“I’ve been everywhere, man … I’ve been to Wollongong, Geelong, Kurrajong, Mullumbimby, Mittagong, Molong, Grong Grong, Goondiwindi … Cabramatta, Parramatta, Wangaratta, Coolangatta; what’s it matter?”
So goes the classic Aussie song penned by Australian country singer Geoff Mack in 1959.
Whilst I definitely haven’t been everywhere I’ll be working on it this year. And I can vouch for Mr Mack’s words. Within our vast land and our Aboriginal ancestry we have some pretty bizarre place names.
There’s a place in the Northern Territory where we’re traveling mid year called Bong Bong. Apparently it translates in an Aboriginal dialect to “mosquitoes buzzing”. Ah, not exactly inspiring.
We’ve traveled to some strange sounding places. But twice? Mitta Mitta, Wagga Wagga, Baw Baw, Lang Lang, Dum Dum, Booti Booti, Colac Colac, Mundi Mundi and Nar Nar Goon. And that’s just for starters.
What’s with the double barrelled names?
There’s even a place called Woop Woop in the outback of Western Australia. That’s our slang term for “in the middle of nowhere”.
And it’s not somewhere I want to get stranded any time soon.
One of my favorite places is Yackandandah, known by the locals as Yack. A picturesque town in the valleys of the high country.
There’s a suburb in Perth called Innaloo. It was originally called Njookenbooroo but was changed as no one could spell or say it right. Can you imagine if someone asked where you lived. Innaloo.
The wacky names extend beyond the towns and cities to the islands.
There’s Christmas Island and on Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island, signs are needed along the sandy tracks to ensure that adventurers don’t get lost.
Yep, the names in Australia are as creative and as original as the slang in our language.
But our speech is free, our pubs are friendly and if we’re ever stuck out on the road I’d like to think someone will lend us a hand.
It’s a great place to live.
Close to home is Christmas Hills and Kinglake (where there’s no lake for miles) and Kangaroo Ground, (where there are plenty of kangaroos).
Further afield there’s Bobbin Head, Bald Knob, Cape Cockburn, Dicky Beach, Blow Hard, Tittybong, Shag Waterhole, Fannie Bay in Darwin and Come by Chance, to name just a few. Reads like something out of a porn movie!
There’s even an Eggs and Bacon Bay in Tasmania.
Yep, we have strange names that sometimes make little sense. But it makes traveling through them interesting and a whole lot of fun.
I’m sure most countries have their share of weird and wonderful names. Anywhere near you?
In response to Weekly Photo Challenge: Names
Wishing you all a fun, safe and happy January.
Hope you’re enjoying the journey as we travel through the start of 2017 together.
Where ever you are, buckle up, it’s gonna be a great year.
Hey Miriam! Long time no see. Hope you are doing well. I love some of those names. And that chalk board is amazing x
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Hey David, thanks. I’ve just been visiting you. Enjoying your posts. x
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So happy that you have Miriam! You are looking lovely in your photos. Good to see you smile x
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Aw, you’re so sweet. And you’ve made me smile again. x
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You have some strange names. Best i can think of is six mile bottom.
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Haha, that’s a ripper!
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Ha! Ripper!!!
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Great post, more please! Best wishes for you in 2017. 😬
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Hey John, there were so many more names I could have put in! Best wishes to you as well.
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I really like all the names, so aboriginal.
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Absolutely.
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Wonderfully strange names. I needed a good chuckle, thanks.
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Glad I could help. 😊
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Fantastic names. Someday I may just have to get on a plane to see them for myself. Great post Miriam. The photos add so much to the story.
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Thanks Ali, hope you make it over here one day.
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Shag Waterhole that is just priceless. Thanks for sharing such a great piece. I really want to visit now, just so I can say I’ve been.
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To Shag Waterhole? Haha, yeah me too!
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Hi Miriam, love this post. We sure do have some strange names and perhaps you could do one on the names of some of the Creeks around too. There are more than a few doozies there.
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Hey Barbara, that’s true. I live just down the road from Diamond Creek.
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They are unique names, and so much fun! Makes life interesting. I live in the Northeast United States, known as New England, and most of the names are straight from old England. I live in Manchester. Not far is is Coventry, Simsbury, Avon, Canterbury, blah, blah, blah. However, here in the Connecticut River Valley we do have some rivers and small towns with Native American names, but not too many. Boring!
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Nah, not boring at all! And at least it’s given me a good idea of where you live.
