Place Names Register Extract

Mount Behm

Extract date: 11/09/2025

Name Mount Behm
Type Designation Mount
Place Id 15300
Place Type Feature
Status Recorded
Date Registered
Location (Datum GDA94)  
Latitude: -16° 51' S (Decimal degrees -16.85707)
Longitude: 129° 02' E (Decimal degrees 129.043157)
Locality / Suburb  
  Baines
Local Government Area  
  Victoria-Daly Shire Council
History/Origin Mount Behn was originally named Mount Behn which is believed to have been named by LA Wells in 1908 due to its proximity to the Behn River, during his survey of the area south of the Victoria River. (DP 37).

Behn River was named by Alexander Forrest on 7 August 1879
Forrest in his journal (Published 1880) wrote:-
" This river I called the 'Behn', after Dr Behn, of Gotha, - successor to Petermann, and who co-operated with that gentleman for many years in his researches towards the advancement of Australian scientific geography."

In 1996, information was supplied by Geographic Names Committee of WA indicating that the person commemorated was indeed Ernest BEHM (1830-1884), of Gotha and that WA had changed the name of the river on 5 February 1996 to BEHM RIVER following private research which revealed this as the correct spelling for the person being commemorated. The information was confirmed by WA contacting Gotha.

The Place Names Committee for NT at its 105th meeting in April 1996 recommended the river and mountain feature be changed to BEHM.

Register & Gazettal information

Date Gazettal Comment
  (None Found)  

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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