What Victorian town, locality names mean in Indigenous languages

Indigenous languages are used widely, every day, by us all through the names of towns and localities. Discover the stories behind the locations.

Many Victorian towns and places have names derived from Indigenous languages.

Reel off a bunch of towns from Victoria, and it is likely that you will have used an Indigenous language.

While increasingly the Indigenous names for features and landmarks are being recognised alongside names given by European settlers — such as with the Grampians/Gariwerd — the names of many of Victoria’s towns and places are already derived from Indigenous languages.

From Benalla (big waterholes, or musk duck) to Ballarat (resting place, or reclining on the elbow), Tooradin (bunyip) to Wonthaggi (drag, pull along), the list is extensive.

Professor Ian Clark from Federation University completed his PhD in Aboriginal historical geography at Monash University in 1992 and spent years researching and publishing on these topics, including the Dictionary of Aboriginal Placenames of Victoria in 2002, published by Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages.

He says in the mid-1800s Victorian district surveyors were asked to talk to local Indigenous people and together they assembled word lists and place name lists right across the state, whileMajor Thomas Mitchell when he was Surveyor General of NSW, directed surveyors to use Aboriginal place names where they were able to discover them.

So, there is a lot of information out there to use to try to trace meanings and translations. Some place names are directly adapted from Indigenous languages, while others are Anglicised forms, such as Cherrypool near Halls Gap which was taken from djarabul.

He adds, however, that sometimes meanings have been “lost in time” or there is not enough surviving knowledge of a language to know for sure.

Then, there are the cases borne from confusion or misunderstandings between a European and Indigenous person, which some linguists have dubbed “nonsense names”.

“For example, imagine a surveyorwith an Aboriginal person pointing to a mountain in the distance, pointing with their hand, and they say ‘what is that?’ what is your name for that?’” Prof Clark said.

“Sometimes the person said the Aboriginal word for ‘I don’t know’, and that was recorded as the place name for that mountain.

“The other time the person has pointed to a mountain using a hand or finger ... and they’ve said ‘hand’ or ‘finger’ because they’ve looked at the hand or finger, not what was being pointed to.

“And the other interesting thing they’ve pointed to a mountain and the Indigenous person has simply given them the general word for mountain or lake, not the name for that lake … for example Lake Bolac, south of Ararat, Bolac is buluk which means ‘lake’. So it actually may not be what was that lake called ... because buluk was a generic word for lake. The English name ‘Lake Bolac’ literally means ‘lake lake’.”

Prof Clark says some translations that have stuck with him, for various reasons, was a body of water near Colac whose name meant ‘dog’s urine’ — “in other words, don’t drink it, it’s not good to drink, it tastes like dog’s pee” — and an Indigenous name for McKenzie Falls, which meant ‘where the black fish can climb no higher’.

Over time, the understanding and translations of some of place names have changed. For example, is it now widely accepted that Geelong comes from djilang, the Wadawurrung word meaning “tongue of the land”, but it has been given other translations at times.

Prof Clark claims some earlier publications of place names came from analysis that “aren’t authoritative”.

“You just can’t rely on their interpretations, because sometimes they’ve tried to make sense of a Victorian place name by looking at place names from other states. That’s not going to be a very fruitful exercise generally.”

Below is a list of some of Victoria’s placenames that are in use today which are believed to have derived from the Indigenous languages. It is not definitive, nor exhaustive. Some are translations that are well-known, which Clark’s research supports (which is indicated with an asterisk). Others are simply popularly known and quoted.

“It is important that we know what our local Indigenous place names are and try uncover what they might mean,” Prof Clark said.

“That is distinctively Australian, that separates and distinguishes us from everywhere else in the world.”

Albacutya, Lake

Wimmera-Mallee, near Rainbow

bitter quandongs*

Areegra

Wimmera-Mallee, near Warracknabeal

possibly boxtree blossoms

Bangerang

Wimmera-Mallee, near Warracknabeal

name of local tribe

Banyenong

Wimmera-Mallee, near Donald

(banye) burning of roots and stumps, (nong) the past*

Baw Baw

Gippsland

bandicoot or ghost; possibly echo

Beeac

Western, near Colac

personal name*

Bemm River

Gippsland

fish hawk or from local Indigenous group*

Benalla

North East

big waterholes or musk duck*

Benambra

Gippsland, near Omeo

hills with big trees

Bengworden

Gippsland, near Bairnsdale

second

Berrigan

Riverina

native shrub, or place of quails

Bet Bet

Central, near Dunolly

flint or quartz*

Birregurra

Western, near Colac

kangaroo camp*

Boigbeat

Wimmera-Mallee, near Wycheproof

previously translated broken tree; more recently, from Boigbeal (beal meaning red gum)*

