June, 2003

The history of Poeppel Corner oeppel Corner is the name of the junction of the Northern PTerritory/ border with the northern border of South . It is one of the best known of the State corners and certainly the remotest. The nearest town is , population 120, which is 177 kilometres to the east.

Poeppel Corner is located in the heart of the and is accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles. The visitors’ book shows that about 2000 tourists make the journey each year. These days the corner is marked by a concrete pipe, standing 1.8 metres high on a sand dune just above Lake Poeppel, which spreads across the and borders. A specially prepared plaque on top of the pipe shows the names of the states and territory and the title ‘Poeppel Corner’.

In 1880, Augustus Poeppel, South Australian Government Surveyor, marked the corner with a coolibah Eucalyptus microtheca post, 2.1 metres long by 0.25 metres in diameter. The post was dragged 58 miles (92 kilometres) westward from the Mulligan River. Poeppel adzed it on three sides and chiseled This plaque on a concrete pipe now marks the location of Poeppel Corner into it the words ‘South Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland’. Below the ‘South Australia’ inscription he carved Queensland/Northern Territory border ran due north to the LAT 26 LONG 138 for the latitude and longitude. Gulf of Carpenteria.

The post was placed by Poeppel to complete his survey of the Poeppel returned to the corner in 1883 to commence the South Australian/Queensland border along the 26th Parallel of survey of the Queensland/Northern Territory border. The Latitude between the 141st Meridian to the 138th Meridian of post was not seen again by a European until 1936, when Longitude, a distance of 186 miles 49 chains (300.3 km). It Northern Territory grazier, Ted Colson, and his Aboriginal represented the intersection of the 26th Parallel with the 138th companion Peter Aims, completed the first east-west crossing Meridian. From this point, the South Australia/Northern Territory border ran east across the Simpson Desert and the GCONTINUED PAGE 2 The history of Welcome to new subscribers t has been wonderful to hear from historical societies around Australia that are Poeppel Corner Iinterested in the study of placenames and the ANPS project. Many of those societies that responded to the mail-out of the March edition of Placenames Australia G CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 not only subscribed to the newsletter but have also become ANPS Research Friends. of the Simpson Desert with five camels. Thanks for your interest and support! A warm welcome to the following societies: They photographed the post on their Augusta Historical Society Hay Historical Society return journey from Birdsville. By then, Bathurst District Historical Society Hist. Society of the Munic. of Sorell the corner had become known as Bayswater Historical Society Inverell District Family History Group ‘Poeppel Corner’ after Augustus Poeppel. Bendigo Historical Society Ipswich Historical Society Berrima District Historical Society Isis District Historical Society Dr Reg Sprigg completed the first Biggenden Historical Society Kilkivan and District Historical Society vehicular crossing of the Simpson Blacktown and District Historical Society Koroit and District Historical Society Desert in 1962. He found the corner Boorowa and District Historical Society Ku-ring-gai Historical Society and Family post lying flat on the ground, eaten Brisbane City Council Heritage Unit History Group through by white ants and riddled with Brisbane Water Historical Society Lameroo District Historical Society dry rot. Dr Sprigg placed a temporary Broome Historical Society Lightning Ridge Historical Society Trust mark over the base and took the fallen Buninyong and District Hist. Society Lower Burdekin Historical Society post back to Birdsville and later to Camden Historical Society Macksville and District History Group Adelaide. It was returned to the South Campbelltown and Airds Hist. Society Malvern Historical Society Australian Surveyor General and is now Cardwell Shire Museum and Hist. Soc. Mansfield Historical Society held by the South Australian History Casino and District Historical Society Mareeba Historical Society Trust. The chiseled names are still Channel Hist. and Folk Museum Assoc. Marrickville Heritage Society legible. The concrete pipe was Clarence River Historical Society Melville History Society subsequently placed to mark Poeppel Coasters Retreat Historical Society Mid Murraylands Local History Group corner. Concord Heritage Society Milton-Ulladulla Historical Society Cooray-Noosa Genealogical and New Farm and Districts Hist. Society GAlan Middleton Historical Research Group Nundah and District Historical Society Senior Surveyor Cootamundra Local History Society Orroroo Historical Society Department of Sustainability and Crookwell and District Historical Society Paterson Historical Society Environment, Cundletown Historical Society Queenscliffe Historical Museum Daylesford and District Hist. Society Queensland Women’s Hist. Association In this issue Dingley Village and District Hist. Society Redcliffe Historical Society Dubbo Museum and History Centre Sandgate and District Historical Society The history of Poeppel Corner ... .1-2 Eastern Goldfields Historical Society and Museum Welcome to new subscribers ...... 2 Emerald Shire Historical Association Seymour and District Historical Society Electronic toponymic updates ...... 2 Enfield and District Historical Society Shoalhaven Family History Society Indigenous placenames initiative ...... 3 Footscray Historical Society Springwood Historical Society Fremantle Local History Collection Sunshine Coast Historical and Naming the place we live ...... 4-5 Furneaux Hist. Research Association Genealogical Resource Centre Media focus ...... 5 Gatton and District Historical Society Tara and District Historical Society Feedback: Everard of the Cape ...... 6 Gloucester District Historical Society Toowoomba Historical Society ANPS NSW State Committee ...... 7 Great Lakes Historical Society Yarraman and District Historical Society Hamilton History Centre Yarrawonga – Mulwala Historical Society Minister opens Centre...... 7 Hargraves and District Historical Society Yorketown Historical Society Reviving Aboriginal languages ...... 8-9 New subscribers after the time of going to press will be listed in the next issue New publications ...... 9 Places and pitfalls ...... 10-11 Electronic toponymic updates Placenames Puzzle No. 6 ...... 11 Bill Bright visits Sydney ...... 11 The ANPS team would like to be able to contact Research Friends and Placenames Australia subscribers with items of interest not only through the quarterly release On the web ...... 12 of the newsletter but during the whole year. If you would like to be on our email Placenames in the news ...... 12 distribution list and receive occasional notices about toponymic events, please Mailing List & Volunteer Research....12 send your email address to Clair Hill at [email protected]. Indigenous placenames initiative launched in Warrnambool, Victoria ew people realise how many of FVictoria’s towns and cities have names of Indigenous origin. To address this, Victoria’s Registrar of Geographic Names has launched a public awareness program about Indigenous placenames. This program has held a series of workshops to which representatives from Indigenous communities, local councils and other naming authorities have been invited to participate.

