Lost or under-used or little-known place names

As you all know there are many suburbs, streets, towns and cities with Aboriginal names illustrating emphatically that this is, was and always will be Aboriginal land. But there are many places whose original names have been lost, ignored or replaced by names of other origins. This is an attempt to compile a list of under-used or little- known Whadjuk place names, and here is the result so far.

All the entries in italics are my attempts to find an original meaning for the names where no meaning is given. Some may be completely wrong. I don’t claim for one minute that this is the only list of its kind, but I couldn’t find anything similar.

It compiles names and meanings from a variety of sources, most notably the names given to while was a prisoner on and 1833, and the names given to Daisy Bates by Fanny Balbuk in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

I would love to know any more names or meanings you may have that I may not yet have discovered and I apologise for any errors you may find.

I’ve found that knowing the names and their meanings has really increased my lexicon and knowledge of language and place. I used the books ‘Noongar Word List’ http://museum.wa.gov.au/store/museum-books/indigenous/nyoongar- wordlist-south-west-western- and Rose Whitehurst’s dictionary (available on- line at http://ecampus.polytechnic.wa.edu.au/pluginfile.php/88711/mod_resource/content/2/ Noongar%20language%20dictionary%5B1%5D.pdf ) concentrating on the sources from around the Whadjuk Noongar region.

