The Ashburton River was named by surveyor/explorer Francis T. Gregory, leader of the North West Australian Exploring Expedition in June 1861 after William Bingham Baring, 2nd Baron Ashburton (1799-1864), who held the office of President of the Geographical Society from 1860 to 1864.

From Gregory’s journal: ‘

“Naming it the Ashburton, after the noble President of the Royal Geographical Society, we quitted its verdant banks and took a south course up a stony ravine, …”.

The Ashburton River was formerly named the Curlew River at its mouth by Commander Phillip Parker King, RN of HMC Mermaid in 1818.

From King’s journal:

“Pelicans and curlews were very numerous, particularly the latter, in consequence of which the inlet was called Curlew River”.

 

Sources:
P.P. King, Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia, vol. 1, John Murray, London, 1827, p.31.
A.C. & F.T. Gregory, Journals of Australia Explorations, James C. Beal, Government Printer, Brisbane, 1884