philip parker king described the region in his "voyages for the survey of the intertropical coasts of australia" volume 2 following his expeditions between 1818 and 1820. king described the reef as being "... nine miles long; it lies in a north-west direction; the north end, in 15 degrees 39 minutes south, bears due from the north-east hope." and stated that there was a dry rock on the western edge "... in latitude 15 degrees 39 minutes 55 seconds." it is probable that he was referring to cairns reef which is further to the north.