There are thousands of names with Indigenous origins in use, particularly in rural and regional Victoria. However, many years ago when these names were first given, surveyors had difficulty capturing Australian Aboriginal speech sounds and recording them using the English spelling system. As a result, some of the meanings Left to right: Keith Bell (Registrar Geographic Place Names), Jeremy Clark (CEO Framlingham and pronunciations of these names have Aboriginal Trust) and Stephen Walsh (Department of Infrastructure) at the launch of the new been lost over time. Indigenous placenaming brochure. Photo: Diana Nolan. of various landmarks and places in date, five more successful workshops The state-wide series of workshops was Victoria is a positive step. have been held in Hamilton, Ballarat, aimed at providing a forum for Indig- Benalla, Melbourne and Traralgon for enous communities and placenaming As part of the program, a presentation representatives of local councils who are authorities to discuss the new approach was delivered by Stephen Walsh of the responsible for the placenaming process to naming, as well as trying to establish a Department of Infrastructure (DoI) on within their organisations. consultation protocol that could be the joint DoI-VicRoads Indigenous road adopted by naming authorities when naming project. This project is aimed at While the main focus of the workshops considering proposals for Indigenous assigning Indigenous names to bridges is on the responsibilities of naming placenames. and other road features and is being authorities under the Geographic Place piloted in south-western Victoria. Names Act 1998, as well as the The first workshop was held in implementation of the Guidelines for Warrnambool on the November 1, 2002. Presentations were also delivered by Dr Geographic Names, the workshops are Mr Jeremy Clark, CEO of the Ian D. Clark (Chair of the Victorian also aimed at increasing awareness of Framlingham Aboriginal Trust, opened State Committee of the Australian Victoria’s Indigenous placenames. the Warrnambool workshop and National Placenames Survey) and Chris launched the initiative’s brochure: Naming Richards (member of Victoria’s Geo- The Victorian Registrar of Geographic Victoria’s Landscape - Respect and Recognition graphic Place Names Advisory Panel). Names recognises that the link between of Indigenous Culture. Mr Clark welcomed Dr Clark’s presentation was an overview placenames, our Indigenous heritage and the public awareness initiative, saying that of the Dictionary and Database of reconciliation is important. This initiative the key to the process is consultation; Aboriginal Placenames of Victoria, which he will hopefully raise awareness of “Without consultation with all the parties compiled together with Toby Heydon for Victoria’s existing Indigenous placenames it wouldn’t succeed”. the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for and encourage greater respect and Languages. recognition for Indigenous cultures. Mr Clark acknowledged that many people are not aware of the Indigenous As a result of the positive feedback GAnita Davids origins of placenames, such as, received from participants at the work- For more information about Victoria’s Warrnambool, Koroit and Terang. He shop, the Registrar of Geographic placenaming activities, please phone went on to say that promoting recogni- Names scheduled a series of follow-up Anita on (03) 8636 2530 or email her at tion for the traditional Indigenous names workshops on geographic placenames. To [email protected] Naming the place we live s promised in Placenames Australia ADecember 2002, here is a con- densed version of a talk given by Dale Lehner for the History Council of NSW, History Week, September 2002, which had the theme ‘Changing Landscapes’.

Why name the place we live? The basic answer is that we need identification simply for communication. Early settlers needed to be able to say something like, ‘Move the stock to the Sandy Creek’. I am reminded of the old adage that if Sydney is ever invaded the first thing we should do is remove all the street signs! A city with no identified places would be utter confusion.

European naming of the Australian landscape can more correctly be described ‘renaming’. The Aborigines had already named significant features like rivers, mountains and hills and no doubt important camping places too. What I am referring to here is the new set of names given by the European settlers. Most of my research has involved the Darling Downs district west of Brisbane where members of my family settled in the 1860s, thus many of the examples I use will be from Queensland.

