Extract date: 14/04/2025
| Name | Roper River |
|---|---|
| Type Designation | Stream |
| Place Id | 18119 |
| Place Type | Feature |
| Status | Recorded |
| Date Registered | |
| Location (Datum GDA94) | |
| Latitude: -14° 44' S (Decimal degrees -14.748684) | |
| Longitude: 135° 23' E (Decimal degrees 135.38876) | |
| Locality / Suburb | |
| Flying Fox | |
| Limmen | |
| Local Government Area | |
| Roper Gulf Shire Council | |
| History/Origin | Ludwig Leichhardt named the Roper River after John Roper on 19 October 1845, during his journey from Queensland to the Victoria Settlement, Port Essington, Cobourg Peninsula, Northern Territory. John Roper was a member of Leichhardt's expedition. Leichhardt on page 443 of his journal wrote "... I found myself on the banks of a large fresh water river from 500 to 800 yards broad, with not very high banks ....... It was the river Mr Roper has seen two days before, and I named it after him, as I had promised to do." Confluence of Roper Creek and head of Roper River Goyders Compilation of 1885 shows both "Roper River" (below the Waterhouse junction) and "The Roper Creek" NW of Bitter Springs. CP 606 shows "Roper River" (below the Waterhouse junction) and "Roper Creek" (upsteam of Bitter Springs) on one of the maps Murphy in his Caledon Bay Prospecting Party (1911) diary mentions 13 May .. Camped at a spot on Roper Creek..... 14 May ...making Bitter Springs, the head of the Roper River.... The Bitter Springs are the head waters of the Roper River, and from here the river may practicaly be said to flow.. JW Mott's Field Book 82 of Roper and Maranboy Creeks, and associated plans (Data Plans 100, 105 & 106) show both Roper River and Roper Creek below and above Bitter Springs respectively in similar positions as mentioned on CP 606. From the above information it can be concluded that Bitter Springs is the point where Roper Creek becomes Roper River. Ref: Leichhardt Journal Caledon Bay Prospecting Party(1911) Report Mott, JW Field Book 82 Data plans 100, 105 & 106 Compiled plan 606 |
| Date | Gazettal | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| (None Found) |