Australian places named by James Cook
From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
This is a list of Australian places named by James Cook. James Cook was the first explorer to chart most of the eastern Australian coast, one of the last major coastlines in the world unknown to Europeans at the time. Cook named many bays, capes and other geographic features, nearly all of which are still gazetted,[1] and most of which are still in use today, although in some places the spelling is slightly different. This is a list of the placenames he used in his first voyage listed from south to north as described on his 1773 map [2] and in his journals.
Name | Date (1770) | Reason for naming | Coords | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Point Hicks | 19 April | Lieutenant Zachary Hickes, first to sight land | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | spelled his name Hickes, Cook wrote it without the "e" |
Ram Head | 19 April | Ramhead in Plymouth Sound | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Cape Howe | 20 April | Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Cape Dromedary (Montague Island) | 21 April | A point running out from under Mount Dromedary. | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Cook mistook Montague Island for a headland.[3] |
Mount Dromedary | 21 April | "pretty high mountain laying near the shore which on account of its figure I named Mount Dromedary" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | now called Mount Gulaga |
Batemans Bay | 21 April | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Point Upright | 22 April | "on account of its perpendicular Clifts" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Pigeon House | 22 April | "a remarkable peaked hill laying inland the top of which look'd like a Pigeon house" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Marked on chart as Pidgeon House |
Cape St. George | 23 April | discovered on St George's Day | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | now Jervis Bay Territory |
Long Nose | 25 April | "on account of its Figure" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | now called Beecroft Peninsula (to the north of Jervis Bay) |
Red Point | 25 April | red colour | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Point Solander | 28 April | Daniel Solander, botanist on board | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | to the south of Botany Bay |
Botany Bay | 28 April – 6 May | "The great quantity of plants Mr. Banks and Dr. Solander found in this place occasioned my giving it the Name of Botany Bay" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | originally Stingray Bay |
Cape Banks | 6 May | Joseph Banks | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | to the north of Botany Bay |
Port Jackson | 6 May | George Jackson, a secretary of the Admiralty | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Broken Bay | 7 May | "broken land that appear'd to form a bay" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Cape Three Points | 7 May | "high land which projected out in 3 bluff Points" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | between Copacabana and Avoca Beach |
Point Stephens | 11 May | Sir Philip Stephens, Secretary to the Admiralty (1763–95) | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | On the coast near Fingal Bay, New South Wales |
Port Stephens | 11 May | Sir Philip Stephens, Secretary to the Admiralty | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Black Head | 11 May | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | SE of Tinonee | |
Cape Hawke | 11 May | Sir Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke, First Lord of the Admiralty | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Three Brothers | 12 May | "3 remarkable large high hills lying Contigious to each other... bore some resemblance to each other" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | called separately South Brother (Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. ), Middle Brother and North Brother |
Smoakey Cape | 13 May | "fires that Caused a great Quantity of smoke" on the cape | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Solitary Isles | 15 May | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Cape Byron | 15 May | John Byron | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Easternmost point of Australia |
Mount Warning | 16 May | breakers found within sight | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Point Danger | 16 May | Point off which shoals lie | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Cook's Point Danger was Fingal Head – 2n Miles South of the present-day Point Danger on the Qld–NSW border |
Point Lookout | 17 May | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | North-eastern point of North Stradbroke Island | |
Morton Bay | 17 May | Robert Hinch, 14th Earl of Morton, was President of the Royal Society | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Moreton was a later misspelling of Morton. What Cook named Morton Bay comprised the Pacific Ocean side of what is now called Moreton Island. The name Moreton Bay is now applied to larger expanse of water on the inland side of Moreton and Stradbroke Islands, comprising the mouth of the Brisbane River. |
Cape Morton | 17 May | James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Northern end of Moreton Island |
Glasshouse Bay | 17 May | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Cook did not realise it was part of Moreton Bay; between Moreton Island and Bribie Island | |
The Glass Houses | 17 May | hills resemble glass houses | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Now called The Glass House Mountains |
Double Island Point | 18 May | "on account of its figure... the point itself is of such an unequal Height that it looks like 2 Small Islands laying under the land" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Wide Bay | 18 May | large open bay | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Wide Bay–Burnett is used as the region name for the larger surrounding area today. Rainbow Beach is on the bay. |
