Roper Bar - Culture and History

The Roper River was first explored by Ludwig Leichhardt in 1845 as he made his way from Moreton Bay to Port Essington. Leichhardt crossed the river at Roper Bar, a rocky shelf which conveniently lies at the high tide limit on the river. He named the river after John Roper, a member of the expedition.

During the 1870s the Roper River was opened up for river cargo. Paddle steamers plied the river bringing supplies to the men working on the Overland Telegraph. About 20kms downstream from Roper Bar lies the wreck of the paddle steamer Young Australian which worked the river and the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria for over 20 years bringing supplies firstly to the Overland Telegraph and later to the cattle stations in the region.It also became a common stopover point for drovers on the coastal route from Victoria River Downs and the Kimberleys to North Queensland. In the 1880s and 1890s it gained a reputation as a wild, outback outpost.