Place Names Register Extract
Weddell Park
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Print Extract | Search Again| Name | Weddell Park |
|---|---|
| Type Designation | Urban Park |
| Place Id | 22725 |
| Place Type | Park or Cemetery |
| Status | Registered |
| Date Registered | 23 October 2007 |
| Location (Datum GDA94) | |
| Latitude: -12° 26' S (Decimal degrees -12.43467) | |
| Longitude: 130° 50' E (Decimal degrees 130.84063) | |
| View Map | View in NT Atlas | View in Google Earth | |
| Locality / Suburb | |
| Parap | |
| Local Government Area | |
| Darwin City Council | |
| History/Origin | In commemoration of Robert Hunter Weddell (1882-1951) soldier, public servant and Northern Territory Administrator, born and educated in Geelong, Victoria, and his wife Flora (nee McDonald) ( - 1976) With the outbreak of World War 1, Weddell joined the AIF as a Major. He served as an officer at Gallipoli in 1915 and was the only surviving officer from the front two companies. Later he was wounded and invalided to England. In April 1916, Robert Weddell married Flora McDonald. Leaving the Army in 1917, Weddell returned to Perth and the Attorney General's Department. In 1926, Weddell applied for and was appointed Government Resident of North Australia, arriving in Darwin in March 1927. Later his wife Flora, her sister and daughter, Rosemary, aged four, arrived in Darwin and took up residence at Government House. In 1936, with changes to administration, Weddell was appointed Administrator for the Northern Territory and served in that position until 1937 when, due to angina problems, he retired to Victoria. Whilst resident in Darwin, Flora Weddell took an active interest in the welfare and hardship of Territory women and the lepers at Channel Island. In 1939, with war approaching, he was recalled to the Army and served with the Australian Intelligent Corps in Melbourne until 1943 when he retired, having reached the rank of Colonel. Robert Weddell died on 23 November 1951 at Malvern, Victoria, where Flora continued to live until she died in October 1976. |
Register & Gazettal information
| Date | Gazettal | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 23/10/2007 | Registered | |
| 31/10/2007 | NTG 44 | Gazettal |