Origin of the Name "Kimberley Region" in Western Australia

The Kimberley region in northern Western Australia was named in 1879 after John Wodehouse, 1st Earl of Kimberley (1826–1902).

Who Was Lord Kimberley?

• British Liberal politician.
• Secretary of State for the Colonies (1870–1874, 1880–1882) under Gladstone.
• Key figure in colonial administration during the "Scramble for Africa" and Australian expansion.

Naming Context

• 1879: Alexander Forrest's expedition explored the region; reported good pastoral land.
• 1880: Surveyor-General John Forrest (Alexander's brother) recommended the name "Kimberley Division" to the Colonial Office.
• Lord Kimberley approved; name gazetted 1883.

Other "Kimberley" Namesakes

• Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa (diamond fields, 1871) — also named after him (as Colonial Secretary).
• Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada — named after the SA mine.
• Kimberley, Nottinghamshire, UK — family seat.

The WA Kimberley remains one of Earth's last great wildernesses: 423,000 km², ancient rock art, unique biodiversity, diamond mine (Argyle, closed 2020), and living Indigenous culture.