The method of Australian placenaming The early history of placenaming in and his aide when he named the Darling can only be called ad hoc – there was no Australia was a bit scrambled but, in Downs and the Condamine River. method. Much of the landscape had essence, it was the domain of the already been named when officials tried explorers, then the squatters and finally Squatters spread out from the settled to take control. In Queensland it was the the surveyors, with ordinary people districts with their flocks and herds using 1920s before an official placenames filling in the gaps. Firstly, explorers the explorer’s maps as references. It body was set up but it was really too late. named their discoveries. They noted appears to have been compulsory to Certainly most of the natural features them in their journals and on maps and register a name for their pastoral run had been named by the turn of the 20th largely the names have endured, although when they applied for the lease. And - an Century, leaving little more than new there were a few cases of the same place important point - that name needed to be settlements to be named. being accidentally renamed by another unique because it was for identification. explorer (the Murray River was originally Avoiding duplication necessarily involved These days in Queensland and probably named the Hume). Our eastern coastline a lot of head scratching on the part of elsewhere, when a new suburb is estab- is littered with names given by Captain the squatters. Many of the names they lished there is a complex process to Cook and Matthew Flinders. chose have endured as Parish, Shire or avoid duplication. Huge efforts are also town names, although the pastoral leases made to ensure that the suggested name The most noticeable feature of the are no more. The most striking feature is culturally appropriate, particularly with placenames chosen by inland explorers is given to runs on the Darling Downs Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander that they often flattered influential before 1859, is that half of them are names. The public is notified of all people. For example, Allan Cunningham, Aboriginal words – Jondaryan, Jingi proposals in newspaper advertisements, who discovered the Darling Downs in and Ministerial approval is the final step. 1827, honoured both Governor Darling CONTINUED NEXT PAGE Jingi, and Warra Warra are just a few. It ‘Dalby’ after one of several towns in originated when a bullock wagon broke a is significant that European settlers in a Britain. On a visit to the town I com- wheel and a keg of sherry fell off and land officially regarded as empty – terra mented on the very wide streets. I was smashed. The Railway Department did nullius – were quite happy to use Aborigi- told that the roads had needed to be not approve and later changed the name nal placenames. The settlers knew the wide enough for a bullock team to turn to Cherry Gully. land was not empty, and in their own way around. they acknowledged prior Aboriginal Introduced Australian placenames have ownership. The explorers and squatters made their evolved over the last 200 or so years, name choices and usually that was it – a given in succession by explorers, squat- Descriptive run names were also popular unilateral decision! However, with the ters, surveyors and ordinary people, and give insights into the squatter’s life. naming of settlements there were more mostly before official control was gained. Some squatters took the same name as the people involved and disagreements Now there are very tight controls when local creek, and wildlife and plants were occurred. A town near the Queensland/ new names are proposed. However, it is also popular themes, for example, Palmy border now known as evident that the placenames given before Creek, Emu Creek, Dogwood Creek and Inglewood, was originally called official intervention are the ones that can the not very inviting Mosquito Creek. ‘Browne’s Inn’ after an establishment most enhance the knowledge of Austra- Other names, such as Starvation Camp, there. In 1862 a surveyor renamed the lian history. They reflect the thoughts Vexation and Burning Thirst, reveal the settlement ‘Inglewood’. The Railway and experiences of our forebears in trying aspects of life. On the other hand Department had a policy of using many ways. In addition we see that it is there are the more attractive Fairy Land Aboriginal names where possible, so the Aboriginal influence which makes the and Gladfield. when the railway passed through in 1906 map of Australia distinctive - nowhere the station was named ‘Parainga’. There else in the world will you find a Wagga I examined another sample of pre-1859 was a local outcry and the citizens of the Wagga or a Gundagai! The historical Darling Downs names for natural town removed the station sign before the value and unique nature of these names features, such as rivers, creeks, moun- grand opening. The Railway Department is beginning to be recognised in the tains and hills. As previously noted, I eventually complied with their wishes and Australian community. Much discussion often discovered the name choice was the name ‘Inglewood’ was retained. currently concerns the possibility of made by an explorer to honour a patron, reinstating more Aboriginal names in a probably in the hope of more financial As well as by explorers, squatters and dual naming system like we see with support. However, there are exceptions: surveyors, much naming was done Ayers Rock/Uluru. Such initiatives Ludwig Leichhardt named Charley’s unofficially by ordinary people. The indicate an appreciation that placenames Creek after his Aboriginal guide, and pastoral runs were huge, usually from 25 embody our history in a unique way. Allan Cunningham honoured a settler to 100 square miles, and names evolved who had been very hospitable to his for features on that land. Descriptive GDale Lehner expedition with MacIntyre Brook. The names, such as the Sandy Creek or the second largest category for natural Bald Hill were common, and every run features was descriptive names like had a name like the Horse Paddock or Media focus Sandy Creek (probably the most popular Hill Paddock. In the Dalby Family Two Brisbanites, anthropologist Liz placename in Australia), Saddle Hill, History Society library I came across an Dann and local historian and envi- Lookout Creek and the like. old map of Bon Accord, a freehold ronmental educator Beryl Roberts, station taken up in about 1870. I was have completed a number of years After the explorers and squatters the immediately interested when I discovered researching Brisbane localities and next influential group were the surveyors. one paddock was named Dale’s Paddock. will soon publish a book, Origins of the They were called upon to draw up plans I was given the name Dale because it Names of Brisbane’s Suburbs and for settlements, and are responsible for was my great-grandmother’s maiden Localities. Brisbane’s ABC Radio 612 many of our beautifully laid out country name – and sure enough I found that the will be giving them about one minute towns. Often the plans of a likely spot paddock was originally the Dale family of airtime each weekday morning were produced when there was little farm. It had been incorporated into Bon with Paul Bonnington on the Breakfast more than a bark hut or two in evidence. Accord. In fact after her husband died Show to discuss and share ideas on At the same time the surveyors were my great-great-grandmother worked on the origins of Brisbane’s suburb and often required to name these settlements. Bon Accord as the mid-wife and nurse, locality names. All being well, this A townsite on the Darling Downs that and was known locally as Granny Dale. daily toponymic discussion will be was unofficially known as ‘Myall Cross- broadcast throughout August and ing’, ‘Myall Creek’ or ‘The Crossing’ was Many names given by ordinary people their book will be published in late surveyed in 1853 by Captain Perry, the endured, although some were changed by August or early September. NSW Surveyor-General. He renamed it officialdom. The name Sherry Gully Feedback: Everard of the Cape

