Place Names Register Extract

Cape Fourcroy

Extract date: 05/06/2026

Name Cape Fourcroy
Type Designation Cape
Place Id 11546
Place Type Feature
Status Recorded
Date Registered
Location (Datum GDA94)  
Latitude: -11° 47' S (Decimal degrees -11.7984)
Longitude: 130° 01' E (Decimal degrees 130.0248)
Locality / Suburb  
  Tiwi Islands
Local Government Area  
  Tiwi Islands Shire Council
History/Origin Believed to have been named by Freycinet on the Des Geographe on 26 June 1803.

Captian PP King whilst traversing Bathurst Island on 28 May 1818 records in his journal:-

"... which proved to be Captain Baudin's Cape Helvetius. From this point, the coast trends to the southward to Cape Fourcroy. ..."

Nicolas Baudin in his "Journal of Post Captain Nicholas Baudin" records passing along this coast. As Baudin does not mention any features, it is believed to have been named by Freycinet.

It is believed the cape is named after Antoine Francois de Fourcroy (1755-1809) a member of a French noble family, the son of Jean Michel de Fourcroy, an apothecary. Antoine Fourcroy was a Professor of Chemisty. Baudin is known to have had a copy of one of Fourcroy's texts with him on the Des Geographe.

During World War II, Cape Fourcroy had the code name "CROYDON".

Register & Gazettal information

Date Gazettal Comment
  (None Found)  

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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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