ðə ɹˈoʊli ʃˈoʊlz wɜː sˌoʊ nˈeɪmd baɪ kˈæptɪn fˈɪlɪp pˈɑːɹkɚ kˈɪŋ ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪtiːn ɪn ˈɑːnɚɹ ʌv kˈæptɪn ɹˈoʊli hˌuː fˈɜːst sˈaɪɾᵻd ðɪ ɪmpˈɪɹijˌuːs ɹˈiːf ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd.
The Rowley Shoals were so named by Captain Phillip Parker King in 1818 in honour of Captain Rowley who first sighted the Imperieuse Reef in 1800.