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Mount Buggery to Nowhere Else
The stories behind Australia's many, many strange, inappropriate and downright hilarious place names.
From Dismal Swamp to Useless Loop, Intercourse Island to Dead Mans Gully, Mount Buggery to Nowhere Else, Australia has some of the strangest, funniest, weirdest and most out-of-place names going - now described and explained in one humorous and fascinating book.
Australia's vast spaces and irreverent, larrikin history have given us some of the best place names in the world. Ranging from the less than positive (Linger and Die Hill, NSW), to the indelicate (Scented Knob, WA), the idiotic (Eggs and Bacon Bay, TAS) to the inappropriate and the just plain fascinating, Mount Buggery To Nowhere Else is a toponymical journey through this nation of weird and wonderful places.
From Dismal Swamp to Useless Loop, Intercourse Island to Dead Mans Gully, Mount Buggery to Nowhere Else, Australia has some of the strangest, funniest, weirdest and most out-of-place names going - now described and explained in one humorous and fascinating book.
Australia's vast spaces and irreverent, larrikin history have given us some of the best place names in the world. Ranging from the less than positive (Linger and Die Hill, NSW), to the indelicate (Scented Knob, WA), the idiotic (Eggs and Bacon Bay, TAS) to the inappropriate and the just plain fascinating, Mount Buggery To Nowhere Else is a toponymical journey through this nation of weird and wonderful places.
- GenresNonfictionHumor
288 pages, Paperback
Published October 25, 2016
1 person is currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Eamon Evans
18 books3 followersEamon Evans is a Melbourne-based author who has spent all his working life writing for the online and print media. He has written four books: Small Talk, The Godfather Was A Girl, Lord Sandwich And The Pants Man and Grand Slams Of Tennis.
His work has appeared in the SUNDAY HERALD SUN, the ADELAIDE ADVERTISER, the AUSTRALIAN BOOK REVIEW, the SUNDAY TIMES and the COURIER-MAIL.
Online, he has been an in-house writer for Big Pond Sport, SBS, ArtsHub, the Weekly Book Newsletter and the electronic bulletin of the International Federation of Arts Council and Culture Agencies.
His work has appeared in the SUNDAY HERALD SUN, the ADELAIDE ADVERTISER, the AUSTRALIAN BOOK REVIEW, the SUNDAY TIMES and the COURIER-MAIL.
Online, he has been an in-house writer for Big Pond Sport, SBS, ArtsHub, the Weekly Book Newsletter and the electronic bulletin of the International Federation of Arts Council and Culture Agencies.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 8, 2017
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 *
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 *
January 9, 2017
An interesting look at some of Australia's weird and wonderful place names.
Interesting and, at times, laugh out loud funny.
Highly recommended.
Interesting and, at times, laugh out loud funny.
Highly recommended.
April 5, 2022
A good fun read and history lesson combined, looking at the origins of and stories surrounding many weird and wonderful place names in Australia. Well worth a look!
October 31, 2016
I received a copy of this title from Hachette Australia for review.
Ten Second Synopsis:
An amusing foray into the origin stories of Australian place names, ridiculous and otherwise.
Who would have thought Australia would have so many silly and surprising place names that a book could be written on the topic? Well, everyone, actually. It’s pretty common knowledge, I should think, that our great southern land is peppered with various knobs, titties and dancing dicks. Actually, I’m pretty sure there’s only one of the latter. But if you thought that the only silliness in Australian place names involved jokes about body parts, then you will be pleased to know that imbecilic naming styles stretch far beyond such base, juvenile humour.
Take Bogan Gate in New South Wales, for instance. If you are from the northern hemisphere, and have no idea why this name is funny, Google has this definition to enlighten you:
bogan1
ˈbəʊɡ(ə)n/
noun
AUSTRALIAN/NZ informal derogatory
an uncouth or unsophisticated person, regarded as being of low social status.
“some bogans yelled at us from their cars”
Then there’s Little Donkey Woman Swamp and Tom Ugly’s Point, both of which, I hope, aren’t just false advertising. I also wonder whether the residents of Beardy Plains, and the associated Beardy Hill and Beardy River have considered making some cash off the back of the hipster trend. my absolute favourite though, has to be Linger and Die Hill in New South Wales. It’s just such an evocative name. And at least, if the worst happens, the locals can always say, “Well don’t say we didn’t warn you!”