was recently sent a copy of the The leaflet attached by Richard Everard is map. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that IANPS newsletter of September 2002 titled ‘”The Speaker of the Legislative he is the “Everard of the Cape”. The and believe I can throw some light on Assembly: Hon. W.H. EVERARD, arrival date of 1853 is given in Men of the identity of Mr Everard after whom M.L.A.” and was authorised by W. Burnside, the Time, Victorian Series (1878) and in the Cape was named. I believe it to be J.P., Chairman Evelyn Electrorate Committees the entry for John Everard in the named after Mr John Everard who was on the 10th of September 1937. The relevant Australian Dictionary of Biography. a member of the first parliament of section is as follows: “Mr. Everard was born at Victoria, representing Rodney, and east Melbourne in 1869, as son of Mr. John 5. Manning’s book on the placenames of afterward Collingwood and North Everard, who was a member of the first South Australia lists some features Gippsland. I attach a copy of a leaflet Parliament of Victoria, representing Rodney, bearing the Everard name – Mount concerning his son William H. Everard. and afterwards Collingwood and North Everard, Lake Everard, Hundred of Gippsland, and after whom Cape Everard was Everard and Everard Creek (now the John Everard was born on February 20 named.” Diamantina River). Manning states that 1825 in Groby, Leicestershire, UK, the they are named after William Everard. sixth son of Thomas Everard of hank you for forwarding on the e- While William arrived in that colony (as a Groby. He married Mary Moss on Tmail by Richard Everard regarding youth) in 1836 on the ship Africaine, he August 29 1857 (she died September 21 the naming of Cape Everard (now Point did not enter the South Australian 1872). He later married Faith Cann on Hicks). It’s rewarding to see that the parliament until the 1860s, and most of July 19 1874 in Fitzroy, Melbourne. He newsletter now has an international his substantial public achievements were died on August 29 1887 in South Yarra, readership (and an interested one at after 1853. In addition, there is the Melbourne. He had seven children (six that). My response to the comments problem of explaining how a South sons) by his first wife and four (all made by Richard are as follows: Australian pioneer would have had his daughters) by his second wife. I have no name placed on a prominent coastal record of when he went to Australia. 1. It would be great if we could locate a feature in far East Gippsland, when the primary source document that Cape Everard name was most likely Obviously the leaflet may be incorrect unambiguously set out how Cape applied by someone in the Victorian about the naming of Cape Everard but Everard was named. But unfortunately Surveyor General’s office. one would have thought that his son (as with many placenames) no such would know. document has been located to date, 6. William Everard was the son of although I did spend a number of days Doctor Charles Everard (they came to I have done a little research via the Net in the Victorian State Library and the Adelaide together on the Africaine) who into John Everard but have found very Surveyor General’s office hoping to settled in Adelaide. While he was a little except that there is mention of uncover such a key reference. prominent citizen of Adelaide before some of his family in several books 1853, there is still the problem of published in Australia, including: 2. The earliest references to Cape explaining how his name would have Everard that I could find are been used by Victorian officials on a Painters & Pioneers - One Hundred Years of Arrowsmith’s 1853 map of Victoria and cape in Gippsland, far removed from the Eltham and its Shire by Alan Marshall the slightly earlier coastal survey maps South Australian border. (1971), Warburton Ways by Earle of Gippsland upon which it is based. Parkinson (1984), A History of Port In summary, I think it is fair to say the Melbourne by Nancy U’Ren and Noel 3. To qualify as a candidate for being the jury is still out on which particular Turnbull (1983), and Healesville - History “Everard of the Cape”, the person Everard was honoured in the naming of of the Hills by Sally Symonds (1982). would have had to have been reasonably Cape Everard. prominent in Australia (extra attention Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to obviously being given to any Victorian Perhaps other newsletter readers may be obtain copies of any of the above books. Everards), or Britain, by 1853. able to shed further light on this fascinating toponymic puzzle. The South I also note that there is a Lake Everard 4. John Everard arrived in Melbourne in Australian options are worth further in South Australia and also a mountain May 1853, first becoming a merchant. investigation, and there may be other range called Everard Ranges - maybe He did not enter Victorian parliament Everards who have so far escaped our they are also named after John? until 1858. While biographical material attention, including those who remained indicates that he made a substantial in England. Can anybody out there help? Your sincerely, contribution to the State, this occurred Richard A. Everard (Quorn, Leics, UK) after the publication of Arrowsmith’s Chris Richards (Vic) ANPS NSW State Committee established e are pleased to announce that a introduced names to many of the elsewhere in this issue, by Clair Hill on WState committee of the ANPS has features of Sydney Harbour, and on an the establishment of ALRRC and by now been established in NSW. The Aboriginal Geographical Naming Susan Poetsch on the work of the OBoS foundation members of the committee Strategy to document and interpret in developing a new Aboriginal Lan- are: David Blair and Flavia Hodges of placenames forming part of the tradi- guages Syllabus for schools, emphasise the ANPS, Greg Windsor of the NSW tional Indigenous network within NSW. what an exciting time this is for the Geographical Names Board, Jaky Troy renewal of Indigenous languages in the of the newly established NSW Aboriginal Other crucial links will be with the NSW State — and the study of placenames Languages Research and Resource Aboriginal Languages Research and has an important role to play in increas- Centre, and academics John Hobson, Ian Resource Centre and the NSW Office ing awareness of the languages and Jack and Michael Walsh of the Univer- of the Board of Studies. Notices cultures of the state’s original inhabitants. sity of Sydney and Peter Orlovich, formerly of the University of New South Wales — contributing between them expertise in history, linguistics, archives and information technology. An inaugural meeting of the Committee was held on 21 June, and further meetings are planned at frequent intervals.

