A list of some of the bizarre, unusual, and funny Australian city and place names. Some can be classified as a little “dirty”, some plain weird, and some with a story to tell, but no matter what, they are sure to give you a laugh, and maybe you’ll even want to go there and check the place out! So, we’ve added a link to Google Maps just in case you are as crazy and cooky as we are.
Banana
State: QLD – Google Map
Located south of Rockhampton, it’s well known for its beef cattle but sadly no bananas as far as the eye can see!
Binnaway
State: NSW – Google Map
I bet no one forgets to!
Boing Boing
State: NT – Google Map
Meaning “mosquitoes buzzing” in Aboriginal.
Bong Bong
State: NSW – Google Map
An Aboriginal phrase meaning ‘Out of Sight’.
Boyland
State: QLD – Google Map
Popular place with teenage girls and it’s where all the boy bands are manufactured, no really.
Broke
State: NSW – Google Map
Who wants to go? If electricity and groceries keep going up we’ll all be there soon enough. Luckily, Broke is a wonderful wine-growing region in the beautiful Hunter Valley.
Burpengary
State: QLD – Google Map
Meaning the ‘place of the wattle trees’, apparently not named after some guy called Gary with excessive stomach gas.
Burrumbuttock
State: NSW – Google Map
According to locals, Burrumbuttock means ‘bullock’s backbone’
Chinaman’s Knob
State: VIC – Google Map
Name of a hill in Victoria, stop thinking.
Chinkapook
State: VIC – Google Map
Means ‘waterhole’, otherwise would be a great name for an Aussie version of Pokemon
Christmas Island
State: – Google Map
Home of Australia’s detention centre for illegal immigrants, Merry Christmas!
Cock Wash
State: SA – Google Map
There’s also a creek of the same name… It might pay to not drink the water, just in case.
Cockburn
State: WA – Google Map
Named in honour of Vice Admiral Sir George Cockburn.
Coffin Bay
State: SA – Google Map
Named after Vice Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin.
Come By Chance
State: NSW – Google Map
Wouldn’t plan on going there.
Delicate Nobby
State: NSW – Google Map
A popular tourist destination.
Diapur
State: VIC – Google Map
A place to go when you’ve got the..?
Dismal Swamp
State: TAS – Google Map
As named by the surveyor who had a less than enjoyable time in the area!
Dog Swamp
State: WA – Google Map
woof woof, bubble bubble…
Doo Town
State: TAS – Google Map
A place of action!
Dunedoo
State: NSW – Google Map
Pronounced ‘dunny-doo’, so you make up your own funny meme with that one.
Eggs and Bacon Bay
State: TAS – Google Map
You’d be disappointed if they didn’t serve a great brekky at the local cafe.
Foul Bay
State: SA – Google Map
Apparently, a much nicer place than the name implies, and how can you go wrong when it’s just down the road from Tiddy Widdy Beach!
Gingin
State: WA – Google Map
The Aboriginal meaning is “place of many streams”.
Gooloogong
State: NSW – Google Map
In the small town, there are apparently about 250 Gooloogongians!
Goonoo Goonoo
State: NSW – Google Map
Pronounced “gunna g’noo”.
Grong Grong
State: NSW – Google Map
Meaning ‘poor camping ground’.
Humpty Doo
State: NT – Google Map
Home of a boxing croc.
Humpybong
State: QLD – Google Map
Humpybong means “dead shelters” in Aboriginal.
Innaloo
State: WA – Google Map
Innaloo is the name of an Aboriginal woman of the Dongara region. Sadly it has nothing to do with being in a loo!
Koolyanobbing
State: WA – Google Map
Aboriginal name meaning ‘large hard rocks’.
Manangatang
State: VIC – Google Map
Aboriginal word meaning land and water.
Mangalore
State: VIC – Google Map
It’s Mang-alore not Man galore girls!!
Mooball
State: NSW – Google Map
Make sure you visit the Moo Moo Cafe if driving by!
Moolooloo
State: NT – Google Map
Aboriginal for ‘slippery ridges’.
Mount Buggery
State: VIC – Google Map
Bugger, it’s a mountain!
Nar Nar Goon
State: VIC – Google Map
From the aboriginal word for koala.
Nowhere Else
State: TAS – Google Map
There is also a place called Nowhere Else in SA as well, so, there is somewhere else called Nowhere Else!
Orange
State: NSW – Google Map
And what do they grow there in abundance? Apples of course!
Ozenkadnook
State: VIC – Google Map
Means “very fat kangaroo” in Aboriginal.
Pimpinbudgie
State: QLD – Google Map
South of Kingaroy on the way to Toowoomba.
Poowong
State: VIC – Google Map
From the Aboriginal word for “carrion” or “putrefaction”.
Rooty Hill
State: NSW – Google Map
Disappointingly, the name refers to roots exposed in fields around the hill following floods.
Smiggin Holes
State: NSW – Google Map
Popular ski resort that got its Scottish name from pools formed in rocks by cattle.
The End of the World
State: TAS – Google Map
The westernmost point of Tasmania.
Tittybong
State: VIC – Google Map
If you’re looking, it’s just north of Teddywaddy.
Tom Ugly
State: NSW – Google Map
Named after an Aboriginal man who apparently wasn’t ugly at all.
Upotipotpon
State: VIC – Google Map
A place halfway between Nalinga and Violet Town in Victoria.
Useless Loop
State: WA – Google Map
They mine salt there so it can’t be all that useless!
Vite Vite
State: VIC – Google Map
Vite Vite is near Pura Pura and Nerrin Nerrin in South Western Victoria.
Wagga Wagga
State: NSW – Google Map
The aboriginal meaning is ‘the place of many crows’.
Watanobbi
State: NSW – Google Map
Has the meaning ‘ Hills surrounded by water”.
Wee Waa
State: NSW – Google Map
The Aboriginal meaning of Wee Waa is “Fire for Roasting”.
Wineglass Bay
State: TAS – Google Map
Stunningly beautiful location!
Wonglepong
State: QLD – Google Map
Wonglepong, possibly meaning “forgotten sound” in the language of the local Aboriginal tribe, Shout out if you know more.
Woodie Woodie
State: WA – Google Map
A woodie can be handy at the right time but Woodie Woodie is in fact home to a Manganese mine.
Woolloomooloo
State: NSW – Google Map
An Aboriginal name meaning young kangaroo, super cute if you ask me.
Xantippe
State: WA – Google Map
Australia’s only place name beginning with “X” is named after the wife of the philosopher Socrates.
Yackandandah
State: VIC – Google Map
A small village on the other side of Bogan Gate.
Yorkeys Knob
State: QLD – Google Map
Named after a fisherman from Yorkshire, George Yorkey Lawson.
And there you have it, you wonderful people, that’s our list of funny place names in Australia. If you live in any of these places and we have offended you in some way, don’t forget that we love you, but please be sure to go onto Facebook and post something vitriolic anyway 🙂 🙂
Rod Charles was born in Australia and has traveled the country by car, van and by rail, exploring the endless wonders the nation offers. Otherwise, he spends his time curating wonderful things to share with everyone, and that surely is another step in the right direction of making this world a better place for us all. Enjoy the wonder folks!
He also enjoys bush walks, 4WD adventures, fishing, camping, and hiking, and likes to mix it up with explorations in the urban jungle, especially around Sydney and Melbourne with the odd trip to the Gold Coast.