The river was named in November 1828 by Henry Hellyer, a surveyor of the Van Diemans Land Company, in honour of Sir James Mackintosh, son of John Mackintosh of Kyllachy, Inverness-shire
In November 1828, Henry Hellyer, a surveyor for Van Dieman's Land Company, bestowed the name on the river in memory of Sir James Mackintosh, son of John Mackintosh from Kyllachy, Inverness-shire.