We look forward to being able to publish news of the Committee’s activities in future issues of Placenames Australia. It plans to work particularly closely with the NSW Geographical Names Board, of which it has been constituted as a Technical Scientific Sub-Committee, on a Left to right: Greg Windsor, Michael Walsh, Jaky Troy and Gayle Caldwell at project to assign dual Indigenous and the inaugural State Committee meeting. Minister opens NSW Language Centre efore European settlement, the area help to revive traditional Aboriginal in danger of being lost or are spoken by Bthat was to become New South languages, such as those listed. An just a handful of surviving Elders. Time Wales hosted around 70 Aboriginal Aboriginal Language Research and is running out if we are not to lose this languages. These traditional languages Resource Centre is at the core of this important part of our Indigenous include: Ngiyampaa and Muruwari in the million-dollar plus plan and was officially culture,” he said. northwest; Mathi-mathi and Baakindji in launched on March 10 by the Deputy the southwest; Kamilaroi, Wangkumara, Premier and Minister for Aboriginal The NSW government has provided and Wiradjuri in central NSW; Anewan Affairs, Dr Andrew Refshauge. funding of $1.04 million over four years (Nganyaywana), Bundjalung, for the ALRRC. The Centre is located at Gumbaynggirr and Yaygirr in the At the opening, Dr Refshauge said the Tranby Aboriginal College in Glebe and northeast; Awabakal, Dharuk, Ngunawal, Centre would help to record and is staffed by linguist Dr Jakelin Troy and and Yorta Yorta in the southeast. The document the knowledge held by a Gayle Caldwell. It aims to give technical colonisation of Australia brought rapid limited number of Aboriginal Elders and advice, mentoring, training and research changes to Indigenous Australian society custodians, as well as empower Aborigi- assistance to Aboriginal people and and dramatically affected the ways nal communities to implement local communities seeking to revive, maintain Aboriginal people lived and communi- language revitalisation programs. and teach traditional languages. It will cated. Aboriginal languages have been also establish an Internet database linking badly affected by these sudden changes, “Traditional language is at the heart of information on Aboriginal languages and most are highly endangered with Aboriginal culture. It is vital to the Statewide, and provide seed funding for only a few elderly speakers surviving. cultural identity and the self-esteem of community language projects, including a Aboriginal people. grant of $20,000 for a Gumbaynggirr The NSW State government has devel- dictionary and a CD-ROM in the oped a ground-breaking policy that will “Already many Aboriginal languages are Kamilaroi language. Reviving and teaching Aboriginal languages in New South Wales schools he invasion and colonisation of across NSW, Aboriginal community language program in Adelaide) and TAustralia have had devastating members and organisations and language Indigenous language communities in effects on Aboriginal languages. In recent owners and custodians – all of whom other countries. developments in NSW, the aspiration of have informed the design of the syllabus. Aboriginal communities to revive their As the project developed further, The syllabus is a key step in the revival languages, using living knowledge in subsequent State-wide consultation with of Aboriginal languages. The three conjunction with archival sources, is similar groups was undertaken by Dr overarching objectives of the syllabus – being supported by the formal (though Michael Walsh of the Department of ‘Using Language’, ‘Making Linguistic non-mandatory) introduction of the Linguistics at Sydney University, together Connections’ and ‘Moving Between Cultures’ – study of Aboriginal languages into the with Tony Lonsdale, a Wiradjuri man acknowledge that acquiring communica- NSW school curriculum. To this end the from Mudgee. Jaky has since been tive competence in an Aboriginal Aboriginal Curriculum Unit (ACU) in the appointed as manager of the NSW Office of the Board of Studies NSW Aboriginal Languages Research and G CONTINUED NEXT PAGE has been developing the Aboriginal Resource Centre. Languages K-10 Syllabus. The aims of the Uncle Stan Grant Snr is a syllabus are to enable students to gain Language revival projects involving Wiradjuri Elder. He established language proficiency, focus on the study Aboriginal community members, linguists the Wiradjuri Language Develop- of languages as systems and understand and schools have been in operation for ment Centre and, for many years, the relationship between land, language, several years in a number of locations in has been instrumental in the culture and identity. NSW, e.g. the Bundjalung, Gamilaraay- revival of Wiradjuri language. Yuwaalaraay, Gumbaynggirr, Baakindji- He teaches Wiradjuri language The development of the syllabus has Ngiyampaa and Wiradjuri language classes to Aboriginal and non- been managed by Kevin Lowe, Chief programs. The experiences and models Aboriginal people in various Education Officer in the ACU. Dr Jaky of these language programs have made a towns and centres in Wiradjuri Troy has also been a driving force significant contribution to the design and country. His work was featured behind it. In the early phases of the development of the new Aboriginal on the ABC program Message project Jaky worked closely with a team Languages K-10 Syllabus, as have success- Sticks on Sunday 18th May 2003. of syllabus writers and coordinated ful language revival programs in other extensive consultation with schools parts of Australia (e.g. the Kaurna What are some of your thoughts on the new syllabus?

