Place Names Register Extract
Forrest Hill
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Print Extract | Search Again| Name | Forrest Hill |
|---|---|
| Type Designation | Homestead |
| Place Id | 14869 |
| Place Type | Feature |
| Status | Recorded |
| Date Registered | |
| Location (Datum GDA94) | |
| Latitude: -15° 49' S (Decimal degrees -15.83283) | |
| Longitude: 133° 24' E (Decimal degrees 133.40231) | |
| View Map | View in NT Atlas | View in Google Earth | |
| Locality / Suburb | |
| Birdum | |
| Local Government Area | |
| Roper Gulf Shire Council | |
| Alternate Names | |
| Maryfield | |
| History/Origin | Although pastoral activity took place in the Maryfield Station area around the 1913-1916 period, it was not until the early 1920s that the name Maryfield came into use. The origin of the name is unknown. Maryfield Station probably was formulated during the great war period because of the interest of John Warrington of Roper River (Urapunga) and Robert Farrar of Nutwood Downs in Grazing Licences etc in the Strangways River area to the south east of Hodgson Downs (and the north east of Nutwood). John Warrington Rogers was at one time the Manager of Hodgson Downs Station and was involved in stocking Arafura Station for Captain Bradshaw and the Eastern and African Cold Storage Supply Company in the 1904-1909 period. He and his wife Katie Rogers were pioneers in this area of the Territory (from the Roper up the Wilton River into Arnhem Land). The first signs of stocking land on the Strangways River at Rocky Gorge etc, were made by Robert Farrar of Nutwood Downs (probably Pastoral Permit 295) then under Licence No. 14 from 1913 to 1916 and including Rocky Gorge. By 1920 Farrar had consolidated his holding and referred to Maryfield Station as Grazing Licences No 210 including a residence and station buildings, GL14 (Tailing Yards), GL188 (Tailing Yard) and two other GLs 174 and 224. He sought further fencing improvements etc in 1920. Rogers also sought a further extension on 200 sq miles to the south east of GL 188 (300 sq miles) which included Purdie Ponds named by Stuart in 1862, in the form of GL 224 which was also granted in 1920. In April 1921, the Grazing Licence improvements on GL 14 and GL 10 were inspected by surveyor, W B Welbourne, who referred to "Maryfield Springs" situated 36 miles north east of Ironstone Bore No 3 with an access road to the north to Paddy's Lagoon on the Strangways River. In 1921 Katie Rogers died and Rogers returned to the remote Urapunga which he apparently still held. Felix Holmes appears to have taken over an interest in Maryfield by 1925. In mid 2008, the owners of the property changed the name of the station to Forrest Hill in commemoration of the 1870s explorer and politician Alexander Forrest. In 1879, he led a 6 man expedition which resulted in the discovery of the Kimberley district of WA. Being short of food, the party made a dash for the Overland Telegraph Line, arriving safely near the station. |
Register & Gazettal information
| Date | Gazettal | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| (None Found) |