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What a fun post, Miriam. We do have some interesting place names. I went through the list in your opening paragraph and I’ve been to eight of the places in those lines of the song. Once, I wrote a post about amusing creek and river names and guessed at the origin of the names. It made me laugh.
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That sounds like a fun post too. We’ve got a lot of weird and wacky named waterways to choose from haven’t we?
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Here it is. https://theeternaltraveller.wordpress.com/2013/08/06/road-trip-1-whats-in-a-name/
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Thanks for the link Carol. Had a good chuckle. 🙂
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You do have some really wacky names. Fun post. 🙂
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We do indeed. Thanks Maverick.
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Great post Miriam. I think I may have driven past the first sign this week on the way to Thredbo. Love the porn paragraph. I’m not sure that I knew Woop Woop was actually a place. I usually refer to Oona Woop Woop.
Louise
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Ha, small world. You probably did drive past that sign. Are you up at Thredbo now?
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No we are back after having a couple of nights in Canberra.I will write post about our walk to Kosciuszko. I am staying put in Melbourne now. I will email you about that coffee, tonight.
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Look forward to reading your post. And having that coffee! 😊☕️
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This post was a hoot. You made me chuckle – learning so much about Australia and looking forward to your road treks.
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Thanks Bernice. Glad I made you smile. 😊
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Brilliant post. I cant even say the names. But it was funny me trying. You blog is brilliant i get to see so much of Aus.. without traveling there. What does ripper mean -not great at guessing. Great fun post
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Ripper is slang and it basically means ‘great’ or ‘brilliant’. Thanks so much Bella 😊
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Okay makes sense now.. it was a great post…still cant say the places and ripper now makes sense
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Haha, glad I could enlighten you.
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This reminded me of home! 🙂 I grew up in Florida where many towns and rivers have Native American names… Immokalee, Apalachicola, Caloosahatchee, Withlacoochee, and Loxahatchee to name a few.
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Whoah, those are some seriously hard names to pronounce. 🙂
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Love this post Miriam. Some names are really weird but they are unique in a way.
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Yep, weird and whacky. Thanks Arlene.
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Aussie names sure are eclectic. So many that I still can’t pronounce even now. Thanks for sharing and bringing back some good memories. How long til the red centre trip?
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Not until mid June so still plenty of time for dreaming and planning (and saving up). How’s Rhys?
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He is well, he is changing every day and making new noises and ‘filling out’ as my mum calls it. We on the other hand are a little worse for wear, as Megan has an infection and I have a touch of sciatic nerve issues… but we are coping. May have to live vicariously this year 🙂
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Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. The early months are often such a challenge for us parents. But hang in there, these tough days and nights will pass and he’ll grow so quickly. Before you know it you’ll be planning your first family trip together. All the best. x
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Thats the dream…
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LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this post – Tumbarumba is up on the signpost!!!! Your summation of all the weird and wonderful Aussie names is brilliant. Great read!!
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Haha, thanks Deb. How could I leave out a sign on Tumbarumba, it’s such a great name, not to mention a fantastic place to visit.
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You must come and visit!
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I’d love to! Next time we pass through.
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We have a few over here, too. Jackie’s local favourites are the pub ‘The Fighting Cocks’ just up the road from Sandy Balls and Burnt Bottom
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Haha, love it. I bet they serve a few nice rumps there.
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🙂
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Great post. We often chuckle as we pass through towns and think how on earth did it get this name! Gotta love Australia.
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Absolutely. We have some weird sounding places. Thanks Glenys.
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I love those names! Is there any reason Australia has so many interesting and quirky names for its towns? Here in the States we have some different ones, but no where nearly as fun and creative as the ones you mentioned!
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Not really sure Ann. The Aborigines have a very unique language with lots of colorful words so who knows. Then again maybe the early explorers drank too much moonshine and wanted to get creative!
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That is a definite possibility!
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Miriam, a wonderful celebration of the unusual place names! I love your vast selection and found myself trying to pronounce some whilst reading – probably not right at all! Yorkshire has a brilliant variety of unusual names which I took as ‘normal’ growing up there but became aware of when visiting with my husband and son. ‘Blubberhouses’ and ‘Ramsbottom’ are two examples. Also, the pronunciation of ‘Keighley’ always used to throw them – as in Keithley.
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Love your examples here Annika. We have friends with the surname.Keighery, similar to the name you mentioned. It’s amazing what you take for granted growing up before realising it’s not the norm.
