Place Names Register Extract

Darwin

Extract date: 26/04/2024

Name Darwin
Type Designation City
Place Id 12218
Place Type Feature
Status Registered
Date Registered 18 March 1911
Location (Datum GDA94)  
Latitude: -12° 27' S (Decimal degrees -12.461534)
Longitude: 130° 50' E (Decimal degrees 130.842442)
Locality / Suburb  
  Darwin City
Local Government Area  
  Darwin City Council
History/Origin The central business area of the city derives its name from the harbour which was named by Wickham and Stokes in 1839 after their former shipmate, Charles Darwin, who had been with them on a previous voyage in the "HMS Beagle".

Surveyor-General Goyder when he established the settlement in 1869 named the town - Palmerston - but by 1900 this had reverted to Port Darwin and later to simply Darwin - since all communications were by sea, goods and passengers continued to be consigned to PORT DARWIN.

In 1911, when the Commonwealth relieved the State of South Australia of the economic burden the Territory had become, DARWIN was adopted as the official name of the capital.

Register & Gazettal information

Date Gazettal Comment
18/03/1911 CG18

The Northern Territory Gazetteer is maintained by the Place Names Section,
Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics.
GPO Box 1680, Darwin NT 0801. Ph 08 8995 5333.
place.names@nt.gov.au

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