Camperdown or Duncan?
When Governor La Trobe was a guest of Mr Niel Black of Noorat in 1854, he was responsible for christening Camperdown.
It came about when they were out on a kangaroo hunt, as they rode through the country now occupied by the town, which was being surveyed at the time, Mr Black asked the Governor to suggest a name for it.
In the hunting party was one of Camperdown’s earliest arrivals, Mr Duncan McNicol. “I keep hearing you say Duncan, (referring to Mr McNicol) so why not call it Duncan?” said the Governor. Mr Black objected, Duncan was hardly a suitable name for a town.
“Well, there was an Admiral Duncan, Earl of Camperdown. Why not call it Camperdown?” said the Governor.
And that’s how Camperdown got its name.