Tomorrow, a long-held vision will become a reality when the Administrator for the Northern Territory, the Honourable John Hardy OAM, opens a park in memory of the surveyor who founded Darwin city.

Darwin Waterfront’s newest park, Goyder Park, commemorates the camp site which South Australian Surveyor-General George Woodroffe Goyder established when he arrived on 5 February 1869. The camp became the first permanent European settlement in northern Australia.

The park is a replica of Goyder’s original camp where he and around 128 men camped while they undertook the initial layout, planning and development of Darwin (originally called Palmerston). Many of Darwin city’s streets today are named after the surveyors in the Goyder’s Camp settlement.

Craig Sandy, Surveyor-General for the Northern Territory, said that thanks to Goyder’s surveyors, very accurate plans showed exactly where all the structures that made up Goyder’s Camp in the early 1870s were located. This led to the idea that the design of the park could reflect the original features of the camp.

“The raised areas and the arrangement of seating areas represent the outline of the buildings that made up Goyder’s Camp. Signs have been installed that reflect upon daily life in the camp, the work of Goyder’s team and the Larrakia perspective,” Mr Sandy said.

“The opening of the Goyder Park is timed to celebrate the exact day 147 years ago that South Australian Surveyor-General George Goyder, Darwin’s founder, stepped ashore,” Michael Wells, Director Heritage Branch said.

Mr Wells said that by the time Goyder’s ship, Moonta, arrived at Darwin Harbour in 1869, the men had learned that Goyder was a strict disciplinarian (there was no swearing when Goyder was nearby).  They had also learned that he was genuinely concerned for their welfare.

“Their leader lived up to his nickname of ‘Little Energy’.  He organised the sinking of a well, and supervised the men as they started to land the livestock by swimming them ashore.  Goyder gave strict instructions on the way this was to be done, but he reported in his diary for 6 February, 1869 that ‘Young Bobby’, one of his best horses, had drowned. He also recorded that ‘my English terrier dog, carelessly left on shore….was found dead on the beach’.”

“This park now represents not just a pleasant place to stop and rest, but a unique opportunity to reflect on our unique and complex history. It also recognises one of the most important historical sites in the Northern Territory,” Mr Wells said.

The public are invited to attend the opening of the park to learn about the history of Goyder’s Camp. There will be interactive displays, food and entertainment.

Event: Goyder Park Opening – Goyder’s Day
Date: Friday 5 February 2016
Time: 5pm–6pm
Location: Kitchener Drive (opposite Hughes Avenue), Darwin Waterfront.

Media Contact: Paola Ciarla, Events & Marketing Manager 0437 621 433