Place Names Register Extract

Auld Pond

Extract date: 01/11/2024

Name Auld Pond
Type Designation Waterhole
Place Id 10508
Place Type Feature
Status Recorded
Date Registered
Location (Datum GDA94)  
Latitude: -16° 27' S (Decimal degrees -16.460347)
Longitude: 133° 19' E (Decimal degrees 133.325156)
Locality / Suburb  
  Birdum
Local Government Area  
  Roper Gulf Shire Council
History/Origin Auld Pond was named by John McDouall Stuart on Tuesday 20 May 1862 during his third and final successful expedition to traverse the Australian continent from south to north.

John McDouall Stuart in his journal records
"these ponds I name Aulds Ponds, in token of approbation."
Stuart also refers to them as Auld's Chain of Ponds.

William Auld was later to return to the Territory with BT Finniss' expedition to Escape Cliffs in 1864-5 when he led an expedition to Port Darwin.

SW Herbert in his manuscript (unpublished) "Reminiscences of life in the NT, 1870-1873" (SAA 96) states:-
"McGorrerys and Aulds Ponds, both old camps of Stuarts, named after two members of his last expedition .... ... the latter was a well known and popular wine and spirit merchant in Adelaide ....
For many years Mr Auld was the chief mover in the annual celebrations of the planting of the flag on the north coast of the Territory, July 25th 1862."

Register & Gazettal information

Date Gazettal Comment
  (None Found)  

The Northern Territory Gazetteer is maintained by the Place Names Section,
Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics.
GPO Box 1680, Darwin NT 0801. Ph 08 8995 5333.
place.names@nt.gov.au

© Northern Territory of Australia
The Northern Territory of Australia does not warrant that the information in this extract or any part of it is correct or complete and will not be liable for any loss damage or injury suffered by any person as a result of its inaccuracy or incompleteness. You are encouraged to notify any error or omission in the material by calling the Place Names Section.