Wadjella Noongar name Source Meaning name Alfred Cove Marrandungup Yagan to Robert Place of death water Menli Lyon (RML) (SRT) Attadale Beereegup Yagan to RML Beera = day. Biri = fingers or toes Applecross Kooyagoordup Yagan to RML Place of the Kooya (Waylen Bay Frog area between Heathcote and Applecross Jetty) Swan River at Beeralain Daisy Bates (DB) Beera = day. Biri = Bayswater fingers or toe. Bilara = dead leaves Belmont Goorgyp Yagan to RML Goor = rushes Bibra Lake Walliabup (SRT) Walyer = kangaroo rat Bicton Quaada Gabee Yagan to RML Beautiful water foreshore Black Wall Jenalup Yagan to RML Where the feet make Reach a track Burswood (the Gygoorgyup Yagan to RML Place of lots of northern end, rushes opposite Claisebrook) Bullcreek Gabbiljee SRT (Swan River Watery place at the Trust) in their end of the river publication Indigenous History of the Swan and Canning Rivers) available on-line Byford Beenyup Landgate Morning light/light? Canning Boornoolup Yagan to RML Place (shaped?) like Bridge area a chin City of South Wagoorjup (COSP) and SRT Place of the Wagyl Canning Gabbi Kowangalup Yagan to RML Place where the confluence (I water comes out of assume where the hole (RML) the Canning Daisy Bates thought meets the it could mean Swan) ‘laughing’ or ‘floating water’ from Kowain (laughing) Canning flats Wadjup Yagan to RML Place of ? As in Weij? Canning gorge Gargangara Yagan to RML Gargoin = zamia nut including hills Gargyn = hawk Canning River Beenabup Yagan to RML Beena = light entrance (Eastern shore of ) Canning River Dyarlgarro (Derbal Yagan to RML Dya = lips Garro)? Garro = more or again. Canning River Burdgarro Yagan to RML Bud = short or baby (Southern Short river? Branch) Canning River Booragoon Yagan to RML Boora = bowls, (Southern goona = urine – Branch) somewhere smelly? Canning River Wargurjup DB Place of the wagyl? above the Couldn’t find mouth of the anything else that river – not sure seems likely. whether the Manning or the Applecross side Carnac Island Ngooloorinyup Yagan to RML Koolooyin = youngest brother. Maybe because it’s the smallest of the islands off coast? Claisebrook Mandalup SRT Place of the small marsupial Cockburn Derbal Nara Yagan to RML Place of salmon Sound Como Beenabup Balbuk to DB Place for digging foreshore holes Gooya Garrup City of South Perth Frog hole Crawley Gurdandalup DB Nearest I could get is ‘gurdumit’ meaning ‘soul’ – maybe a happy place? Dalkeith (area Nanulgarup Yagan to RML Garrup = hole or below Victoria cave Avenue) Dalkeith Katamburdup DB Katta = hill, burdin = (Birdwood spearwood Ave) Dalkeith (area Goolilup Yagan to RML/DB Swampy area below Beenyup Birdwood Parade) foreshore Darling Range Moordo Yagan to RML Hills East Perth Koorijup Balbuk to DB Koorail = shells, (near the oval) korridge = some time ago East Perth Murdalup DB Murdong = where the spearthower, murdo cemetery is = bald or moordo = (Plain Street) hill or moort = family East Perth Goomap Balbuk to DB Goomal = possum, oval Yoorgoorading George Sedden in gumo = round. ‘Sense of Place’ (1972) Yoogoorading – place of women as in yorga?’ West Perth Warndoolier Yagan to RML. DB Where the wandoos (Walter’s grow or where the Brook on skipjack Bank’s (warndeloop) are? Reserve) Ellenbrook Gynning Yagan to RML Gynning = another (as in one more) Foothills, Warget Yagan to RML Means to search for running behind or look for and parallel to the jarrah areas ; Walyalup Yagan to RML Place of the eagle inland (Lyon) including both sides of the river Fremantle: Walyubup Yagan to RML Place of the Willis Point kangaroo rat (where C Shed now stands) Fremantle: Majaree (Manjaree) Yagan to RML Meeting place where the Swan meets the ocean Fremantle: Dwerda Weelardinup Yagan to RML Place of the dingo Cantonment Doodaroo spirit Hill (approx. 101 Victoria Street) Fremantle… Manjarip DB Probably ‘meeting ‘old tunnel’ … place’ (manjar) perhaps DB meant the whaling tunnel beneath the Round House Freshwater Minderup (City of Yagan to RML Minder = sick. A Bay South Perth states place where sick this is also the name people go for the for the place on fresh water from which the zoo now springs. (SRT) sits) Freshwater Karrakatta SRT Place of crabs Bay sandbar (means ‘hand behaviour’) (SWT) Garden Island Meeandip Yagan to RML Meander = brow. Long and thin like an eyebrow? Glendalough, Goobabbilup Balbuk to DB Two words meaning where Balbuk stomach and lizard. had an ochre Plenty of lizards to pit given to her eat? by her father. Gloucester Yoondoorup Place of black Park stumpy-tailed lizard Gloucester Goongoongup (SRT) Goongon = sandy bark (a brook area adjacent to it which is no longer there) Government Kooraree Balbuk to DB Koorah means ‘a House (site of) (Balbuk’s long time ago’ grandmother Moojorngul is buried Koorark means black in the grounds) cockatoo Guildford and Mandoon Yagan to RML Tree-covered, bushy the adjacent country Guildford Beeragunning SRT Location of sacred (South) stone Soldier Swamp Heathcote Gooliugatup Yagan to RML Place of children Henley Brook Jinnongodderup Jinning = see, godder = crooked. Somewhere that looks crooked? Highgate Maalujup and Balbuk to DB Maala = mouse (where Walyinup Chinese market gardens were) Heirisson Kakarooomup Balbuk to DB Kakarup = dance. Island Place of corroboree? (described by Daisy Bates as ‘the island between the bridges where Balbuk’s mother was born) Heirisson Matta Gerup Yagan to RML Place where the Island water is knee deep. Helena River Mandoon Yagan to RML Tree-covered, bushy Helena Valley Jagoolyoo SRT Sacred place – site Hill of tortoise hunting and camping ground. Herdsman Ngoogenboro Yagan to RML ‘Ngook’ means sun. Lake Sunset? Hyde Park Boodjamooling Balbuk to DB Place of young area (the men’s initiation (nose ponds in Hyde pegging) Park are part of an original ) Gabee Warden Indian Ocean Kuranup (Daisy Bates) Kura = went (beyond where the spirits of the ancestors live and where the Djangas came from) Jarrah forest Gandoo Yagan to RML Ganda = stone… region running limestone? parallel with the coast Kelmscott Goolamrup Yagan to RML Goolam = young man. Initiation place? Kings Park Yogarin Balbuk to DB Place for catching kangaroos Kings Park Gabbikalga Balbuk to DB An old hollow tree (feature) that collected rainwater Kings Park Wandaraguttagurrup Where there were (probably the holes western edge) Lake Monger Galup Yagan to RML Kala = fire Limestone Booyeembara Yagan to RML Place of stone and region along rock the coast Matilda Bay Godroo Yagan to RML Heart? (koort or and features in Goodamiorup goort) and soul it Gurndandulup (gurdumit) ?