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Probably one of the best ones I can think of is a place in Oregon. Boring, Oregon, named after an actual family. And, ahem…we used to live there…. Love your collection. ❤
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Thanks Karen.
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A town near me is called Mattoon…. when we moved here, with our broad Scottish accents whenever we mentioned Mattoon to any friends or relations backhome in Scotland would assume we were talking about ‘My town’… Ma toon 😉
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Haha, I’m just saying it out loud myself to hear how it must have sounded. Yep, I can get that!
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Innaloo! Sounds like a crappy place!😉
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Almost as crappy as Poowong! 😏
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Is that like lottapaper?
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Yep, pretty shitty hey? 😏
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Ewww!
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Exactly 😑
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Don’t forget Yorkey’s Knob and last week we found Bet Bet Betley Road that’s a good one for a stutterer.
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Haha, or after a few drinks.
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Yackandandah has always been one of my favourites along with Come by Chance.
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I’ve never actually been to Come by Chance. Maybe one day.
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I am smiling as i read this….i enjoyed fun facts about unusual names of places..it might be time for me to check out ours too.
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Go for it Mich. 😊
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Looking forward to march. I feel like I’m going to photograph everything lol.
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Yep, you probably will!
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Brilliant post to start my ‘fun’ journey today.. I’m buckled up and ready.. where are we off to? We could meet up in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch – a lovely little village on the Island of Anglesey in Wales and a regular ‘camping stop’ for us ….. about 2 hours drive for me.. If you set off now you may make it by Spring when the weather is warming up!
Alternatively… it may have to be me travelling to Tittybong’ or .. I do love ‘egg and bacon’!!
Have a lovely evening and I’ll see you ‘somewhere’ soon xx
ps – I’m intrigued… who are the kids going to ‘waltz with’ (cut off the bottom of the sign)….
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Oh Wendy, you make me laugh. Right, OK, we’re off to Liamfairipwllgwatchamacallit or we’ll meet up in Egg and Bacon Bay, haha! By the way, the kids are going to Waltz with Matilda (have you heard our iconic song?)
Happy hump day. 😊 xo
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Hahaha – thank goodness that little mystery is solved. No I haven’t hear it and will be doing a search for ‘happy hump day’ …. sounds like the perfect song..haha! I can now genuinely go around to all I come across and say Happy Hump Day.. may have to become my new mantra!
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Oh Wendy, seems I’m introducing you to lots of out Aussie slang lingo as well as my own silliness. 😊
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As they say her in Manchester – ‘top banana’ .. good on ya Miriam.. I always wanted to learn a second language.. hehe! x
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I’m learning one too. “Top banana”… love it! x
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Hehe! You’re one ‘top banana’ Miriam! xx
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I’m laughing here 😄
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hahahahhaha – We sent our ‘laughter’ comments in unison! so there we have it – laughing together on opposite sides of the world.. What an amazing connection!! xx
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Love it! xo
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Me too! I needed a chinwag with a pal and a laugh! Oh how we’d ‘belly laugh’ if we were face to face! x
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Oh we would, I have no doubt.
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xx
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laughing more now I’ve just re-read and noticed your new version of Llanfair… Yours is definitely the Aussie Version haha.. not sure what the Welsh would make of it though… chuckling loudly!! x
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The Welsh would probably not be impressed! Yep, like I said, that was me being a bit silly and tongue in cheek. Was that really a fair dinkum name? x
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Haha – we’ll keep it secret and won’t tell anybody from Wales then … hahahahah!! That really is a name – I think it may be the longest place name in Britain.. so yep – it’s a ‘fair dinkum name’ … still doesn’t match up to Egg n Bacon though.. or some of those ‘porno’ towns you’ve got.. those were hilarious! x
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Oh yeah, and they were just the tip of the iceberg! When I started researching I realised I could have written an entire erotic novel, hehe. 😜
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You said you were looking for that ‘something else’ …maybe that’s it Miriam… erotic novelist! haha x
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Now I’m really laughing. I’d have to write under a pseudonym! xo Then again, maybe it’s not such a bad idea, haha. 😜
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Bet you’d make a fortune Miriam and you’d have to come to Manchester for your book signings! x
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That’s it! I’m starting on my book today!
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Maybe we should ‘collaborate’ on that book Miriam … I’m going to be the first ‘purchaser’ – Can’t wait to see you here .. hehehe!
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Talk about creativity with naming places…I for sure would definitely have a hard time remembering haha! But I love how they sounded…😊
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We have so many great names, it was lots of fun putting this one together. 😊 Thanks Nina.
