1919 Yarram Yarram postmark – the town is now Yarram

These names are examples of reduplication, a common theme in Australian toponymy, especially in names derived from Indigenous Australian languages such as Wiradjuri. Reduplication is often used as an intensifier such as "Wagga Wagga" many crows and "Tilba Tilba" many waters.

The phenomenon has been the subject of interest in popular culture, including the song by Australian folk singer Greg Champion (written by Jim Haynes and Greg Champion), Don't Call Wagga Wagga Wagga.[1] British comedian Spike Milligan, an erstwhile resident of Woy Woy, once wrote "Woy it is called Woy Woy Oi will never know".[2]

Place names

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2008)
Name of place State or territory Meaning and notes
Bael Bael Victoria A locality of the Shire of Gannawarra. It contains Lake Bael Bael and the heritage listed Bael Bael Homestead.[3]
Balla Balla Western Australia An abandoned town and port for the Whim Creek Copper Mine
Ban Ban Springs Queensland Ban means "grass" in the local Kabi language.[4]
Ban Ban Springs Northern Territory A cattle station
Banda Banda New South Wales A mountain in the Great Dividing Range near Kempsey
Bang Bang Queensland A solitary rocky hill in Shire of Carpentaria
Banka Banka Station Northern Territory A cattle station. 'Banka' means 'bees' in the local Aboriginal language, thus 'Banka Banka' means '(place of) many bees'.
Baw Baw Victoria A local government area in Victoria. The name is also applied to a mountain (Mount Baw Baw), and to a national park (Baw Baw National Park). Baw Baw is an Aboriginal word meaning "echo".[5]
Beek Beek Victoria Emu. A parish in the County of Buln Buln
Beggan Beggan New South Wales A locality in Harden Shire and a parish in Harden County[6]
Bet Bet Victoria A locality of the Shire of Central Goldfields. Bet Bet had its own local government area (Shire of Bet Bet) from 1864 to 1995.
Bindi Bindi[7] Western Australia A small town in the Shire of Moora[8] The name is Aboriginal in origin and is the word for stick or skewer on which a coat is hung. The doubling of the word is to indicate many of them.
Billa Billa Queensland Aboriginal word of unknown dialect meaning pool or reach of water[9]
Bli Bli Queensland Named after "billai billai", Aboriginal for swamp oak.[10]
Bom Bom New South Wales Small village near South Grafton
Bon Bon Reserve South Australia A nature reserve
Bong Bong New South Wales The place name is Aboriginal for "blind or a watercourse lost in a swamp" or "many watercourses; many frogs".[11]
Bongil Bongil New South Wales The name Bongil Bongil is the name of a sub-group of the Gumbaingerie tribe which occupied the general area bounded by the Clarence River to the north, the Nambucca River to the south, Dorrigo to the west and the Pacific Ocean.[12]
Book Book New South Wales A rural community within the local government area of the city of Wagga Wagga
Bookal-Bookal Creek Queensland ?[13]
Boonoo Boonoo New South Wales The place name means "poor country with no animals to provide food" and is Aboriginal in origin.[14] The name is applied to a locality, a national park (Boonoo Boonoo National Park), a river (Boonoo Boonoo River) and a waterfall.
Booti Booti National Park New South Wales The place name means "plenty plenty" in the local Aboriginal language.
Brim Brim Victoria A parish of the County of Dundas
Brit Brit Victoria A locality of the Shire of Southern Grampians
Bruk Bruk Victoria A parish of the County of Dundas
Budgee Budgee New South Wales Budgee Budgee is a locality near Mudgee. The origin of the name is unknown, but it first appeared on old maps so is possibly a surveyor's interpretation of an aboriginal name.[15]
Budgee Budgee Victoria A parish of the County of Wonnangatta
Bulla Bulla Victoria The original name of the township of Bulla. An Aboriginal term meaning either 'two' or 'good'.[16]
Buln Buln Victoria A locality in the Shire of Baw Baw. The name is also applied to a county (County of Buln Buln) in Victoria.
Bungle Bungle Range Western Australia A corruption of "bundle bundle", a grass common to the Kimberley region.[17]