Bonang

Gippsland

breathing

Bonegilla

North East, near Wodonga

previously translated deep water hold or big cattle camp; more recently, small island(s)*

Boolarra

Gippsland, near Morwell

plenty*

Booroopki

Wimmera-Mallee, near Goroke

hair

Boree Creek

Riverina

weeping myall tree

Borung

Wimmera-Mallee, near Wedderburn

previously translated broad-leafed Mallee scrub; more recently, night*

Boulka

Wimmera-Mallee, near Ouyen

gum tree fringe by lake

Boyeo

Wimmera-Mallee, near Nhill

ghost or fearsome object

Brit Brit

Western, near Balmoral

plovers*

Buchan

Gippsland, near Lakes Entrance

bag there, or place of the bag*

Buckrabanyule

Wimmera-Mallee, near Charlton

middle of three hills — legendary home of great snake Myndie*

Bungalally

Wimmera-Mallee, near Horsham

very good

Bunyip

Gippsland, near Longwarry

(banib) black amphibious monster*

Byaduk

Western, near Hamilton

stone tomahawk*

Carag Carag

Central, near Stanhope

magpie*

Carapook

Western, near Casteron

hill*

Carwarp

Wimmera-Mallee, near Red Cliffs

bend in Murray River

Challambra

Wimmera-Mallee, near Warracknabeal

sit or recline

Cohuna

Central, near Echuca

native companion or brolga*

Colac

Western

sand*

Congupna

Central, near Shepparton

perch*

Coolamon

Riverina

wooden vessel

Corryong

North East

previously translated red clay or possum skin belt; more recently, a bandicoot*

Cowangie

Wimmera-Mallee, near Ouyen

white mist or fog

Cowwarr

Gippsland, near Heyfield

high mountain*

Cudgewa

North East

kangaroo skin*

Cullulleraine

Wimmera-Mallee, near Mildura

neat

Dargo

Gippsland

to have patience*

Darraweit Guim

Central, near Romsey

a specific bend in Deep Creek from where you can see Mt Macedon

Deddick

Gippsland

youngest brother

Dederang

North East

hailstones

Drik Drik

Western, near Portland

limestone, lime*

Echuca

Central

meeting of waters

Elliminyt

Western, near Colac

steep rise

Gannawarra

Central, near Swan Hill

swan*

Gatum

Western, near Balmoral

boomerang*

Geelong

Western

previously translated place of cliff, white seabird, swamp; more recently, tongue*

Gelantipy

Gippsland

different tribe

Girgarre

Central, near Kyabram

red earth*

Goon Nure

Gippsland

native companion

Goongerah

Gippsland

snake

Gorae

Western, near Portland

Indigenous name of local creek

Grong Grong

Riverina

bad camping ground

Gunbower

Central, bear Cohuna

twisting or tortuous — possibly in reference to creek*

Jeparit

Wimmera-Mallee

small beard or place for small birds

Jindivick

Gippsland

destroy or use up*

Jingellic

North East

possibly one water

Jumbuk

Gippsland

sheep*

Kamarooka

Central, near Bendigo

wait a while

Kardella

Gippsland

possum*

Kongwak

Gippsland

catching

Koo Wee Rup

Gippsland

wirap meaning blackfish*

Korumburra

Gippsland

blowfly*

Kotta

Central, near Echuca

mouth*

Laanecoorie

Central, near Dunolly

home of the kangaroo*

Lang Lang

Gippsland

previously translated as group of trees; more recently, stones or stony*

Leongatha

Gippsland

liang means teeth*

Longerenong

Wimmera-Mallee

the dividing of the waters*

Marlo

Gippsland

white pipe clay*

Marungi

Central, near Numurkah

Murray pine

Meatian

Wimmera-Mallee, near Swan Hill

moon

Meeniyan

Gippsland

moon*

Merrigum

Central, near Kyabram

small plain*

Mia Mia

Central, near Heathcote

camp or dwelling*

Mininera

Western, near Lake Bolac

mosquito

Minmindie

Central, near Kerang

mindai the maned snake — supposed to be the place Mindye was seen*

Mirboo

Gippsland

kidney fat*

Mitiamo

Central, near Pyramid Hill

follow behind me*

Mitta Mitta River

North East

from reeds called modunga*

Mokepilly

Western, near Stawell

only a few trees

Moyhu

North East

possibly related to meyrrheu (wind)

