Ask us for information
Looking for information on an Australian placename?
At this stage of the Survey, we have limited information available on the history of our placenames. We suggest that, as a first step, you can click this link to go to the Resources page & visit one of the listed websites.
Secondly, and although we cannot guarantee that you will find the correct answer, the information you are seeking may also be in one of the following published dictionaries of placenames, available at your local library:
Appleton, Richard and Barbara Appleton. The Cambridge Dictionary of Australian Places. Cambridge, New York, Melbourne: Cambridge University Press, 1992.
Blake, L. J. Place names of Victoria. Adelaide: Rigby, 1977.
Cockburn, Rodney. South Australia, what's in a name? Nomenclature of South Australia. Authoritative derivations of some 4000 historically significant place names. Ferguson, 1984 edition (first published 1908).
Department of the Environment, Land and Planning. Canberra's Suburb and Street Names. History, Origins and Meanings. Canberra: Australian Capital Territory Government Printer, 1992.
Kennedy, Brian and Barbara Kennedy. Australian Place Names. Sydney: ABC Books, 2006.
Manning, Geoffrey H. Manning's Place Names of South Australia. Adelaide: published by the author, printed and bound by Gillingham Printers, 1990.
Praite, Ronald, and John Clifford Tolley. Place Names of South Australia. Adelaide: Rigby, 1970.
Wajnryb, Ruth. Australian Place Name Stories. Melbourne: Lothian Books, 2006.
If those searches fail, it's possible we have some information about the history, origin or meaning of the placename you're interested in. Tell us the name of the place, which type of place it is (e.g., hill, river, town, suburb), which State/Territory or local government area it's located in, and any other information you already know about it.
We normally respond by email; but if this is not suitable let us know how to contact you in the Further Details field below.
Please note: You need to enter information into the fields marked with an asterisk, otherwise the email will not be sent.
At this stage of the Survey, we have limited information available on the history of our placenames. We suggest that, as a first step, you can click this link to go to the Resources page & visit one of the listed websites.
Secondly, and although we cannot guarantee that you will find the correct answer, the information you are seeking may also be in one of the following published dictionaries of placenames, available at your local library:
Appleton, Richard and Barbara Appleton. The Cambridge Dictionary of Australian Places. Cambridge, New York, Melbourne: Cambridge University Press, 1992.
Blake, L. J. Place names of Victoria. Adelaide: Rigby, 1977.
Cockburn, Rodney. South Australia, what's in a name? Nomenclature of South Australia. Authoritative derivations of some 4000 historically significant place names. Ferguson, 1984 edition (first published 1908).
Department of the Environment, Land and Planning. Canberra's Suburb and Street Names. History, Origins and Meanings. Canberra: Australian Capital Territory Government Printer, 1992.
Kennedy, Brian and Barbara Kennedy. Australian Place Names. Sydney: ABC Books, 2006.
Manning, Geoffrey H. Manning's Place Names of South Australia. Adelaide: published by the author, printed and bound by Gillingham Printers, 1990.
Praite, Ronald, and John Clifford Tolley. Place Names of South Australia. Adelaide: Rigby, 1970.
Wajnryb, Ruth. Australian Place Name Stories. Melbourne: Lothian Books, 2006.
If those searches fail, it's possible we have some information about the history, origin or meaning of the placename you're interested in. Tell us the name of the place, which type of place it is (e.g., hill, river, town, suburb), which State/Territory or local government area it's located in, and any other information you already know about it.
We normally respond by email; but if this is not suitable let us know how to contact you in the Further Details field below.
Please note: You need to enter information into the fields marked with an asterisk, otherwise the email will not be sent.