Eamon Evans

I have long been intrigued by weird names whether they peoples’ names or place names I don’t mind. Often times weird place names have a logical explanation behind their origin and not just a name that was made up for the sake of it. Mount Buggery is a book that celebrates and explains the origins of some of the weird place names we have in Australia. This is not an exhaustive account of all the weird place names in Australia otherwise it would be a much bigger book than it is already. In spite of its size there are many different interesting place names to be divulged. The chapters are labelled according to which Australian State is going to be focussed on. Before reading about the different place names the reader is provided with a bit of background about the state providing some interesting facts. However, if the reader omits reading this section it doesn’t detract of the rest of the chapter. The place names are then organised alphabetically making reading easier as you can read about whatever name piques your curiosity at the time. Within each chapter you’ll also have some information about the capital city of each state.

Some obscure names include Doganabuganaram (NSW), Boomahnoomoonah (Vic), Webya Downs (Qld), Koonthaparee (Tas), and Cyanide Swamp (WA) just to name a few. This is a very easy and fun read providing facts (what some make see as useless facts) without enormous amount of information to get bogged down in. I would highly recommend this book to pretty well anyone. If people wish to read this to young children this is possible as places with names that parents’ feel aren’t appropriate for their young ears they can easily avoid those ones until they’re much older.… (altro)

If you like strange place names and ever wonder how towns, cities, streets and places get their names, then Mount Buggery to Nowhere Else - The Stories Behind Australia's Weird and Wonderful Place Names by Eamon Evans is for you.

Organised by state and then alphabetically by place name (which is handy), this is a light-hearted look at place names in Australia and their origin and history.

Written in a laid back and casual style, Evans tries to bring humour to every page and occasionally it falls flat. At times it felt as though he were writing a book to appeal to Dads for Father's Day; often mentioning place names like Wanka Creek (QLD), Mount Breast and Mount Little Dick (VIC) for a laugh or shock value but without an accompanying story behind their weird names.

Contained amongst these were the more interesting entries that ignited curiosity, like Haunted Bay and Hell's Gates in Tasmania, Cannibal Creek in Queensland or Coffin Bay and Dead Mans Pass in South Australia. Some of their origins were fascinating, others unexpected, but all in all they were entertaining and informative.

Here's a few of the aboriginal place names and meanings:

Nimbin in New South Wales means 'a very small man', page 53
Jinnerbeeker in Western Australia means 'bad feet', page 191
Oodnadatta in South Australia means 'smelly water', page 233

My favourite place name in the book was - unsurprisingly - a place called Bookmark in South Australia. Mentioned on page 218, Evans tells us the name is a 'slightly odd corruption of 'pukumako', meaning 'flintstone axe'. Now that's interesting!

Mount Buggery to Nowhere Else is recommended reading for those with an interest in Australian geography and history and place names (obviously). If you enjoy base humour, that's great, but if you don't, just skip those entries to get to the good stuff.

* Copy courtesy of Hachette Australia *… (altro)