Place Names Register Extract

Escape Cliffs Historical Reserve

Extract date: 04/06/2026

Name Escape Cliffs Historical Reserve
Type Designation Reserve
Place Id 12722
Place Type Administrative Area
Status Historical
Date Registered
Location (Datum GDA94)  
Latitude: -12° 08' S (Decimal degrees -12.1367)
Longitude: 131° 15' E (Decimal degrees 131.2544)
Locality / Suburb  
  (None Found)
Local Government Area  
 
History/Origin Extract from Heritage Register:
Escape Cliffs is of historical significance for the Territory?s cultural heritage. The site represents the first South Australian attempt at settling the Northern Territory. Together the historical and archaeological data provides information regarding human adaptations to unfamiliar environments. While the settlement was never a success, the experiences of the those settlers based at Escape Cliffs were to provide valuable knowledge of the climate and environment of the Top End and the difficulties which would have to be overcome if any future settlement in the north was to succeed. The efforts of several individuals associated with Escape cliffs including J.W.Bennett, B.T.Finniss, J.T.Manton, J. McKinlay and F.H.Litchfield, made a valuable contribution to the exploration and settlement if the Territory.

Now part of Djukbinj Natiuonal Park

Register & Gazettal information

Date Gazettal Comment
12/01/2000 NTG 1 Heritage Register declaration

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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The Northern Territory of Australia does not warrant that the information in this extract or any part of it is correct or complete and will not be liable for any loss damage or injury suffered by any person as a result of its inaccuracy or incompleteness. You are encouraged to notify any error or omission in the material by calling the Place Names Section.