Burra Burra South Australia Former name for the town of Burra. The name is also applied to a creek and a copper mine near the town.
Burrah Burrah Victoria A parish of the County of Ripon
Burrin Burrin Reserve New South Wales A nature reserve in south-eastern NSW
Burrum Burrum Victoria A parish of the County of Kara Kara
Carag Carag Victoria A parish of the County of Rodney
Colac Colac Victoria A locality of the Shire of Towong
Collum Collum New South Wales A locality within the Clarence Valley LGA.
Coomoo Coomoo New South Wales The name was derived from the original station name, which used a local Aboriginal word meaning "much water".[18]
Cope Cope Victoria A locality of the Shire of Northern Grampians
Curl Curl New South Wales Name may be derived from Aboriginal phrase "curial curial" meaning river of life.[19]
Cut Paw Paw Victoria A parish of the County of Bourke."Maribyrnong: Action in Tranquility", the history of Maribyrnong, gives the meanings of several aboriginal terms. Cut Cut Paw is a corruption of the words for "a clump of she-oaks".
Dom Dom Victoria A mountain in Victoria, 65 km from Melbourne
Doon Doon New South Wales From the Bandjalung-Yugambeh chain word 'doan doan' meaning black or dark.[20]
Drik Drik Victoria An Aboriginal word for "Stoney Stoney"[21][22]
Drung Drung Victoria A former name of locality of Drung in the Rural City of Horsham
Dum Dum New South Wales A locality near Uki
Durren Durren New South Wales A locality near Wyong, within the Central Coast Council local government area.
Elong Elong New South Wales A locality on the Golden Highway in New South Wales
Ganoo Ganoo Victoria A parish of the County of Dundas
Gatum Gatum Victoria A former name of locality of Gatum in the Shire of Southern Grampians and the name of a Melbourne Cup winner
Gherang Gherang Victoria A parish of the County of Grant
Ghin Ghin Victoria A locality east of Yea
Ghinni Ghinni New South Wales A locality east of Taree
Gil Gil Victoria A locality of the Shire of Buloke
Gin Gin Queensland The name was derived from the original station name, which used a local Aboriginal word indicating "red soil thick scrub".[23]
Gin Gin New South Wales A small town within the Narromine Shire
Gingin Western Australia May mean either "footprint" or "place of many streams".[24]
Gol Gol New South Wales Gol Gol got its name from the local Aboriginal word for 'meeting place', as recorded by the explorer Thomas Mitchell.[25]
Gong Gong Victoria A locality of the City of Ballarat
Goonoo Goonoo New South Wales "Plenty of water".[26] These two words are pronounced differently, as 'Gun'na-Ga'noo
Gre Gre Victoria A locality of the Shire of Northern Grampians
Greg Greg New South Wales A locality in the southern highlands of New South Wales
Grong Grong New South Wales "Very hot".[27]
Guda Guda Western Australia A small Aboriginal community in the Wyndham-East Kimberley local government area
Gumly Gumly New South Wales "Place of many Frogs" Near Wagga Wagga
Gunyah Gunyah Victoria An earlier name of the locality of Gunyah in South Gippsland Shire
Gunyah Gunyah Victoria A parish of the County of Buln Buln
Hie Hie New South Wales See Terry Hie Hie
Jellat Jellat New South Wales A locality south-east of Bega in New South Wales
Jil Jil Victoria A locality of the Shire of Buloke
Jim Jim Falls Northern Territory Derived from the indigenous word andjimdjim, a type of water pandanus located near the falls.[28]
Jimba Jimba Station Western Australia A cattle station, east of Carnarvon
Jingi Jingi Creek Queensland A creek.[29] Jingi Jingi Creek rises on the western slope of the Great Dividing Range, in the locality of Diamondy, north-east of Jandowae. It flows south-west through Jinghi and Tuckerang to Brigalow, where it crosses the Warrego Highway and flows into the Condamine River.
Jung Jung Victoria A former name of locality of Jung in the Rural City of Horsham
Kadji Kadji Western Australia A pastoral lease east of Morawa
Karlu Karlu Northern Territory Devil's Marbles
Karup Karup Victoria A parish of the County of Dundas
Ki Ki South Australia
Kin Kin[30] Queensland May be derived from the local Aboriginal word for 'black ants'.[31] or

