Place Names Register Extract

Crocodile Island

Extract date: 01/04/2026

Name Crocodile Island
Type Designation Island
Place Id 12044
Place Type Feature
Status Recorded
Date Registered
Location (Datum GDA94)  
Latitude: -12° 01' S (Decimal degrees -12.0333)
Longitude: 134° 51' E (Decimal degrees 134.85)
Locality / Suburb  
  East Arnhem
Local Government Area  
  East Arnhem Shire Council
Alternate Names  
  Nilpaiwa
History/Origin Crocodile Island takes its name from the name of the island group.

Captain PP King is credited with officially applying the name Crocodile Islands on 29 July 1819.

King in his journal "Survey of the Intertropical Coasts of Australia" writes
.. anchored at the bottom of a bay, and inside of a group of islands which appear to be the "Crocidils Eylandts" of the old charts.

Tasman in 1644 explored the north coast of what was known at the time as "Terra Australis" and showed the name on his chart.

Tasman is believed to have named the islands after crocodiles which he saw in the area, whilst King in 1819 named the Alligator Rivers after the same animals.

Register & Gazettal information

Date Gazettal Comment
  (None Found)  

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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