10/08/2025
Hinchinbrook Place Name Origins
There are many famous naval names along our Pacific Coast
Have you ever wondered of the origin of these names…
(Starting from the north)
Flying Fish Point
Flying Fish Point and Coquette Point, at the north and south heads of the Johnstone River (Gladys Inlet) carry the names of the cutters in Dalrymple’s expedition of 1873.
Richards Island and Cape Richards
Richards Island (in the Family Group near Dunk Island) and Cape Richards (on Hinchinbrook Island) commemorate the name of Commands G. H. Richards (R.N.) of H.M.S “Hecate” engaged on naval survey in Torres Straits in 1863.
The Hull River
The Hull River, running between Tam O’Shanter Point and the town of Tully, was named after the City of Hull on the north east coast of England, near the village of Marton, where Captain Cook was born on October 27, 1728.
Otter Reef
Possibly named by Admiralty Hydrographer, after Queensland Government Steamer Otter, built 1884, Scotland.
Hecate Point
H.M.S “Hecate” engaged on naval survey in Torres Straits in 1863
Rockingham Bay
Captain Cook in 1770 named Rockingham Bay (after the Marquis of Rockingham, a Minister of State in the English Cabinet)
Goold Island
Named by Lieutenant Phillip Parker King RN (1791-1856) naval officer, hydrographer and company manager, 19 June 1819, HM Colonial Cutter Mermaid, without any indication of origin of name.
Kennedy Shoal
Probably named by Admiralty Hydrographer, after Lieutenant V.G. Kennedy RAN naval officer, survey vessel HMAS Geranium 1924-25.
Bandjin Reefs
Named after the Traditional Owners of the Cardwell/Hinchinbrook area, the Bandjin Tribe, comprising of eight reefs, four of which are named (Moss, Reg Ward, Duncan Reefs and Barnett Patches) and four unnamed reefs.
Moss Reef
Named after Robert Moss, Captain BHP Shipping, former Skipper of the James Cook University Research Vessel “James Kirby”.
Reg Ward Reef
Named after navigation teacher and former proprietor of the Navigation Centre in Townsville, Reg Ward, a posthumous recipient of a Merchant Navy Commendation for his services to the industry.
Duncan Reef
Named after David Duncan, retired Skipper of the James Cook University Research Vessel “James Kirby”.
Barnett Patches
Named after John Barnett, former Skipper of the James Cook University Research Vessel “James Kirby”, and tugmaster Cairns and Mourilyan.
Bramble Reef
Bramble Reef, where the “Maria” was wrecked in 1872 carries the name of H.M.S. cutter “Bramble”. Probably named by Captain Francis Price Blackwood RN (1809-1854) naval officer, HMS Fly, in 1845 after HM Cutter Bramble, tender to HMS Fly and to HMS Rattlesnake, engaged on Barrier Reef surveys in 1844-8.
Britomart Reef
Named after HM Brig Britomart, tender to HMS Alligator, involved in surveying Arafura Sea 1838, Britomart being commanded by Lieutenant Owen Stanley (1811-1850).
Walker Reef (Little Trunk Reef)
Named after Terry Walker, National Parks and Wildlife Services officer who was lost at sea in the course of his duties. Named by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority on 23 June 2003. Previously known as Little Trunk Reef.
Myrmidon Reef
Named by Admiralty Hydrographer, after HMS Myrmidon, survey vessel, whose complement carried out hydrographic surveys in Coral Sea and North Queensland coast between Cape Grafton and Hope Islands 1886-87.
Dunk Island
George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax (6 October 1716 – 8 June 1771) was a British statesman of the Georgian era. Due to his success in extending American commerce he became known as “father of the colonies”.
Cape Sandwich
Cape Sandwich, on Hinchinbrook Island was named by Cook on June 8, 1770, in honour of the fourth Earl of Sandwich (John Montague) First Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in 1770 and First Lord of the Admiralty in 1771. It was to him that Captain Cook reported when he returned from his first voyage along the east coast of New South Wales and under the Earl of Sandwich’s commission.
Lord Sandwich was a great supporter of Captain James Cook. As First Lord of the Admiralty, Sandwich approved Admiralty funds for the purchase and fit-out of the Resolution, Adventure and Discovery for Cook’s second and third expeditions of exploration in the Pacific Ocean.
