Van Diemen Gulf

History

The gulf was named after the Dutch colonial governor, Anthony van Diemen (1593–1645).

Phillip Parker King and his crew in the 76-tonne cutter surveyed the coastline in early 1818, encountering local Aboriginal people and proas sailed by Makassans, and passed by the Gulf on other voyages.

Geography

The gulf connects to the Timor Sea in the north via Dundas Strait, and is also connected to the Beagle Gulf in the west by the Clarence Strait. It is partially enclosed by Melville Island and the Cobourg Peninsula, and measures about 90 mi by 50 mi.

Rivers draining into the Gulf include the South Alligator River, the East Alligator River, the Mary River, Wildman River and the Adelaide River. The Kakadu National Park adjoins its south-east coast.

Administrative status

On 4 April 2007, most of the area occupied by the Van Diemen Gulf was gazetted as a locality with the name Van Diemen Gulf by the Northern Territory Government, who also included it in the local government area of the West Arnhem Region.

References

References

1. (1847). "Journal of an overland expedition in Australia from Moreton Bay to Port Essington". T & W Boone.
2. "Place Names Register Extract - "Van Diemen Gulf"". Northern Territory Government.
3. {{cite enroute. 175. 2017. 27
4. {{Cite EB1911
5. (1967). "King, Phillip Parker (1791–1856)".
6. "Van Diemen Gulf".
7. (2005). "Drainage Divisions". [[Commonwealth of Australia]].
8. "Place Names Register Extract - "Van Diemen Gulf" (locality)". Northern Territory Government.
9. "Extent of the locality of "Van Diemen Gulf"". Northern Territory Government.
10. (2 April 2007). "Localities within West Arnhem Shire (sic)". Northern Territory Government.