Indian Head | 19 May | "a number of the Natives were Assembled" there | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Eastern point of Fraser Island |
Sandy Cape | 20 May | sand | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Northern point of Fraser Island |
Break Sea Spit | 21 May | "now we had smooth water, whereas upon the whole Coast to the Southward of it we had always a high Sea or swell from the South-East." | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | shoal projecting north from the north tip of Fraser Island |
Herveys Bay | 21 May | Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
South Head | 23 May | South head of Bustard Bay | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Now known as Round Hill Head. Village of 1770 located there, Cook's first landing in Queensland and second in Australia. |
Bustard Bay | 23 May | bustard (bird) | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
North Head | 23 May | North head of Bustard Bay | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Now known as Bustard Head |
Cape Capricorn | 25 May | Tropic of Capricorn | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | NE point of Curtis Island |
Keppel Isles | 26 May | Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Great Keppel Island largest of the group |
Keppel Bay | 27 May | Augustus Keppel, 1st Viscount Keppel | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Cape Manyfold | 27 May | "from the Number of high Hills over it" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
The Two Brothers | 28 May | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Island Head | 28 May | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Cape Townshend | 28 May | Charles Townshend, Lord of the Admiralty 1765-1770[4] | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | northern tip of Townshend Island |
Shoal Water Bay | 28 May | Shoal water | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Northumberland Isles | 28 May | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Thirsty Sound | 30 May | "by reason we could find no fresh Water" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Bay of Inlets | 1 June | "the Number of Inlets, Creeks, etc., in it." | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Named a 100 km region of coastline from Cape Palmerston (south of Mackay) to Cape Townshend (name no longer in use) |
Long Isle | 1 June | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Broad Sound | 1 June | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Cape Palmerston | 1 June | Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, Lord of the Admiralty, 1766–78 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | SE of Carmila |
Slade Point | 2 June | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Cape Hillsborough | 2 June | Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire (the Earl of Hillsborough); First Secretary of State for the Colonies, and President of the Board of Trade | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 30 km NNW of Mackay |
Repulse Bay | 3 June | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Cape Conway | 3 June | General Henry Seymour Conway, Secretary of State 1765–68 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Whitsundays Passage | 4 June | discovered on Whitsunday | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | between Hamilton Island, Whitsunday Island and the mainland |
Cumberland Isles | 4 June | Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland and Strathearn, | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Originally the name for what are now called the Whitsunday Islands; Cook only called the passage Whitsundays. [1] |
Cape Gloucester | 4 June | Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Actually an island |
Holburn Isle | 4 June | Admiral Francis Holburne | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Edgecumbe Bay | 4 June | Captain George Edgcumbe, 1st Earl of Mount Edgcumbe commanded the Lancaster in the fleet in North America in 1758 in which Cook served. | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Mount Upstart | 5 June | "because being surrounded with low land it starts or rises up singley at the first making of it" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Cape Bowling Green | 5 June | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Cape Cleveland | 6 June | either in honour of a John Clevland the Secretary to the Admiralty around that time, or after Cleveland, England where he was born.[5] | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Cook spelled the name with an "e", adding to the confusion |
Cleveland Bay | 6 June | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Magnetical Island | 6 June | "the Compass did not traverse well when near it" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Now called Magnetic Island |
Palm Isles | 6 June | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Halifax Bay | 8 June | George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax was Secretary of State 1763–65 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Point Hillock | 8 June | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | on Hinchinbrook Island | |
Cape Sandwich | 8 June | John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | on Hinchinbrook Island |
