It was named by the New Zealand Antarctic Place-Names Committee (NZ-APC) for Noel Odell, who was a mountaineer and was professor of geology at the University of Otago from 1950 to 1955.

A large rock located 2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) northwest of Carapace Nunatak at the edge of the Antarctic Plateau.

Reconnoitered by the New Zealand Antarctic Research Programme (NZARP) Allan Hills Expedition (1964), who named the rocks for Lieutenant Commander James F. Brandau, United States Navy, helicopter pilot who made a difficult rescue flight to evacuate an injured member of the expedition.

A prominent isolated nunatak, the most westerly near the head of Mackay Glacier, standing 8 nautical miles (15 km; 9.2 mi) southwest of Mount Brooke where it is visible for a considerable distance from many directions.

[8] This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Geological Survey.