Cheeky Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane maps with brutal suburb nicknames go viral

Peak Australian humour or offensive? These maps of Aussie cities using local nicknames for suburbs have taken social media by storm.

Maps of Australian cities using local – often uncomplimentary – nicknames for suburbs have taken social media by storm.

Created by social linguist Topher Agar, the maps of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth are being celebrated and picked apart.

On the Melbourne map there is commonly known nicknames like Franga for Frankston, Nazza Wazza for Narre Warren, and Chaddy for Chadstone.

More controversially, Brighton has been branded Shiteton, Elwood as Hellwood, and St Kilda as Stink Kilda.

Croydon has become Crimedon, Trashwood replaced Ashwood, Craigieburn is now Crazyburn, Sunbury is Scumbury, Caroline Springs is Criminal Springs, and Altona is Smelltona.

Sydney has been named both Sydders and Shitney, with places like Insular Peninsula on the Northern Beaches, Blond Dye for the famous Bondi, Scarylands for Merrylands, and Scamden for Camden.

Melbourne aka “Melbs”. Picture: Topher Aga

In Brisbane aka Brissy, Redlands became Deadlands and Logan became Bogan City.

While some have criticised some of the more cheeky names or claimed they had “never heard of them”, most applauded the creativity and suggested additions.

“Possibly the best map I’ve ever seen in my life,” one person said of the Sydney map.

“This is the most accurate map I’ve ever seen!” agreed another.

“I actually can’t stop laughing with how accurate these are,” said a third.

Sydney aka “Sydders”. Picture: Topher Aga

“Funny because I actually call half of these places these names,” wrote one Melburnian.

“Australian humour alive and well,” commented another.

The biggest divide the maps have appeared to create between people is those disagreeing over what uncomplimentary name is most accurate.

“Baysie is polite,” one person said of Melbourne’s Bayswater. “It’s usually bongwater for Bayswater and bongronia or boagronia for Boronia.”

“Well the Redcliffe ones need correction. Scabs should be scarbs or scarby,” one person said about Brisbane’s Scarborough.

“The Logan Hyperdome is actually referred to as the Bogandome – far more efficient label,” added another.

Brisbane aka “Brissy”. Picture: Topher Aga

Surprisingly, the creator of the maps is actually from New Zealand and is now based in Japan. He has only visited Australia but does have family in Melbourne.

Topher Agar told news.com.au he makes similar maps for countries across the world.

“I also make maps of alternative language scenarios, such as how the map of the UK might look if the Anglo-Saxons had spoken French/Italian/Spanish etc.,” he said.

With Australia, he started with Melbourne and Sydney because they were “clearly the richest in terms of colloquial toponymy”.

Mr Agar sourced the nicknames through Reddit, Facebook groups, Twitter and Google.

He said reactions to the maps had been “very interesting” and particularly positive in Melbourne.

“People’s attitudes to nicknames is something I feel would be worth studying in itself,” he said.

“Different areas/countries seem to react very differently, and correspondingly have a very different relationship with nicknames and slang.

“For instance Spain is very much into such, but Portugal not at all. Sweden loves their local nicknames, Norway denies they even exist.

“There can be a lot of pride and emotion tied up to them too, so I’ve also had some violently negative reactions. Melbourne has been very positive.”

He noted that nicknames are used by “particular in-groups” and some groups might be unaware of other groups’ use of language.

The maps can be purchased online.