Help searching for place names
Use the tips below to help find what you need in the database.
- Only include the first part of a place name in the search field. Do not include:
- road type (eg road, street, close)
- feature type (eg mount, river, hill).
- Check the box next to 'Similar sounding names' to broaden your search and allow for variations in spelling of a particular name, or to find other places with names that sound similar.
- Use the 'Advanced search' function to narrow your search or search by attributes.
- If you find the information in the database is incorrect or incomplete, fill in the contact form so we can correct the database.
- If no history/origin data is recorded against a place name, fill in contact form as we may have additional information on paper files which hasn’t, as yet, been added to the database.
Icons you will see
![]() | Indicates place names with map location data that are found as a result of a search. If you click on a blue icon, the icon will change to orange and information about the selected place will display in the information panel. |
![]() | Indicates a selected place name with map location data. Information about the selected place is displayed in the information panel. |
![]() | Indicates other place names in the surrounding area with map location data. |
![]() | If you have moved the map and want to return to a selected place name, click on the re-centre icon at the top left-hand corner of the map. |
Data types
The place names database is divided into the following data or place names types, coinciding with the types of places as defined by section 4A of the Act.
Place name type | Definition |
---|---|
Road names | Highways, roads, streets, lanes, trails or thoroughfares that are open to or used by the public |
Feature names | Geographic or topographic features (whether or not covered by water) |
Aboriginal communities | Aboriginal communities and family homeland centres (including town camps) |
Parks and cemeteries | Parks, gardens, reserves, recreation or sporting grounds that are open to or used by the public and public cemeteries within the meaning of the Cemeteries Act 1952 |
Suburbs, localities or administration areas | County, hundred, town, suburb or locality within a town or a site for a town |
Infrastructure | Public infrastructure associated with transport facilities, education or medical institutions or nursing homes |
Points of interest | Places, structures or buildings that are or may be of public or historic interest, including places on the Northern Territory Heritage Register |
Status values
Place names in the place names database have been allocated the following status value to indicate if the place name is registered or not.
Status value | Definition |
---|---|
Registered | A name gazetted or registered under the Place Names Act 1967 |
Assigned | A name assigned under another Act - eg the Education Act 2015 |
Revoked | A gazetted or registered name which has been revoked or altered or where the road which has been named has been closed |
Historical | An historical name shown in an official publication or on an official map or chart for which the location of the place can not now be ascertained or is unknown; the place no longer exists; or the name has been superseded by another name |
Recorded | A name which has not been registered but is shown on an official map or chart |