Hinchinbrook Island derived its name from his country seat, Hinchinbrook, near Huntingdon, England.
For corruption and incapacity, Sandwich’s administration is unique in the history of the British navy. It was during his last and longest term of office that England lost her North American colonies.
All he is remembered for to-day is the device he is said to have invented to enable him to eat without leaving the gaming table, that poor substitute for a decent meal, the sandwich.
Sandwich retired in 1782. Despite the number of important posts that he held during his career, Sandwich’s incompetence and corruption inspired the suggestion that his epitaph should read: “Seldom has any man held so many offices and accomplished so little.”
Recently, some historians have begun to suggest that Lord Sandwich was not perhaps as incompetent as suggested, but that previous historians have placed too much emphasis on sources from his political enemies.
Eva Island
Possibly associated with the loss of the schooner EVA, which disappeared during a cyclone 3/4 March 1867.
Dungeness
Derived from Dungeness Creek, which was named after a headland on the coast of Kent, England.
Flat Rock
Named from it’s appearance.
One Tree Rock
Named for the one tree that once grew on it.
Hillock Point
Named as Point Hillick by Lieutenant James Cook RN (1728-1779) navigator, HM Bark Endeavour, 8 June 1770, because of its appearance. Sometimes incorrectly referred to as Hillcock.
Zoe Bay
Discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it Zoe Bay, which of course in German means a whale’s va**na. I’m sorry, I was trying to impress you. I don’t know what it means. I’ll be honest, I don’t think anyone knows what it means anymore. Scholars maintain that the translation was lost hundreds of years ago.
Mulligan Bay
Presumably named after James Venture Mulligan (1837-1907) prospector.
Hinchinbrook Island
“Mount” Hinchinbrook was named by Captain Cook, after the family seat of his patron, George Montague Dunk, who was remembered by Captain James Cook (R.N.) when he named Cape Sandwich on this island in June 1770.
Since Cook could not see the channel which lies between the island and the mainland (now called Hinchinbrook Channel) he used the term Mount Hinchinbrook presumably to describe Mt Bowen (Queensland’s third highest mountain) or Mount Diamantina, the island’s two highest mountains.
Hinchinbrook “Island” was named by Captain Phillip Parker King (R.N.) in 1818-19, as it was not until he explored the area that the island was recognised as such. In 1843 Hinchinbrook Channel, which had been inspected by Captain King in 1818, was explored by naval officers of H.M.S. “Fly.”
The Palm Islands
The Palm Islands Group named by Captain Cook on June 8, 1770, is situated in Halifax Bay lying between Lucinda Point and Townsville. Sir Joseph Banks and Dr Daniel Carl Solander, botanists on the “Endeavour,” landed on Palm Island, and reported their observations to Cook. The island was named after the many cabbage tree palms growing there.
Lucinda
Derived from adjacent Lucinda Point, which was presumably named after the Queensland Government Paddle Steamer Lucinda, built 1884. QGS Lucinda was named after Jeannie Lucinda Field second wife of Sir Anthony Musgrave, Governor of Queensland 1883-1888.
Halifax Bay
Halifax Bay north of Townsville, was named by Captain Cook in 1770, after his friend the Earl of Halifax (First Lord of the Admiralty), whose baptismal name was George Montagu-Dunk, which name is commemorated in Dunk Island
Pelorus Island
Probably named by Admiralty Hydrographer, possibly 1887-88, after HMS Pelorus flagship on the Australia Station 1860-62. Also known as North Palm Island.
Orpheus Island
Orpheus Island, in the Palm Group, bears the name of H.M.S. “Orpheus” (named after the Greek hero) engaged on naval surveys in these waters in 1863. HMS “Orpheus” was built in Chatham Dockyard in Kent, England, in 1861.
The name Orpheus was given to the island in 1887 by Lieutenant G.E. Richards, who was surveying the local waters for the British Admiralty. G. E. Richards was a commander of the survey ship HMQS Paluma.
Harrier Point
HMS Harrier (1854-1866) was launched on 13 May 1854 at Pembroke Dockyard in South Wales.