The book is divided into chapters based around each state and territory, with place names listed in alphabetical order. I read the book from front to back, which, by the end, became a bit of a struggle, so I would suggest flicking back and forth as takes your fancy, or to hone in on one state or territory at a time. For some of the place names, the origin of the name is unknown or has little, if anything, to do with the way the name sounds which can be a tad disappointing. While it was quite interesting to know that Beauty Point is actually named after a cow named Beauty, and not the stunning natural features of the area, it was less fascinating to know that Smellie Inlet is just name after a bloke whose surname is Smellie. Some of the stories seem downright dubious. The naming of Adavale to commemorate the fact that a lady named Ada once lost her veil nearby reeks of the old bull’s leavings for instance.
Overall though, this is a fun, sometimes shocking, sometimes disheartening but mostly quite amusing foray into Australian place names, and on the side, Australian history.
Here’s a quick test though, to see if you are the right type of reader for this book.
Tittybong.
Governor’s Knob
Hat Head
Mount Meharry
Did you laugh at any of the above? What about smirk? Titter?
Then this book is for you.
Excuse me while I giggle for a bit over Mount Meharry.
Ten Second Synopsis:
An amusing foray into the origin stories of Australian place names, ridiculous and otherwise.
Who would have thought Australia would have so many silly and surprising place names that a book could be written on the topic? Well, everyone, actually. It’s pretty common knowledge, I should think, that our great southern land is peppered with various knobs, titties and dancing dicks. Actually, I’m pretty sure there’s only one of the latter. But if you thought that the only silliness in Australian place names involved jokes about body parts, then you will be pleased to know that imbecilic naming styles stretch far beyond such base, juvenile humour.
Take Bogan Gate in New South Wales, for instance. If you are from the northern hemisphere, and have no idea why this name is funny, Google has this definition to enlighten you:
bogan1
ˈbəʊɡ(ə)n/
noun
AUSTRALIAN/NZ informal derogatory
an uncouth or unsophisticated person, regarded as being of low social status.
“some bogans yelled at us from their cars”
Then there’s Little Donkey Woman Swamp and Tom Ugly’s Point, both of which, I hope, aren’t just false advertising. I also wonder whether the residents of Beardy Plains, and the associated Beardy Hill and Beardy River have considered making some cash off the back of the hipster trend. my absolute favourite though, has to be Linger and Die Hill in New South Wales. It’s just such an evocative name. And at least, if the worst happens, the locals can always say, “Well don’t say we didn’t warn you!”
The book is divided into chapters based around each state and territory, with place names listed in alphabetical order. I read the book from front to back, which, by the end, became a bit of a struggle, so I would suggest flicking back and forth as takes your fancy, or to hone in on one state or territory at a time. For some of the place names, the origin of the name is unknown or has little, if anything, to do with the way the name sounds which can be a tad disappointing. While it was quite interesting to know that Beauty Point is actually named after a cow named Beauty, and not the stunning natural features of the area, it was less fascinating to know that Smellie Inlet is just name after a bloke whose surname is Smellie. Some of the stories seem downright dubious. The naming of Adavale to commemorate the fact that a lady named Ada once lost her veil nearby reeks of the old bull’s leavings for instance.
Overall though, this is a fun, sometimes shocking, sometimes disheartening but mostly quite amusing foray into Australian place names, and on the side, Australian history.
Here’s a quick test though, to see if you are the right type of reader for this book.
Tittybong.
Governor’s Knob
Hat Head
Mount Meharry
Did you laugh at any of the above? What about smirk? Titter?
Then this book is for you.
Excuse me while I giggle for a bit over Mount Meharry.
November 22, 2016
From the moment I saw this book listed in the Hachette Australia catalogue, I knew this was something I would definitely be interested in. Not only because there really are some bizarre names all around Australia--I mean, I grew up near a place called Rooty Hill!--but also because as a writer, I love setting stories in Oz. So this book is going to come in very handy.
This turned out to be quite the book. I love the cover and even the way everything's set up inside. Each state and territory is separated, has its own introduction, and the places within each section are in alphabetical order. Very handy! There are also a bunch of peculiar, but funny illustrations peppered throughout. And some of the meanings--not just the names--to some of these places will either have you scratching your head or laughing out loud. I know I laughed at a few. LOL.
Actually, the only thing I was disappointed with was the lack of pictures. It would've been really cool to have location pics featured in the book.
And just for the record, yes, Rooty Hill is mentioned! :)
If you've ever wondered about some of our weird and wonderful location names, then this is definitely a book you'll want to check out. I'm shelving it in my reference book section, and I know I'll get plenty of use out of it.
This turned out to be quite the book. I love the cover and even the way everything's set up inside. Each state and territory is separated, has its own introduction, and the places within each section are in alphabetical order. Very handy! There are also a bunch of peculiar, but funny illustrations peppered throughout. And some of the meanings--not just the names--to some of these places will either have you scratching your head or laughing out loud. I know I laughed at a few. LOL.