SG: The NSW Government is doing exactly the right thing by introducing Aboriginal languages into the schools. This will increase children’s self-esteem and sense of identity and help them understand who they are and where they come from. Their language is their country. Language belongs to the land, it is who you are.

Do you teach people about placenames in your language pro- grams?

SG: Yes, people in our classes are really interested in that. Learning about placenames gives non-Aboriginal people some idea of Aboriginal languages and shows which names come from the language of the area. Chief Education Officer in the Aboriginal Curriculum Unit, Kevin Lowe. Photo: James Deavin. New publications: Lost and Almost Forgotten Towns

here there is now a herd of beef author’s passion for Victoria’s colonial Wcattle quietly grazing in an open history. The author has been fascinated field, a bustling population of gold by history since early childhood and has fossickers, trades people and young deepened his knowledge of Victorian families once went about their daily tasks. history through a great deal of travel and The only visible trace of them is in the research over the last 20 years. His census results collected by the fledgling background in statistics and fascination government of colonial Victoria. with maps has enabled him to gather insights from diverse resources that are In other locations stand magnificent often overlooked in preparing histories examples of colonial architecture or the of specific areas. chaotic remains of gold diggings. Some of the more than 1400 centres analysed Useful to historians, researchers and all in Angus Watson’s book are now experi- readers with a fascination for colonial encing a renaissance as new communities history, this book’s detailed assessment take shape within old boundaries. The of the census results of 1841 to 1901 cover of this book depicts the former allows greater understanding of the Majorca Municipal Hall restored after ground upon which the current popula- bushfire damage. After being a major tion of Victoria stands. For those who nineteenth century. Copies of Lost & nineteenth century goldfield town, are touring Victoria, Lost & Almost Almost Forgotten Towns of Colonial Victoria Majorca was only a name on a map by Forgotten Towns of Colonial Victoria will may be obtained from the author and the 1970s, but is now enjoying a revival open up new possibilities for exploration publisher at a cost of $23.00 plus as a burgeoning satellite suburb of that are not suggested by the more postage and handling charge of $7.00. Maryborough. commonly available resources. Angus B. Watson Lost & Almost Forgotten Towns of Colonial This book of over 500 pages should Unit 1, 13A Railway Road Victoria is the fruit of many years’ form an invaluable reference guide to Blackburn Victoria 3130 meticulous research, driven by the the urban composition of Victoria in the Tel/Fax (03) 9878 0174 language will occur in the context of Aunty Beryl Carmichael, whose traditional name is Yungha-dhu, is a language revitalisation. Students will Ngiyampaa Elder. She is the Aboriginal Language Support Officer in the develop skills to become active partici- Broken Hill District Office of the NSW Department of Education and a pants in language revival by being teacher on the Ngiyampaa-Baakindji Language Program. She was learners and users of language in daily awarded a Centenary of Federation Medal for devotion to cultural interactions and by studying similarities awareness and contribution to Australian society. and differences in the structure of Aboriginal languages. To achieve this What are some of your thoughts on the new syllabus? process of language revival, students will engage with Aboriginal communities and BC: Aboriginal people feel that the time was ripe to produce such a document. It will give their linguistic resources. opportunities to a lot of people to learn their language, opportunities which they didn’t have before; not only in schools but I hope also in adult colleges. It will be good for all people to The syllabus outcomes and content focus know that it’s a major part of our culture. There are a whole lot of important things that will on developing students’ knowledge of, come through the teaching of language – traditional stories, culture, songs and connection to understandings about and skills in land. It is the vital link that we need to maintain. Aboriginal languages. In this way, it has been possible to cater for the approxi- I notice that placenames are sprinkled throughout the content section of the mately 70 languages in NSW with one syllabus. What do you think about placenames as part of learning language? syllabus. A copy of the draft syllabus is available at: BC: Placenames are very important for kids to learn about and gives them the whole feeling for http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/ a place. A lot has been passed down but hasn’t been written in official records. Places already writing_briefs have names but learners need to get the full story behind each name to really understand them. For example Keewong means ‘place where the moon camped’ and there is a story behind it. G Susan Poetsch Places and pitfalls: Researching the Alexandra and Eildon area of Victoria n 1998 I decided to write an account not to create or perpetuate misinforma- pines”, lyre-birds “pheasants” and Iof the placenames of the Alexandra tion – of which there was a considerable banksias “honeysuckles”. and Lake Eildon area of Victoria. I amount – about placenames. My main began by putting information on index problem, encountered by other research- A booklet about Marysville claimed that cards but soon gave away this idea as too ers on Victoria, was Les Blake’s Place when governor Sir Arthur Stanley and cumbersome and slow. I waited until the Names of Victoria (1977). Blake is best his wife visited Marysville in 