Place Names Register Extract

Tennant Creek

Extract date: 09/06/2026

Name Tennant Creek
Type Designation Locality
Place Id 22394
Place Type Administrative Area
Status Registered
Date Registered 3 April 2007
Location (Datum GDA94)  
Latitude: -19° 39' S (Decimal degrees -19.6591)
Longitude: 134° 11' E (Decimal degrees 134.1912)
Locality / Suburb  
  (None Found)
Local Government Area  
  Barkly Shire Council
History/Origin The Tennant Creek locality takes its name from the town of the same name which in turn derives its name from the feature stream which was named by John McDouall Stuart in June 1860 after his associate John Tennant of Port Lincon. The location at which Stuart named the creek is north of the town, near the Overland Telegraph Station.

A repeater station was established near Tennant Creek following the completion of the Overland Telegraph Line in 1872. A reserve was proclaimed around the telegraph station in 1874.

Following the discovery of gold in the surrounding hills, the town site of Tennant Creek was surveyed in September 1935. Blakeway in carrying out the survey took into account the location of the telegraph line and buildings already in existence.

Register & Gazettal information

Date Gazettal Comment
03/04/2007 Date of Registration
04/04/2007 NTG 14 Notice of Naming

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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