Place Names Register Extract
Holtze
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Print Extract | Search Again| Name | Holtze |
|---|---|
| Type Designation | Locality |
| Place Id | 2044 |
| Place Type | Administrative Area |
| Status | Registered |
| Date Registered | 29 October 1997 |
| Location (Datum GDA94) | |
| Latitude: -12° 27' S (Decimal degrees -12.4554) | |
| Longitude: 131° 00' E (Decimal degrees 131.0037) | |
| View Map | View in NT Atlas | View in Google Earth | |
| Locality / Suburb | |
| (None Found) | |
| Local Government Area | |
| Litchfield Council | |
| History/Origin | Maurice William Holtze (8 July 1840 - 12 October 1923) was a German born botanist whose work in Australia, particularly in the Northern Territory, contributed to the early development of botanical and agricultural practices in the region. Born in Hanover, in what was then the Kingdom of Hanover (now part of Germany), Holtze received his education in Hildesheim and Osnabrück before undertaking an apprenticeship in Hanover. He further developed his expertise in botany and horticulture at the Imperial Gardens in St Petersburg, Russia. In 1872, Holtze emigrated to Australia with his wife Evlampia (née Mizinzoff) and family, initially arriving in Melbourne before moving to Darwin (then known as Palmerston). In 1878, he was appointed Government Gardener in Palmerston, where he established the Botanic Gardens. His role involved experimenting with a variety of tropical plants to assess their suitability for cultivation in the region. These trials included crops such as rubber, rice, peanuts, tobacco, sugar, coffee, indigo, and maize. In 1886, the gardens were relocated to their current site in Fannie Bay. While Holtze's tenure was marked by efforts to introduce economically viable plants, the success of many initiatives was limited by the challenging climatic conditions of the region. In 1891, Holtze accepted the position of Director of the Adelaide Botanic Garden, a role he held until his retirement in 1917. During this time, he was responsible for redesigning the garden, developing a significant collection of aquatic plants, and establishing a 'type orchard' in the Mount Lofty Ranges with over 2,000 varieties of apples and pears. His son, Nicholas Holtze, succeeded him as the first official Curator of the Palmerston Botanic Gardens in 1891. Nicholas continued his father's work, focusing on trialling crops with agricultural potential for the Northern Territory, such as sisal, cotton, and rice. He also maintained the practice of distributing plants and cuttings to local residents. Maurice Holtze was recognised for his service through fellowships with the Linnean Society of London and the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, and in 1913 he was appointed a Companion of the Imperial Service Order (ISO). He passed away in American River on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, in 1923. While his pioneering efforts laid important groundwork for future botanical and agricultural developments in the region, the long-term impact of his work was constrained by environmental challenges. Maurice Holtze's contributions to the Northern Territory are commemorated through the naming of the locality of Holtze, situated approximately 20 kilometres southeast of Darwin. Holtze held land in the area from 1883 to 1917 and was involved in early agricultural enterprises at Jungle and Palm Creeks. The area known as Jungle Creek became referred to as Holtze Jungle in recognition of his presence, although in the post war years it was designated as a Forestry Reserve named Holmes Jungle after Felix Holmes, a cattle raiser and butcher who owned land there from 1917. Holtze's son Valdemar, known as Wallaby Holtze, is also remembered locally, with a road bearing his name. Sources: Australian Dictionary of Biography. (n.d.). Holtze, Maurice William (1840?1923). Retrieved 10 September 2025 from https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/holtze-maurice-william-6720 Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation. (n.d.). Holtze, Maurice William. Retrieved 10 September 2025 from https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P001101b.htm Wikipedia contributors. (2021, April 14). Maurice William Holtze. Wikipedia. Retrieved 10 September 2025 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_William_Holtze |
Register & Gazettal information
| Date | Gazettal | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 29/10/1997 | NTG43 | |
| 29/07/2016 | Alteration of Locality Boundary | |
| 10/08/2016 | NTG G32 | Alteration of Locality boundary notified in Gazette |
| 10/09/2025 | S2025/054B | Certified Plan |