1919, following year when I had regular access known as editor of Vision and Realisation Mount Margaret nearby was named in to a personal computer and thereafter (1973), a most valuable and encyclopedic honour of the governor’s lady. However, kept my work in electronic format, with three-volume account of Victorian State when I went to the State Library of plenty of back-up copies on diskettes. schools. Probably on the strength of this Victoria’s map room I found a map from work, Blake decided to tackle the State’s 1913 that already clearly displayed the At first my knowledge of the history of placenames but he often seemed to lack locality as Mount Margaret. I thought the area was rather basic but I was a “feel” for the origin of placenames and little more about this mistaken claim until fortunate in a number of respects. I had (even more so) for linguistics. I discovered, almost by chance, that Sir been studying family history for years, so Arthur’s consort’s maiden name was I knew where to find gazetteers and Blake claimed, for example, that Margaret Evelyn Evans Gordon. Now a books on the meanings of placenames Knockwood and Barjarg were possibly place near Marysville was known as Bald and surnames. I was keen on natural of Aboriginal origin but I found a Hill until at least 1912 but on modern history and bush walking, and already Knockwood in Kent (as I suspected) and maps it appears as Mount Gordon! Was had a good collection of 1:25000 survey two more in Scotland, and I found Bald Hill perhaps renamed to com- maps of the area. As a boy I had learnt a several Barjargs in Scotland. He wrote memorate Lady Stanley’s visit? bit of Latin and Ancient Greek, and as a that Dropmore might be derived from young man I had acquired the rudiments Dromore, County Down, but there is a I was particularly intrigued by the name of Irish; these languages were to be Dropmore in Buckinghamshire. I of Ault Beeac Creek, a tributary near surprisingly useful in my task. I am an accepted his explanation that Dabyminga Yea of the Murrindindi River. I had Englishman, with interests in Scottish and Creek (near Tallarook) was derived from heard of Beeac near Colac (a long way Irish history, so I had a reasonable Aboriginal abminga, “snake tracks”, until from the Yea area), and Beeac was knowledge of British and Irish geogra- Luise Hercus of the Australian National reputedly of Aboriginal origin (perhaps phy. Also Alexandra had an excellent University warned me that abminga was Colijan or Katubanuut), meaning “salt public library and its staff and the from Lower Southern Aranda, a South water” but Ault Beeac Creek’s waters Friends of the Library were only too Australian language! were distinctly fresh. I wondered if Ault eager to help and encourage me. I Beeac might be Gaelic. Then I discov- appealed in the Alexandra & Eildon Les Blake suggested that Mount ered allt in Gaelic can mean “cliff, Standard for information, and subse- Torbreck (the highest place in the area I brook, stream or wooded glen”; biadhach quently received a lot of help from local covered) might be derived from Welsh “nourishing”; and buidheach “pleasing”. residents and historical societies. brwch and either French brèche or Italian This sounded promising. A few months breccia, which sounded rather complex. I later I read that Duncan McLeish had I began with obvious sources, such as discovered that, if the first syllable were run stock in the area in the 1840s, and looking through maps for places to list Welsh, so too could be the second had employed his brother Daniel as a and trawling through local histories for syllable. However, further checking shepherd there. The brothers hailed information about placenames. I also revealed that in Scotland, near Inverness, from Dunkeld, north of Perth, Scotland. looked around by car and on foot and was a village of Torbreck, so Gaelic discovered placenames that were signed made more sense for the Quite a few places in the area I covered but not marked on maps, and I some- etymology of the whole word. have names whose origins I have been times came across a monument or unable to reveal. I was particularly plaque that explained the origin of a Another writer recounted, without frustrated with the lack of information placename. I picked up several questioning the story, that Monkey Gully about Mount Arnold, a large feature placenames from the verses of James near Mansfield was named because a which must have been named in the McCrae Dunn, a local poet who had monkey had escaped from a circus near goldrush period as it was a stopping place been assistant stationmaster at Cathkin. there. She had apparently not heard that for miners taking the Yarra Track to the “monkey” was squatterese for koala, just I soon realised I had to take especial care as the squatters called echidnas “porcu- G CONTINUED NEXT PAGE Wood’s Point and Jordan goldfields. The Placenames Puzzle No.6 However, I could not find a governor, Ringing the changes on the popular word puzzles regularly contributed by Research politician, surveyor or grazier whose Associate Joyce Miles, this issue’s challenge comes in picture form. Snapped by name might fit. Then I had a browse ANPS Director David Blair on a recent holiday, this signpost points the way to some through The Chronicles of Early Melbourne far-flung locations. Can you guess from the directions and distances where it is? (1888) by “Garryowen” (Edmund Finn) Answer on the bottom of the next page. Joyce’s puzzle will return next issue. and discovered that a Thomas Arnold had attended the foundation meeting of the Pastoral and Agricultural Society of Australia Felix (Melbourne, 2 January 1840) and had been appointed a director. He had also attended the first meeting in Melbourne (13 May 1840) to agitate for the separation of Port Phillip from NSW. Present on both occasions was the grazier William Ryrie who held pastoral runs in the Lilydale and Healesville area.