Matilda Koortandalup Yagan to RML Meeting place of Bay(south) Goordandalup betrothed persons Matilda Bay Noongar Karra Mia Yagan to RML Place where the (north) Noongar camp Matilda Bay Boontanup Yagan to RML Place of xanthorrea (Pelican Point) Boorirarup Hill where paperbarks and zamias grow Maylands Baigup Yagan to RML Rushes (SRT) (reeds to the right of Garrett Road Bridge) Maylands Wurut Woora = female Peninsula kangaroo Maylands Malgamongup SRT the shoulder, the (Bardon Park) place of the spearwood camp on the hill Melville Water Doontanboro Yagan to RML Place of big pelican Dootanboi Melville Water Margamangup Yagan to RML Place of birds (Lucky Bay) nesting in trees Lucky Bay is a large triangular shaped indent in Melville Water which stretches between Attadale and Point Dundas Melville Water Moondaap Yagan to RML Black river bank (Point Dundas – which is in Applecross) Middle Swan Ngangurgup Yagan to RML Nganga = star (Sandalford Ngangoor = snails winery area) (my best guess - Lyon describes this area as being on the coast, but says it overlooks the Villa Grant of the Surveyor General, which was on the Swan at Caversham. Gnangarra? Mill Point Gareenup Yagan to RML and Place of Gareen’s (or (South Perth) Balbuk to DB Kareen’s) people. He was the brother of Beenan who was buried by Bishop Gibney at Glendalough. Gareen’s people made their own flour here from zamia nuts (COSP) Mill Point Goorgygoogup (SRT) Goorgyng = cold (where the rushes and the pool were) Mosman Park Curveeagroup Yagan to RML Coobarie = magpie – the cliffs on (closest I can get) the river Mosman Park Nyeergardup Yagan to RML Place of pelican – Keane’s Point Reserve (on the river at the end of Johnston Street) Mosman Park Berreegup Yagan to RML Place of Banksia (Point Roe Park on the river) Mount Brown Booyeeanup Yagan to RML Place of stone (it’s a (in Henderson) limestone hill – important place of men’s business) Mount Karbomunup Yagan to RML Black hill (SRT) Claremont Mount Eliza Gargatup Yagan to RML

