Place Names Register Extract

Vanderlin Island

Extract date: 06/06/2026

Name Vanderlin Island
Type Designation Island
Place Id 19308
Place Type Feature
Status Recorded
Date Registered
Location (Datum GDA94)  
Latitude: -15° 42' S (Decimal degrees -15.709092)
Longitude: 137° 01' E (Decimal degrees 137.025751)
Locality / Suburb  
  Pellew Islands
Local Government Area  
  Roper Gulf Shire Council
History/Origin Cape Vanderlin, the northern extremity of Vanderlin Island in the Sir Edward Pellew Group, was thought by Abel Tasman in 1644 to be part of the mainland and on his map showed the point as "cabo van dorlms". Peter Goo's map of Hollandia Nova (circa 1660-1669) shows the point as "C. Vander Lin".

Matthew Flinders in December 1802 during his survey of the Gulf of Carpentaria, used the name "Cape Vanderlin" and determined that the point was not connected to the mainland and named the island "Vanderlin's Island".

Cape Vanderlin and Vanderlin Island are named after one of the Councilors of the Dutch East Indies Company.

NT Portion 1737

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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