Mumbannar

Western, near Dartmoor

previously translated as hand; more recently, mum means bottom*

Myamyn

Western, near Portland

previously translated meeting place or camp; more recently, hut or house*

Nambrok

Gippsland

black possum

Nanneella

Central, near Echuca

name of local creek

Nar Nar Goon

Gippsland

native bear

Narrandera

North East

place of lizards

Narrawong

Western, near Portland

long river

Nayook

Gippsland

white cockatoo*

Neerim

Gippsland

previously translated war spear; more recently, scrub

Noojee

Gippsland

contentment

Nowa Nowa

Gippsland

hill of black stones or rising sun; possibly reference to local creek

Nyora

Gippsland

wild cherry tree

Patchewollock

Wimmera-Mallee, near Hopetoun

plenty of porcupine grass

Patho

Central, near Cohuna

lagoon*

Pimpinio

Wimmera-Mallee, near Horsham

man squatting on his heels

Pirron Yallock

Western, near Colac

cold creek*

Pittong

Western, near Linton

father

Pomborneit

Western, near Camperdown

extinguish

Poolaijelo

Western, near Dergholm

presumably derives from Indigenous name for two swamps nearby

Poorneet

Western, near Colac

tadpole

Poowong

Gippsland

carrion or putrification

Taggerty

North East

blue clay

Tallangatta

North East

many kurrajong trees*

Tallygaroopna

Central, near Shepparton

large tree or trees

Tambo

Gippsland

perch (fish)*

Tandarra

Central, near Bendigo

camp here

Tatyoon

Western, near Lake Bolac

water*

Tawonga

North East

firestick

Tinamba

Gippsland

pull my toe

Tooborac

Central, near Heathcote

name of large hill*

Toolamba

Central, near Shepparton

small lagoon lined with paperbarks

Toongabbie

Gippsland

place near water*

Toora

Gippsland

instruction to woman to mind fire

Tooradin

Gippsland, near Koo Wee Rup

(tooroodun) bunyip*

Torrumbarry

Central, near Echuca

possibly named after Aboriginal woman Turandurey

Tynong

Gippsland

plenty of fish

Urana

Riverina

a quail flapping its wings in flight

Vite Vite

Western, near Derrinallum

wading birds

Wallaloo

Wimmera-Mallee, near Horsham

wallaroo or mountain wallaby

Walpeup

Wimmera-Mallee, near Ouyen

previously translated a body sore; more recently walpa meaning to burn*

Wangaratta

North East

believed by some to mean cormorant’s resting place

Wantabadgery

Riverina

place where a fight occurred

Warragul

Gippsland

wild or savage or wild dingo*

Watchupga

Wimmera-Mallee, near Birchip

hop bush*

Whorouly

North East

black or red cockatoo

Widgiewa

Riverina

what do you want?

Wingeel

Western, near Inverleigh

(bundjil) eaglehawk or the creator spirit*

Wodonga

North East

from an edible plant or nut*

Wombelano

Western, near Harrow

love, beautiful*

Wonthaggi

Gippsland

drag or to pull along*

Woohlpooer

Western, near Cavendish

to burn fiercely*

Wool Wool

Western, near Colac

blue sky

Woomelang

Wimmera-Mallee, near Hopetoun

poor or miserable*

Wulgulmerang

Gippsland

possibly derived from wulgongo (which way) and murrung (eagle or hawk)

Wurdiboluc

Western, near Winchelsea

large lake*

Wychitella

Central, near Charlton

rush-like plant; witji meaning basket grass*

Yackandandah

North East

previously translated country of hills or rock and waterhole; more recently, yackan meaning something extraordinary*

Yallourn

Gippsland

ever-burning; tray of plaited grass

Yanakie

Gippsland

small*

Yarram

Gippsland

waterholes*

Yarrawonga

North East

where wonga pigeon nested

Yarroweyah

Central, near Cobram

gum tree growing in water

Yeerip

Central, near Yarrawonga

ironbark*

Yinnar

Gippsland

woman

Youanmite

Central, near Katamatite

yawang meaning hill*

Yulecart

Western, near Hamilton

Indigenous name given to Grange homestead

Yuulong

Western, near Lavers Hill

high hill