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
Henry Hellyer, a surveyor for the Van Dieman's Land Company, named the river in November 1828 in honor of Sir James Mackintosh, son of John Mackintosh from Kyllachy, Inverness-shire.