HMS Harrier had both a steam engine (hence the single screw or propeller) and sails. The single funnel could be lowered to deck level so that the ship had the appearance of a sailing vessel.
Iris Point
Probably named by Admiralty Hydrographer, after HMS Iris, Royal Navy flagship on the Australia Station 1859-60.
Calliope Channel
Presumably named by Admiralty Hydrographer, after HMS Calliope Sixth Rate Frigate, on Australia Station 1845-60.
Fantome Island
Fantome Island has the name of “H.M.S. “Fantome” which carried out survey work near Cairns Harbour in 1907. HMS Fantome was a Cadmus-class sloop launched in 1901. She was the fourth ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name, which is from the French fantôme, meaning “ghost”.
Curacoa Island
Curaçao (p**n. KEWR-ə-sow)
Four British Royal Navy ships have been named after the Caribbean Island between 1809 and 1942. All have used the unusual spelling HMS Curacoa.
HMS Curacoa was launched on 13 April 1854 from Pembroke Dockyard. She was the flagship of the Australia Station from 20 April 1863 until May 1866.
One explanation for the origin of the name Curaçao is that it is derived from the Portuguese word for heart (coração), referring to the island as a centre in trade. Spanish traders kept the name as Curaçao, which was followed by the Dutch. Another explanation is that Curaçao was the name the Arawak people had used to identify themselves. On a map created by Hieronymus C**k in 1562 in Antwerp, the island was referred to as Qúracao.
The name “Curaçao” has become associated with a shade of blue, because of the deep-blue version of the liqueur named Curaçao (also known as Blue Curaçao).
Challenger Bay
Challenger Bay, between Great Palm Island and Fantome Island, was named after H.M.S “Challenger,” which, under the command of Captain George Nares (R.N.) was commissioned for a scientific world cruise in 1867, which became famous for its results in the field of oceanography.
Miranda Point
HMS Miranda (1851-1869) HMS Miranda was launched on 18 March 1851 at Sheerness Dockyard.
HMS Miranda was recommissioned at Sheerness on 4 October 1860 for the Australia Station.
Fawn Head
Possibly named by Admiralty Hydrographer, date unknown, after HMS Fawn, Royal Navy ship on Australia Station 1859-63.
Paluma
Paluma Rock, Paluma Range, North West of Townsville, bears the name of H.M.S. “Paluma,” which was engaged on naval surveys near Port Newry, Cape Upstart, Cleveland Bay and Hinchinbrook Channel in 1886-7.
Hayman Rock
Probably named by Commander George Strong Nares RN (1831-1915) hydrographer and naval officer, HMS Salamander, in 1865-66, after Thomas H. Hayman RN Master in HMS Salamander.
Albino Rock
Name changed 1 December 1976, from White Rock to Albino Rock, at the request of the Department of Harbours and Marine, by Queensland Place Names Board. Named White Rock for obvious reasons.
Dido rock
Probably named by Admiralty Hydrographer, after HMS Dido, on Australia Station of the Royal Navy 1871-75.
Cordelia Rock
Probably named by Admiralty Hydrographer, after HMS Cordelia on Australia Station 1859-62, which conveyed the first Governor (Bowen) to Queensland.
Fly Island
Fly Island, south west of Great Palm Island, was named after H.M.S. “Fly” engaged on survey work on the Great Barrier Reef, Torres Strait, and New Guinea waters in 1843—5.
Esk Island
HMS Esk (1854-1870) HMS Esk was launched on 12 June 1854 at J. Scott Russell & Co., Millwall on the River Thames.
Eclipse Island
HMS Eclipse was launched in 1860 from the shipyard of J. Scott Russell & Co., Millwall. She served on the Australia Station.
Falcon Island
HMS Falcon (1854-1868) HMS Falcon was launched at Pembroke Dockyard on 10 August 1854.
Pandora Reef
Pandora Reef, near the Palm Group, commemorates H.M.S. “Pandora,” which surveyed Torres Strait in 1790—2.
Rattlesnake Island
Rattlesnake Island bears the name of H.M.S. “Rattlesnake,” which was the convoying ship under the command of Captain Owen Stanley (R.N.) in 1848, when Kennedy’s party left Sydney for Rockingham Bay on the disastrous expedition through Cape York Peninsula. After the explorers landed at Tam O’Shanter Point, near the present town of Tully, this ship surveyed the Inner Route to Torres Strait.