Balbuk to DB Karrgalup/Karrgata Place of crabs Mt Eliza spring Goodinup Yagan to RML Goodinyal = cobbler- (at the bottom fish of the hill DB below the Gooniniup mount – Yellagonga’s camping place at the time of invasion. Mount Henry Kattaballaejow Katta = hill, ballarijow (COSP) = hide Mundaring Mundajalina SRT Swamp pools Northbridge Danjanberup Balbuk to DB Shallow lake or three (the part which island lake where the was once Lake zamias or byers Henderson). grow There are a few ponds left of the lake at the Freeway interchange between Railway Parade and Newcastle Street Northbridge Goongarnula Balbuk to DB Place of the stinking (Lake spring with moss Henderson – as above) Northbridge Yarreenup Balbuk to DB Yarrewa = knife, or (Lake maybe associated Henderson – with Gareen (see as above) South Perth). Yarruk also means hill. North Perth, Boojoormeup Balbuk to DB Boojoor = boodja – what was a land? lake between Palmerston and Lake Street (Smith’s Lake or three- island lake) North Perth Goonderup Balbuk to DB Goon = excrement. (where the Often associated monastery in with features made Vincent St is) by the Wagyl Perth Boorlo - the wider Yagan to RML Closest I came is area is , the Poo-yu - smoke area that belonged to Yellagonga at the time of invasion. Perth (I Woorurdup Balbuk to DB Woorar = distant, haven’t been woora = female able to figure kangaroo out exactly where, but it was known as ‘Hooper’s Fence’ and was where Balbuk was born according to Daisy Bates Perth Byerbrup Yagan to RML Boyer = stone? (Convention Limestone side of hill Centre to perhaps Spring St) Perth Gumap Balbuk to DB Place that smells like foreshore urine (LCTJ) between William and Barrack Streets Perth (Point Boorlo Yagan to RML Closest I came is Fraser) Booyi – smoke- also means small long necked tortoise. Borl = sound of hitting. Perth (Point Beeabboolup Balbuk to DB Place of many fish Fraser) Perth (137 St Jeena Middar Professor Leonard Corroboree Ground George’s Boodjar Collard and Dr Tod Terrace) Jones Perth (eastern Yandellup LCTJ Place of rushes end of Murray Street) Yandigup Balbuk to DB Perth (Murray Mardna LCTJ Trading place Street opposite Forrest Place) Perth (where Widdogootogup Balbuk to DB Wida = zamia nut, St Mary’s goto = bag. Where Cathedral is) bags for storing zamia nuts were made? Perth Water Booneenboro (or Yagan to RML Very big river (SRT) (north bank, Buneenboro) Perth side) Pigeon Margamongup Marga – tree branch Swamp (I have or human arm from no idea where elbow to wrist, this was – mongup = shoulder nothing comes up in Google but it is mentioned in the same sentence (by DB) as Point Walter so perhaps in that vicinity) Point Pelican Boorlanup Yagan to RML Booryulup means ‘place of magic people’. This may be similar – a winaitch place or taboo. Point Preston Niergarup Yagan to RML place of the pelicans Point Mandyuranup Yagan to RML Place of Resolution banksia/marketplace/ (rock at upper Fishing spot entrance of Fresh Water Bay) Point Walter Marradungup DB Marra = hand, danga = ears. Maybe somewhere sound doesn’t carry well ?! Point Walter Dyoondalup Yagan to RML white as in white (meaning the sand or hair – place sandbar, I where the spirit think) woman dropped a long white hair(Same as Joondalup) Rockingham Mooriburdup Landgate.wa.gov.au Moort (family) birduya (boss)? Riverside Dyeedyailalup Yagan to RML Place of clay Drive area Rocky Bay Garungup Yagan to RML place of anger and its vicinity– two caves Rottnest Wadjemup Yagan to RML ‘The place across the water where the spirits are’. Said to refer to the fact the island became a prison for Noongar men – however it wasn’t a prison in 1833 when Yagan gave language to RML. Became a prison in 1838. It is like’wadjela’ (white person) and I wonder whether it goes back to when Vlamingh landed on the Island and forayed up the Swan in January 1697. Perhaps his boat was seen moored off Rottnest before he travelled up the Swan trying to catch a ‘South Lander’ (he failed!” South Perth on Jooroolup Balbuk to DB Place of the jarrahs the other side of (Thompson Park area) South Perth Gaboodjoolup Yagan to RML Where the land foreshore (or meets the water possibly (SRT) somewhere on the Canning River) South Perth Joorolup SRT Place of the jarrahs foreshore between Mill Point and Sir James Mitchell Park (approx.) South Perth Katatjin COSP Knowledge (south side of Narrows) South Perth Booryulup SRT Place of the magic Shore from people Richardson Park to Mill Point South Perth Googooru Balbuk to DB Sound of water in (Mill Point the rushes where Shenton’s house was) Swan River at Ngowergup Yagan to RML Ngower = feather Maylands decoration. Place of below Mercy celebration or Hospital collecting feathers perhaps. Swan River Derbal Yarragan Yagan to RML River water (the part from Fremantle to Perth Water) South Perth Gooyagarup Balbuk to DB Place of the frog Foreshore holes. Many (South of Mill banksias grew here Point) and it was where sweet water was made from their blossoms. Swan River at Manuk Dept of Ed Manatj = black Success Hill cockatoo (which is the same word for ‘policeman’) – closest I could get Swan Brewery Gooniallup Yagan to RML Goon = excrement. site to the top Possibly because of the hill the place is behind it (track associated with the of the Wagyl) Wagyl and being made by Wagyl’s droppings Swan Brewery Gargatup Yagan to RML place of soul, spirit, (South) breath (Wagyl’s resting place) Swan Brewery Kooyamulyup Yagan to RML Frog camp and place (Point Lewis) of nose pegging of young men Swan River at Goodamboorup Yagan to RML Goodjam = frog Redcliffe Damborjow = bury Swan River Goodroo Yagan to RML Closest I could get bay below Mt was ‘gudgal’ Eliza (only the meaning two. water – not the Otherwise could be shore) ‘frog’ Thompson’s Jilbup SRT Place of grass lake Upper Swan Wurerup Yagan to RML Woorer = cockatiel River and hills Woora = kingfish. in the vicinity. West Perth, in Goongarnulnyarrimup Balbuk to DB Low lying swampy the vicinity of land (Town of where Gallop Vincent) House, was in Cowle Street West Perth – Biabbalup Balbuk to DB Bya = back or behind Hay street Balup – maybe West down the beelar? River? E.g. hill to Hay behind the river? Street East

The following are places named by Daisy Bates which I haven’t been able to locate.

Eastern side of the Swan River Mangaga Minnulu Kuberdu Warrubinjerup (swampy place) Marrala Markkala Joonbugu Yelawara Booganung Kooli Kooli

All in the metro area Karbunga Kardunmba Jeejuru Beedalup Nyeebarup (Neerabup?) Gedalup

Other places (via Landgate) Bridgetown = Geegelup Broad Arrow = Kurawah Brunswick Junction = Muedela Denmark = Koorabup Tunney = Teulungup York = Ballardong