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Yep! It definitely is fun reading them aloud! 😊
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This cracked me up! I don’t think I’ve ever been somewhere that would compete with these names. Nope. Can’t think of one. 🙂
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Smiling here Nikki. What can I say, we live in a strange country.
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Yes you do…lucky duck! Shared in my Posts of Note 🙂
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Aw thanks Nik, I’ll check it out in a tick.
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This was an incredibly cool post. Not only in content, but in execution. We have a place nearby called Rutherfordton, but it’s pronounced ROOF-ur-tun. Also, there’s a mountain town called Cullowhee. We also have places called Lizard Lick, Whynot and Climax.
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Haha, great names Eli. I was saying them all out loud and by the time I got to the end was having a good chuckle.
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What a fun post, Miriam! I remember the names in Australia being really interesting 🙂 (Traveled across the country at one point, which was quite educational). I wish you a beautiful year of travel…full of healing, grace, peace, and so many blessings!
Have a great rest of your week, and I’m so glad that I saw this. Love, Debbie ps – hugs to you. xo
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Thanks Debbie, glad you enjoyed it. Must’ve brought back a few memories for you perhaps. Enjoy your week as well. Hugs back xo
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Thanks, Miriam. Have a great weekend!! 🙂
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You too Debbie. xo
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Well I have to admit, those names really will win some awards 🙂
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They’re pretty unique aren’t they?
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Absolutely 🙂
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Great post for names, Miriam. I’d love to repost this on my blog. 🙂
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Feel free Marsha, I’d be honored.
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Great, then I will schedule it for the 19th US time. 🙂 Thank you so much, Miriam. 🙂
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My pleasure. That’s the day before my son’s birthday. 🙂 I’ll look forward to it.
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Awesome. My stepson’s is the 28th. 😀😀
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I just included a link to this in my latest post for the weekly photo challenge! Love it.
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Oh, awesome, thanks Debbie. I’ll have to go check it out.
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A lovely post, Miriam, with so many delightful Aussie names 🙂
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Thanks Ruth. We have some beauties for sure.
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You do have some special names down under, don’t you. I wouldn’t even try to pronounce most of them.
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Haha, almost like another language.
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What a fun post! I didn’t think it was possible to want to visit Australia even more… but now I do! Where I’m from, the Native American place names are just hard for non-locals to pronounce. They aren’t nearly as fun. 🙂
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Come and visit! 😊
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Thanks! If I ever make it your way, I will be sure to let you know!
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That would be great.
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What a fun post! Bet you could publish this in a travel magazine!
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Hmm, that’s not such a bad idea … 😏
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You have a gift, girl. Share it with the world!
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Aw, thanks Jess. I’m trying.
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You’re doing it! I just mean book form!!
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Oh yeah I know. 😊
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❤️
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Tick for you – you mentioned Tasmania 🙂 we have some good names down here too – Flowerpot, Nook, Nowhere Else, Ouse, Squeaking Point, Doo Town and Tomahawk are just some of them.
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Oh, you’re from Tassie! Great place and yes, you do have some fun names, I love Doo Town. 😄Can’t wait to get down there again.
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Yeah, the best part of Tassie, mind the Huon Valley. 🙂
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Aah, the Huon Valley, Beautiful! (Again, I just found this in my Spam folder Claudette).
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love your post! We live near yack, and they now have a sign as you drive in it just says #Yackandandah, always makes me laugh now the historic town with a hashtag. lol
if you have been to Mitt Mitta, then i guess you seen Tangambalanga? visitors to our area can never say that one.
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Hey Jess, great to meet you! I’ll have to look out for that #Yackandandah sign next time we pass. How funny is that! And yeah I have been to Mitta Mitta … love it round there. You live in a beautiful part of Vic.
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Thank you I’m from the king valley up near Mt buffalo. its a beautiful part of the world.
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Oh my! We were just up there there at Easter. It’s gorgeous up there. And on the Australia Day long weekend we camped at Gentle Annie at Whitfield.
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haha yes i went to Whitfield primary school. let me know if you ever need a camping spot up that way we have river frontage at Bennies Roseriver.
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That sounds great, thanks. Well, you never know … one day we might meet.
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Thanks for the link and smiles Miriam. Those double names are fun and could make a silly song; like Wagga Wagga, Dum Dum, Booti Booti! 😋
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They sure could Brad! Keep happy my friend. 😊
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