May be derived from an Aboriginal word, Kabi language, kauin kauin, a variant of kutchin indicating red, from the red soil area drained by Kin Kin Creek.[32]

Koonung Koonung Creek Victoria A tributary of the Yarra River
Koort-koort-nong Victoria A parish of the County of Hampden
Korrak Korrak Victoria A parish of the County of Tatchera
Kunat Kunat Victoria A parish of the County of Tatchera
Kurri Kurri New South Wales In the Minyung language, which refers to this area, Kurri-kurri means 'the beginning, the first'.[33]
Lal Lal Victoria Lal Lal is a town in Victoria
Lang Lang Victoria Lang Lang was formerly known as Carrington, after Lord Carrington.[34] The town is named in honour of an early settler in region, called Lang.[35] In the Woiwurrung language, the name Lang Lang,[36] also spelled Laang Laang, meant "stones" or "stony".[37] Lang Lang is also believed to mean "bush bush";[citation needed] or a "clump of trees".[34] Also see Lang Lang River and Little Lang Lang River.
Ma Ma Creek Queensland
Mia Mia[7] Victoria
Millaa Millaa Queensland May be derived from the local Aboriginal word for 'plenty water'.[38] or

May be derived from a corruption of "millai millai", possibly Yindinji language, indicating a fruit-bearing plant Elaeagnus latifolia.[39]