Family Islands | 8 June | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Dunk Island | 8 June | George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Rockingham Bay | 8 June | Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Double Point | 8 June | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Frankland Islands | 9 June | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Cape Grafton | 9 June | Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton was Prime Minister when Cook sailed | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Fitzroy Island | 9 June | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Green Isle | 10 June | "a Low green woody Island" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Trinity Bay | 10 June | discovered on Trinity Sunday | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Cape Tribulation | 10 June | "because here began all our Troubles" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Hope Island | 13 June | "we were always in hopes of being able to reach these Islands" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Weary Bay | 13 June | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Endeavour River | 14 June – 4 August | HM Bark Endeavour | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Ship beached while repairs conducted, near modern-day Cooktown |
Cape Bedford | 4 August | Probably after John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford, who had been First Lord of the Admiralty, 1744–47 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Cape Flattery | 10 August | "We now judged ourselves to be clear of all Danger, having, as we thought, a Clear, open Sea before us; but this we soon found otherwise" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Islands of Direction | 10 August | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | South Direction Island and North Direction Island | |
Point Lookout | 11 August | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Not to be confused with the Point Lookout which Cook had earlier so named, being the north-eastern point of North Stradbroke Island. | |
Lizard Island | 12 August | "only land Animals we saw here were Lizards, and these seem'd to be pretty Plenty" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Lizard Island still enjoys a substantial population of huge monitor lizards. |
Eagle Island | 12 August | "We found on this Island a pretty number of Birds, the most of them sea Fowl, except Eagles; 2 of the Latter we shott and some of the others" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Providential Channel | 17 August | providence | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Cape Weymouth | 17 August | Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath, Viscount Weymouth was one of the Secretaries of State when the Endeavour sailed | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Weymouth Bay | 17 August | Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Forbes Islands | 19 August | Admiral John Forbes was a Commissioner of Longitude in 1768, and had been a Lord of the Admiralty 1756–63 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Bolt Head | 19 August | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Sir Charles Hardy's Isles | 18 August | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Temple Bay | 19 August | Richard Grenville-Temple, 2nd Earl Temple, brother of George Grenville, was First Lord of the Admiralty in 1756 | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Cockburn Islands | 19 August | Admiral George Cockburn was a Commissioner of Longitude and Comptroller of the Navy when Cook left England. | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Cape Grenville | 19 August | George Grenville | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Shelburne Bay | 20 August | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
Orfordness | 20 August | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
New Castle Bay | 21 August | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
York Cape | 21 August | Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | Although Cook applied the name York Cape only to the northern tip, the name Cape York Peninsula is now applied to the entire promontory between the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Coral Sea (Pacific Ocean). |
York Isles | 21 August | Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Possession Island | 22 August | "in the Name of His Majesty King George the Third took possession of the whole Eastern coast from the above Latitude [38°S] down to this place by the Name of New Wales1" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | 1"The Admiralty copy, as well as that belonging to Her Majesty, calls it New South Wales." |
Prince of Wales's Isles | 22 August | George Augustus Frederick, Prince of Wales | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Cape Cornwall | 22 August | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | SW point of Prince of Wales Island | |
Wallis Isles | 23 August | probably after Captain Samuel Wallis, who made a voyage across the Pacific in the Dolphin in 1767, and discovered Tahiti | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Endeavours Streights | 23 August | HMS Endeavour | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
Booby Island | 23 August | "mostly a barren rock frequented by Birds, such as Boobies" | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
References
- ↑ Geoscience Australia, place name search
- ↑ A Chart of New South Wales, or the east coast of New Holland. Cook, James, 1728–1779
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found., entry for 3 February 1798
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- The Endeavour journal (1) and The Endeavour journal (2), as kept by James Cook — digitised and held by the National Library of Australia
- <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/> Captain Cook's Journal During the First Voyage Round the World at Project Gutenberg
- Voyages of Captain Cook, 1st voyage
- The South Seas Project Maps and online editions of the Journals of James Cook's First Pacific Voyage, 1768–71. Includes full text of journals kept by Cook, Joseph Banks and Sydney Parkinson, as well as the complete text of John Hawkesworth's 1773 Account of Cook's first voyage.