The first European settler on the site of Albury was Robert Brown who, in 1838, built a slab hut on the northern bank of the Hume (Murray) River.
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The hut operated as a general store, very close to the best site to cross the river (at the western end of present Hume Street). Consequently, the site became known as 'The Crossing Place'.
In 1839, surveyor Thomas Townsend submitted his plan for a township. Two letters to the editor of the Albury Banner in 1924 give some insight into selection of a town name.
J F Thomas, member of the Royal Australian Historical Society, wrote: "A family of the name of 'Albury' emigrated from Kent and settled on the Murray. I knew one of the grandchildren (now 77 years of age), who says that her father and grandfather had told her that Albury on the Murray, was named after her grandfather (John Albury), who had a farm and vineyard there".
In England there is an Albury (or Aldbury) in each of Surrey, Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire.
Dr Andrews responded: "I have since been able, through Mr H Selkirk, late of the Lands Department, to make further enquiries on the subject. He writes that he searched in vain the records of the Lands Department for the name of Albury as a grantee or Crown tenant of any kind.
"He also examined the actual minute book of the Executive Council of the time. He found that the design for the town was submitted by the Surveyor General to the Governor and Council, January 26th, 1839. He describes the plan as a 'survey made by Assistant surveyor Townsend of the nucleus of a town at the Murray designated by the natives as Bungambrewattah.'
"On the margin of the plan a note in pencil thus: 'It must be confessed that it is not a euphonious (pleasant sounding) name'. On March 15, Townsend's plan for a town at Bungambrewattah was submitted to the Governor and Council under the signature of William Macpherson, clerk to the Council, in whose handwriting the name 'Bungambrewattah' is struck out and that of 'Aldbury' substituted.
"The 'd' was in the original, but crossed out. Finally, on April 13th, 1839, the plan and approval of the name 'Albury' was passed by the Council. There is nothing in the records to support John Albury's claim."
In England there is an Albury (or Aldbury) in each of Surrey, Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire.
It is likely that Albury was named for one of these but if that is the case, it is not recorded.
