Place Names Register Extract
Bremer Island
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Print Extract | Search Again| Name | Bremer Island |
|---|---|
| Type Designation | Island |
| Place Id | 11182 |
| Place Type | Feature |
| Status | Recorded |
| Date Registered | |
| Location (Datum GDA94) | |
| Latitude: -12° 06' S (Decimal degrees -12.1097) | |
| Longitude: 136° 48' E (Decimal degrees 136.8102) | |
| View Map | View in NT Atlas | View in Google Earth | |
| Locality / Suburb | |
| East Arnhem | |
| Local Government Area | |
| East Arnhem Shire Council | |
| History/Origin | Bremer Island was originally named Melville Isles by Matthew Flinders on 16 February 1803, and notes in his journal (pg 221) "not being laid down in the Dutch chart, I distinguish it, with the islets and rocks to the north and north east by the name of the MELVILLE ISLETS." Earlier he had named Mount Saunders and Mount Dundas. Flinders on 16 February, 1803 (pg 224) named Melville Bay "in compliment to the Right Hon. Robert Saunders Dundas, [Second] viscount Melville, who as first lord of the Admiralty, has continued that patronage to the voyage which it had experienced under some of my predecessors". The name was changed to Bremer Island by the Federal Government in 1934 to avoid confusion between this island off the north-east coast of Arnhem Land and the larger island to the north of Darwin which had been named Melville Island by Capt PP King on 21 May 1818 after Viscount Melville, KT, first Lord of the Admiralty. In the recommendation which was approved by the Minister for the Interior (Mr Perkins) on 28 March 1934 the name "Bremer Island" was proposed for the island off the north-east coast of the Northern Territory as "a settlement was founded there by Captain Bremer in HMS Tamar in 1824, abandoned in 1829." As it was considered to have two islands of the same name at or near the same locality, it was decided the smaller island off the north-east coast be renamed. Gerald Dillon in the "Sydney Morning Herald" of 30 April 1934 raised. "the historical inaccuracy" and pointed out "that the settlement established by [Capt] Sir John Bremer was on the larger of the two Melville Islands situated north east of Darwin. Therefore the name Bremer Island should really be conferred on this island, and not on the one apparently selected". During 1935, the above article was brought to the Governments notice and in January 1936, it was decide that the Melville Island to the north of Darwin. "this island is an important area, and its name is known world-wide, it would be inadvisable to change the name at present time, also in view of the fact that the necessary alterations have been made on Admiralty Charts ..... .... the matter might remain as approved on the 28th March 1934." The above information is an extract from "Dept of the Interior, Property & Survey Brach Correspondence File 1934, Northern Territory, Bremer Island' - AA CRS A876 Item GL234. |
Register & Gazettal information
| Date | Gazettal | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| (None Found) |