My younger daughter thinks I was very naïve for not working out the derivation of S Creek in the Black Range State Forest, particularly as it joins Bull Creek before flowing into the Murrindindi River. Local cartographer Robin Rishworth informed me that S was the sanitised version of a popular Anglo- Saxon expletive!

I was amused to find that the Bill Bright visits Sydney Germanophobes were not thorough he ANPS team had the great Part of Bill’s itinerary in Sydney was a enough when they renamed Mount Tpleasure of meeting eminent US fascinating seminar, What is a name? Bismarck Mount Kitchener during the linguist and toponymist Bill Bright on his Reflections on onomastics held on May 2 at First World War. They forgot to rename recent visit to Australia. the Linguistics Department at the the Bismarck Track that lurks around University of Sydney. His paper took the near the foot of the mountain. Bill is the Emeritus Professor of Linguis- viewpoint of anthropological linguistics, tics and Anthropology at UCLA, and as applied especially to personal names My research has expanded my knowl- Professor Adjoint of Linguistics at the and placenames among North American edge not only of Australian history but University of Colorado, Boulder. His Indians. He raised the question as to also of places like England, Scotland, specialties include toponymy, anthropo- whether terms which embody a descrip- and Ireland. My interest in the American logical linguistics, sociolinguistics, and tion can be considered proper names; for Civil War came in handy for Alabama American Indian languages. example, whether a term meaning Gully, a name quite likely derived from a literally ‘man living by the stream’ can be spectacular naval engagement off the In the field of toponymy, he has a personal name, or whether a term French coast in 1864. authored a book on Colorado Place Names meaning ‘rock standing by the stream’ (1993), edited a special issue of the can be a placename. Grammatical I also acquired a healthy respect for 19th journal Names on American Indian peculiarities of placenames were also century surveyors and mapmakers. I had placenames (1996), revised E.G. Gudde’s considered, and examples were given access to two splendid maps by S. California Place Names (1998), and from Karuk (California), Creek (Okla- Shillinglaw of the shires of Euroa (1884) currently under production by the homa), and Nahuatl (Mexico). and Mansfield (1888). They were not University of Oklahoma Press is the only beautifully drafted, but were packed NAPUS (Native American Placenames There are already exciting plans being with details of landowners that may be of the United States) dictionary. This up- made for Bill’s return to Sydney, this of considerable value to genealogists and and-coming publication is a comprehen- time for a longer stay as a visiting fellow local historians. sive reference book in dictionary format at the ANPS project. Hope to see you on US placenames that have American soon, Bill! GNigel Sinnott Indian origins. around Sydney Harbour. Particularly On the Web valuable are the user-friendly charts and Placenames in http://www.livingharbour.net/ interactive maps on Indigenous lan- aboriginal/place_names.htm guages, clan groups and placenames. The the news site is completely searchable so make The Canberra Times (Saturday, Feburary15, The Australian Museum has a very nice your way directly to the object of your 2003) reviewed the newly published The site titled Living Harbour – Aboriginal query or simply browse. Land is a Map: Placenames of Indigenous People of Coastal Sydney. ANPS Research Origin in Australia edited by Luise Friend Val Attenbrow (Research Scien- Do you have a favourite placenames website Hercus, Jane Simpson and the ANPS’s tist, Archaeologist) has done much of the you’d like to recommend to fellow readers? own Flavia Hodges. The review praises research for the content of this site. This Send details of the URL address and a this as a “valuable text”, describing it as site features information on Sydney’s summary of its contents to Clair Hill at “another torpedo through the idea of Indigenous peoples including materials [email protected] for inclusion terra nullius, replete as it is with evidence on Indigenous placenames for localities in a future issue. of the depth of the landscape meanings and attachments…held in aboriginal societies”. Placenames Mailing List and The Sydney Morning Herald (Saturday, April ANPS Volunteer Research 5, 2003) reported on historian Keith Smith’s discovery of a list of 60 words If you’d like to join the newsletter mailing list and/or collected by three men from Cook’s HM receive information about how to become a Research Bark Endeavour 233 years ago. These records represent the first Indigenous Friend of the ANPS, please complete the form below and Australian languages recorded by the send it by post or fax, or email the details to: English. Smith believes the existence of these wordlists contradicts the usual Clair Hill description of threatening interactions ANPS between Cook’s sailors and Sydney’s Indigenous peoples, instead implying Division of Humanities some friendly meetings in those first six Macquarie University days of contact. North Ryde Sydney NSW 2109 The NSW Department of Aboriginal Fax: (02) 9850 8240 Affairs issued a press release on the 10th email: [email protected] of March 2003 to announce the launch of the newly established Aboriginal Language Research and Resource Name and/or organisation:...... Centre. Dr Andrew Refshauge said he ...... hoped this would mark the empower- ment of Aboriginal communities to ...... implement local language programs and Address: ...... the beginning of a very strong resurrec- ...... tion of Indigenous languages......

Phone: ...... Have you seen an article about placenames Fax:...... in the media which you’d like to share with email:...... our subscribers? Send a photocopy of the article and/or email details of the publica- G Please add me to the ANPS mailing list tion, date and brief summary of the article G Please send me an information package about how to to Clair Hill at [email protected] for inclusion in a future edition of Placenames become an ANPS Research Friend Australia. G Please note my change of address (as above) G Please remove me from the mailing list Answer to puzzle on previous page: The signpost is located on Norfolk Island.