Place Names Register Extract

Haasts Bluff

Extract date: 04/04/2026

Name Haasts Bluff
Type Designation Range
Place Id 13392
Place Type Feature
Status Registered
Date Registered 27 May 1959
Location (Datum GDA94)  
Latitude: -23° 22' S (Decimal degrees -23.3667)
Longitude: 132° 01' E (Decimal degrees 132.0167)
Locality / Suburb  
  Kunparrka
Local Government Area  
  MacDonnell Shire Council
History/Origin Ernest Giles in his "Diary of Exploration in Central Australia in 1872" (SAPP 21 or 1873) on Thursday 12 September records "..another thus ends likewise in a bluff to the north-north-west, named Haaste's Bluff, after Dr Haaste, geologist, Canterbury, New Zealand, an old alpine explorer." whilst on his exploration plan (Expl 15 sht 2) he records "Haast's Bluff".

W H Tietkens in his journal of his Central Australian Exploring Expedition of 1889 (SAPP 111 of 1890) mentions observations from Mount Sonder on page 4 ".. the most westerly high point of a range, which is locally called Haast's Bluff, bears 286?30'." On page 5 of the journal Tietkens mentions " I ascertained the native names of the principle local geographical features to be: - ...Haast's Bluff Range, Nyurla; ..."

The map accompanying his journal does not show Haasts Bluff but shows "NYURLA RANGE"

The name Haasts Bluff in the possessive form without the appostrphie has continued to today.

Dr Haast, (1822-1887) FRS Geologist was a renouned an New Zealand alpine explorer and in 1861, using his own collection began what was to become the Canterbury Museum.

Register & Gazettal information

Date Gazettal Comment
27/05/1959 NTG22

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