Milly Milly Western Australia A pastoral lease in the Mid-West
Min Min Queensland A locality east of Boulia.[40] The location where the Min Min Lights have been observed.[41]
Mitta Mitta Victoria
Moona Moona Creek New South Wales The creek flowing into Jervis Bay that separates the towns of Huskisson and Vincentia.
Mona Mona Mission Queensland Aboriginal community in Far North Queensland
Mooney Mooney New South Wales
Morrl Morrl Victoria A locality of the Shire of Northern Grampians
Mundi Mundi New South Wales A cattle station in the outback
Murra Murra Queensland A property in the Shire of Paroo.[42]
Murrin Murrin Western Australia An abandoned gold and copper mining town and siding on the Malcolm-Laverton railway line.[43]
Nap Nap Marra Victoria A locality of the Shire of Wellington
Nar Nar Goon Victoria A town in Gippsland
Nareeb Nareeb Victoria A former name of the locality of Nareeb in the Shire of Moyne[22]
Nerrin Nerrin Victoria A locality of the Rural City of Ararat
Ni Ni Victoria A former locality of the Shire of Hindmarsh
Nowa Nowa Victoria Town in East Gippsland
Nug Nug Victoria A locality of Alpine Shire
Obi Obi Queensland Believed to be a perpetuation of the personal name of a prominent Aboriginal, known variously as Ubi Ubi, Wubi Wubi or Obi Obi.[44]
Pandie Pandie Station South Australia A cattle station
Paraparap Northern Territory Now simply Parap, a Darwin suburb[45]
Paw Paw Victoria
Pendyk Pendyk Victoria A parish of the County of Dundas
Perrit Perrit Victoria A parish of the County of Tatchera
Pom Pom Victoria A parish of the County of Villiers
Pura Pura Victoria A locality of the Shire of Moyne
Tabby Tabby Island Queensland Derived from a corruption of Bundjalung language, Ngaraangbal language, word dhube dhube, indicating crab place or shell place.[46]
Terip Terip Victoria A locality of the Shire of Murrindindi
Terrick Terrick Victoria A locality of the Shire of Loddon
Terrick Terrick National Park Victoria
Terry Hie Hie New South Wales
Tilba Tilba New South Wales Said to be a Thawa Aboriginal term for 'many waters'.[47]
Tucki Tucki New South Wales A locality of the City of Lismore
Vite Vite Victoria A locality of the Corangamite Shire
Wagga Wagga New South Wales 'Wagga wagga' is probably a Wiradjuri term for 'many crows'; with wagga, an onomatopoeic word, imitating the sound of the crow's call. 'Waggan', for one type of crow and 'waggura', for another have been recorded; also: reeling (a sick man or a dizzy man); to dance, slide or grind.[48]
Wal Wal Victoria A locality of the Shire of Northern Grampians
Walla Walla New South Wales Probably Wiradjuri in origin, but no meaning has been verified. Possibly from wallawalla for rain.[49]
Walla Walla Victoria A parish of the County of Ripon
Wallan Wallan Victoria
Wangi Wangi New South Wales The word Wangi has been translated variously as water, night owl or dark green tree so that Wangi Wangi would mean place of much water, many night owls or many dark green trees. Early settlers and fishermen used the word to mean peninsula and Point Wolstoncroft (in the locality of Gwandalan) was called "Little Wangi". Captain Dangar's 1826 sketch of Lake Macquarie marked Wangi Point as "Wonde Wonde". There is no explanation of the marked difference between spelling and pronunciation.[50]
Warra Warra Victoria A parish of the County of Borung
Wat Wat Victoria A parish of the County of Croajingolong
Wee Wee Rup Victoria A locality of the Shire of Gannawarra
Whian Whian New South Wales[51] A locality of the City of Lismore
Will Will Rook Victoria A parish of the County of Bourke
Wonga Wonga Victoria An earlier name of the locality of Wonga in South Gippsland Shire
Wood Wood Victoria A locality of the Rural City of Swan Hill
Wool Wool Victoria A locality of the Colac Otway Shire
Woy Woy New South Wales Said to be an Awabakal Aboriginal term for 'deep water' or 'lagoon'[52]
Wujal Wujal Queensland Aboriginal community in Far North Queensland
Wuk Wuk Victoria A locality of the Shire of East Gippsland
Wurruk Wurruk Victoria A parish of the County of Tanjil
Wyn Wyn Victoria A former locality of the Rural City of Horsham
Yabba Yabba Victoria A parish of the County of Moira
Yagga Yagga Western Australia An Aboriginal community near Halls Creek
Yan Yan Gurt Victoria A locality of the Surf Coast Shire
Yanac A Yanac Victoria A former name of a locality of Yanac in the Shire of Hindmarsh
Yarram Yarram Victoria The former name of Yarram
Yeo Yeo New South Wales (pron. yo-yo) A district between Wallendbeen and Stockinbingal where Don Bradman first lived.[53] Shell of the schoolhouse most significant remains.