Herald Island
Herald Island, close by, has the name of H.M.S. “Herald” engaged on survey work in 1856, between Magnetic Island and Dunk Island and in the Coral Sea.
The Slashers Reefs
Name comes from the temporary stranding on the Reef complex on 30 June 1842 of the three ships transporting the 28th Regiment of Foot, British Army, from Sydney to Bombay.
The ships were Arab, Kelso and John Brewer.
The nickname of the Regiment was “The Slashers”, from an incident in Montreal, where soldiers from the 28th, harassed by an unpopular civil magistrate, cut off his ear. It could also refer to an action in the American War of Independence, when the Regiment cleared extensive fields of fire at White Plains, north of New York. The Admiralty Hydrographer probably named the complex in 1843.
John Brewer Reef
Named Watt Reef 1887-1927, changed to John Brewer Reef by Admiralty Hydrographer in 1927, after the Ship John Brewer, one of the three ships sailing in convoy carrying British Army 28th Regiment (The Slashers) from Sydney to Bombay in June 1842. All three ships stranded temporarily on the Slashers Reef complex, on 30 June 1842.
Arab Reef
Named after ship Arab, one of three ships carrying 28th Regiment, British Army, from Sydney to Bombay in 1842. All three ships stranded on the reef complex now known as the Slashers, but got off without loss of life. Named Oleose Reef 1886-1927, named by Admiralty Hydrographer after 1886-87 survey of area by HMS Myrmidon.
Kelso Reef
Formerly called Leaf Reef 1887-1927, Kelso Reef was renamed by the Admiralty Hydrographer in 1927 after the ship Kelso, one of three ships which stranded temporarily on the Slashers Reef complex, 30 June 1842. The ships were transporting the 28th Regiment, British Army, from Sydney to Bombay. The nickname of the 28th was “The Slashers”.
Roxburgh Reef
Named by RAN Hydrographer 1991, from name of the Master of the troopship Kelso, which temporarily stranded on a Reef in the Slashers Reef complex 30 June 1842, while carrying ( with the ships Arab and John Brewer) the 28th Regiment of Foot from Sydney to Calcutta.
Fore and Aft Reef
Named by RAN Hydrographer 1991, using the one of the nicknames of the 28th Regiment of Foot, British Army (also known as The Slashers), whose three troopships stranded temporarily on the Slashers Reef complex on 30 June 1842, while on passage Sydney to India. The 28th was known as “Fore and Aft” because of their right to wear the regimental number on front and back of their headgear, a privilege won at the Battle of Aboukir (Egypt) 1801, by fighting the French front and back of the regimental position.
Backnumbers Reef
Reportedly named after the nickname of the 28th Regiment, British Army, which was aboard transport ships which stranded on Slashers Reefs 30 June 1842. Nickname comes from action at Aboukir Bay, Egypt 1801, where the Regiment fought a bitter action front and rear and thereafter was permitted to wear regimental number on front and back of headgear.
Westmoreland Reef
Named by Hydrographer, Royal Australian Navy, 1991, as part of the Slashers Reefs complex, after ????? Westmoreland master mariner, commander of troopship Arab, which, with ships Kelso and John Brewer, all stranded on the Slashers complex 30 June 1842. The temporary stranding occurred while the 28th Regiment of Foot was on transfer from Sydney to Bombay.
Braggs Reef
Named by Royal Australian Navy Hydrographer 1991, after Colonel Philip Bragg, who commanded the 28th Regiment of Foot 1734-59. The 28th Regiment was embarked in three troopships which temporarily stranded on Slashers Reefs 30 June 1842.
Hopkinson Reef
Formerly known as Maxwell Reef 1887-1927, Hopkinson Reef was named by Admiralty Hydrographer, after the Barque Hopkinson, which was in company with the ships John Brewer, Arab and Kelso, carrying British Army 28th Regiment (The Slashers) from Sydney to India, when the three troopships stranded temporarily on reef complex which was later named The Slashers, on 30 June 1842.
While this information may be true… no guarantee is made to it’s accuracy
