Place Names Register Extract
Docherty Island
If you know of any information about this place name which does not appear in this extract, please let the Place Names Committee know by completing a submission form.
Print Extract | Search Again| Name | Docherty Island |
|---|---|
| Type Designation | Island |
| Place Id | 12437 |
| Place Type | Feature |
| Status | Recorded |
| Date Registered | |
| Location (Datum GDA94) | |
| Latitude: -14° 05' S (Decimal degrees -14.0954) | |
| Longitude: 129° 30' E (Decimal degrees 129.5161) | |
| View Map | View in NT Atlas | View in Google Earth | |
| Locality / Suburb | |
| Thamarrurr | |
| Local Government Area | |
| Victoria-Daly Shire Council | |
| Alternate Names | |
| Dorcherty Island | |
| History/Origin | The named DORCHERTY ISLAND was first used on mapping by the ARMY following a field survey of the Port Keats area in early 1960s. Surveyor General MC Hall in June 1965 wrote to Keswick Barracks advising that a check could not be made of some feature names (including "Dorcherty Island") as they were obtained by the ARMY and appeared on 1:48,000 series maps of the Port Keats area. Dorcherty Island has continued to be used for the island forming the western entrance to Port Keats since appearing on 1966 Edition 1 of the Port Keats 1:250,000 sheet. The Place Names Committee at its 136th meeting in February 2002 agreed to change the name to Docherty Island to agree with the spelling of the Priest who established the nearby Port Keats Mission. Docherty Island is named after Father Richard Docherty (1899-1979) who established the mission at Port Keats in 1935 on the shore of Port Keats near the Island which bears his name. In 1935, the mission was moved 14km inland and south to its current site. Father Docherty continued at the mission until 1958 and returned in 1965 to continue working at the Port Keats mission until ill health forced his retirement in the mid 1970s. |
Register & Gazettal information
| Date | Gazettal | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| (None Found) |