Disraeli, the County of Rosebery was gazetted in 1885, together with the County of Malmesbury. Rosebery covered the area north of Pine Creek with Malmesbury being to the west over the Daly River area.

The Place Names Committee in conjunction with the Palmerston Development Authority decided to perpetuate the Rosebery name as the County of Rosebery fell into disuse and was cancelled on 7 January 1977.

Register & Gazettal information

Date Gazettal Comment
17/10/1984 NTG G41
05/12/2001 NTG48 Revocation of 17/10/1984 gazettal and renaming of suburb with slight changes to boundaries
19/12/2001 NTG50 Correndum to 5/12/2001 gazettal - wrong map illustrated in schedule

The Northern Territory Gazetteer is maintained by the Place Names Section,
Department of Lands, Planning and Environment.
GPO Box 1680, Darwin NT 0801. Ph 08 8995 5333.
place.names@nt.gov.au

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