Place Names Register Extract

Tennant Creek

Extract date: 09/05/2025

Name Tennant Creek
Type Designation Town
Place Id 18869
Place Type Feature
Status Recorded
Date Registered
Location (Datum GDA94)  
Latitude: -19° 38' S (Decimal degrees -19.6478)
Longitude: 134° 11' E (Decimal degrees 134.1902)
Locality / Suburb  
  Tennant Creek
Local Government Area  
  Barkly Shire Council
History/Origin Tennant Creek (stream feature) was named by John McDouall Stuart on 6 June 1860.

Stuart named the creek after his associate John Tennant of Port Lincon. The location at which Stuart named the creek is near the Overland Telegraph Station.

Stuart in his journal (SAPP 65 of 1861) wrote:

"At this place the creek is running E. Ben, in searching for the horses this morning, found three or four more large waterholes in the creek. A little SE from this there appears to be an abundance of water in the ranges. .... This I have named Tennant Creek."

A repeater station was established near Tennant Creek following the completion of the OT Line in 1872. A reserve was proclaimed around the station in 1874.

Following the discovery of gold in the surrounding hills, the town site of Tennant Creek was surveyed in September 1935. Blakeway in carrying out the survey took into account the location of the telegraph line and buildings already in existence.

In June 1954 the Town of Tennant Creek was proclaimed.



Ref: (1) Tuxworth, Hilda - Tennant Creek; Yesterday and Today
(2) Wilson, Helen - The Heritage of Tennant Creek.

Register & Gazettal information

Date Gazettal Comment
  (None Found)  

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GPO Box 1680, Darwin NT 0801. Ph 08 8995 5333.
place.names@nt.gov.au

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