Place Names Register Extract

Mc Minns Lagoon

Extract date: 11/06/2026

Name Mc Minns Lagoon
Type Designation Waterhole
Place Id 14964
Place Type Feature
Status Recorded
Date Registered
Location (Datum GDA94)  
Latitude: -12° 33' S (Decimal degrees -12.554688)
Longitude: 131° 04' E (Decimal degrees 131.082725)
Locality / Suburb  
  McMinns Lagoon
Local Government Area  
  Litchfield Council
History/Origin SW Herbert in his journal writes "At a short distance to the south east of Brooking Creek, there was a large sheet of rain water. This was designated as McMinn's Lagoon, in honour of Mr. Gilbert McMinn who was Goyder's Chief Surveyor and afterwards head of the Survey Dept."

McMinns Lagoon appeared on Goyder's plan of the Survey of Port Darwin and Environs in 1869. It was probably applied by George McLachlan who surveyed this area, after his colleague surveyor, Gilbert McMinn, if not by Goyder himself.
McMinn migrated to South Australia in 1850 and on leaving school, took up surveying. Prior to coming to the Territory as a Senior Surveyor under Goyder in 1869, he was at Escape Cliffs in 1864 with the B T Finniss expedition.

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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