See also

References

  1. ^ Champion, Greg; Haynes, Jim. "Don't Call Wagga Wagga Wagga". Warner/Chappel Music Australia. Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  2. ^ Fickling, David (4 October 2003). "Town lampooned by Spike Milligan bends over backwards to laud him". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  3. ^ "Bael Bael Homestead (Heritage Listed Location)". onmydoorstep.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  4. ^ "Ban Ban Springs (entry 45313)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Baw Baw National Park". Australian Alps National Parks. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  6. ^ "GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES REGISTER EXTRACT – Beggan Beggan". Place name search. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Country News". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 19 June 1934. p. 7. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  8. ^ "History of country town names – B". Western Australian Land Information Authority. Archived from the original on 14 March 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
  9. ^ "Billa Billa (entry 47796)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  10. ^ "Bli Bli – origin of name". Sunshine Coast Regional Council. 26 February 2009. Archived from the original on 24 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  11. ^ "Bong Bong". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Edit this at Wikidata
  12. ^ "Bongil Bongil National Park". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Edit this at Wikidata
  13. ^ ""THE MAIN ROADS ACTS, 1920-1943"". The Worker. Brisbane. 3 January 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  14. ^ "Boonoo Boonoo". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Edit this at Wikidata
  15. ^ "Budgee Budgee on the other side of Mudgee". budgeebudgee.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2009.
  16. ^ "Bulla". eMelbourne the city past & present. The University of Melbourne. July 2008. Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  17. ^ Riviera, Larry. "The Bungle Bungles". about.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  18. ^ "Coomoo Coomoo (Parish)". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 8 July 2010. Edit this at Wikidata
  19. ^ "Curl Curl". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 19 May 2009. Edit this at Wikidata
  20. ^ "Doon Doon". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 June 2009. Edit this at Wikidata
  21. ^ Brown, J. K. (1968). "Early History of Drik Drik". Archived from the original on 1 January 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  22. ^ a b "Untitled". Portland Guardian. Vic. 22 September 1876. p. 3. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  23. ^ "Gin Gin – town (entry 13801)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  24. ^ "History of country town names – G". Landgate. Archived from the original on 19 May 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  25. ^ "The History of Gol Gol". Gol Gol Public School. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 31 May 2009.
  26. ^ "Wallabadah – Places to See". Sydney Morning Herald. 26 November 2008. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  27. ^ "Grong Grong". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 19 May 2009. Edit this at Wikidata
  28. ^ "Jim Jim plunge pool walk". Parks Australia. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  29. ^ "Advertising". Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 3 March 1860. p. 11. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  30. ^ "SUMMARY". Sydney Morning Herald. 16 November 1935. p. 1. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  31. ^ "Kin Kin". noosa.com.au. Archived from the original on 29 August 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  32. ^ "Kin Kin (entry 18157)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  33. ^ "Kurri Kurri". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 June 2009. Edit this at Wikidata
  34. ^ a b "Brief History of Lang Lang". Lang Lang & District Historical Society. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  35. ^ Reed, A. W. (1973). Place names of Australia (1st ed.). Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. p. 135. ISBN 0-589-50128-3.
  36. ^ "Lang Lang: 101776: Traditional Name: Lang Lang". VICNAMES. Government of Victoria. 12 August 2011. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  37. ^ "Lang Lang: 101776: Traditional Name: Laang Laang". VICNAMES. Government of Victoria. 12 August 2011. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  38. ^ "Welcome to Millaa Millaa". tablelands.org. Archived from the original on 18 May 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2009.
  39. ^ "Millaa Milla – town (entry 22066)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  40. ^ Google (10 August 2019). "Min Min, Queensland" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  41. ^ Pettigrew, John D. (March 2003). "The Min Min light and the Fata Morgana. An optical account of a mysterious Australian phenomenon" (PDF). Clin Exp Optom. 86 (2): 109–20. doi:10.1111/j.1444-0938.2003.tb03069.x. PMID 12643807. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  42. ^ "South West Queensland Indigenous Cultural Trail - Murra Murra and Bendee Downs". Surat Aboriginal Corporation. 2017. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  43. ^ "Lease Under Option". Kalgoorlie Western Argus. WA. 8 August 1911. p. 5. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  44. ^ "Obi Obi (entry 48818)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  45. ^ "G.N[?] 248.18". Northern Territory Times & Gazette. Vol. XLI, no. 2345. Northern Territory, Australia. 19 October 1918. p. 14. Retrieved 8 September 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  46. ^ "Tabby Tabby Island (entry 33053)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  47. ^ "Tilba". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Edit this at Wikidata
  48. ^ "Wagga Wagga". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Edit this at Wikidata
  49. ^ "Walla Walla". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 8 July 2010. Edit this at Wikidata
  50. ^ "Lake Mac Libraries: Wangi Wangi". Lake Macquarie City Library. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
  51. ^ "Byron Shire Council". Mullumbimby Star. 23 September 1909.
  52. ^ "Woy Woy". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Edit this at Wikidata
  53. ^ "A Great Farming District". Albury Banner and Wodonga Express. New South Wales, Australia. 7 April 1911. p. 12. Retrieved 7 September 2019 – via National Library of Australia.

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