Actually, the only thing I was disappointed with was the lack of pictures. It would've been really cool to have location pics featured in the book.
And just for the record, yes, Rooty Hill is mentioned! :)
If you've ever wondered about some of our weird and wonderful location names, then this is definitely a book you'll want to check out. I'm shelving it in my reference book section, and I know I'll get plenty of use out of it.
November 2, 2025
A humorous look at how Australia's weird and wonderful place names originated. Lots of fun and surprises.
The stories behind Australia's many, many strange, inappropriate and downright hilarious place names.
From Dismal Swamp to Useless Loop, Intercourse Island to Dead Mans Gully, Mount Buggery to Nowhere Else, Australia has some of the strangest, funniest, weirdest and most out-of-place names going - now described and explained in one humorous and fascinating book.
Australia's vast spaces and irreverent, larrikin history have given us some of the best place names in the world. Ranging from the less than positive (Linger and Die Hill, NSW), to the indelicate (Scented Knob, WA), the idiotic (Eggs and Bacon Bay, TAS) to the inappropriate and the just plain fascinating, Mount Buggery To Nowhere Else is a toponymical journey through this nation of weird and wonderful places.
The stories behind Australia's many, many strange, inappropriate and downright hilarious place names.
From Dismal Swamp to Useless Loop, Intercourse Island to Dead Mans Gully, Mount Buggery to Nowhere Else, Australia has some of the strangest, funniest, weirdest and most out-of-place names going - now described and explained in one humorous and fascinating book.
Australia's vast spaces and irreverent, larrikin history have given us some of the best place names in the world. Ranging from the less than positive (Linger and Die Hill, NSW), to the indelicate (Scented Knob, WA), the idiotic (Eggs and Bacon Bay, TAS) to the inappropriate and the just plain fascinating, Mount Buggery To Nowhere Else is a toponymical journey through this nation of weird and wonderful places.
March 1, 2021
Fantastic!
November 14, 2016
http://audiothing.blogspot.com.au/
Note:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this publication contains names and images of people who have passed away
Review
Well, you just cannot ignore the title can you? It’s certainly what drew me to the book. Put this on your coffee table and nobody will be able to resist picking it up and diving in. In fact that is the perfect way to read and enjoy this book.
We begin with how Australia (eventually) got its name, then, each state and territory is given its own chapter prefaced by the origins of that state or territory name. Some are pretty much self explanatory, such as the Northern Territory and the imaginatively named Western Australia but, it seems, no one can come up with a good reason for how New South Wales got its name.
Similarly, no one can do much better than to guess at the origins of some of the place names either.
Probably one of the first names readers will look up is Mount Buggery in the state of Victoria. There’s no explanation for this one other than in order to get there the valiant hiker must climb mountain after mountain in order to to reach it. The author settled on a cartoon of an exhausted hiker sitting on the mountain anddeclaring: “I’m Buggered”.
As good an explanation as any I guess. Thankfully nobody lives there, imagine having that for your postal address.
My first stop (following Mount Buggery) was my home state of Tasmania, where, incidentally we find the titular Nowhere Else located up the road (okay, dirt track) from Sheffield, which, authors comments aside, is quite nice really.
The whole book is written in a very humorous and slightly irreverent style, and it might just be my imagination, but did the author ramp up the irreverence levels a tad when he reached our little island state?
Yes, Mr. Eamon Evans, I read your “Monster Creek” entry! May Charlotte Badger (Badger Head) haunt your dreams!
This a great book for some entertaining reading and, what with knobs and boobies abounding, is also great fodder for schoolboy humour, as a bonus, there’s also plenty to learn too.
Put it on your Christmas want list and buy it for everyone else, not a one will be disappointed.
Copy provided by Hachette Australia for unbiased review.
Note:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this publication contains names and images of people who have passed away
Review
Well, you just cannot ignore the title can you? It’s certainly what drew me to the book. Put this on your coffee table and nobody will be able to resist picking it up and diving in. In fact that is the perfect way to read and enjoy this book.
We begin with how Australia (eventually) got its name, then, each state and territory is given its own chapter prefaced by the origins of that state or territory name. Some are pretty much self explanatory, such as the Northern Territory and the imaginatively named Western Australia but, it seems, no one can come up with a good reason for how New South Wales got its name.
Similarly, no one can do much better than to guess at the origins of some of the place names either.
Probably one of the first names readers will look up is Mount Buggery in the state of Victoria. There’s no explanation for this one other than in order to get there the valiant hiker must climb mountain after mountain in order to to reach it. The author settled on a cartoon of an exhausted hiker sitting on the mountain anddeclaring: “I’m Buggered”.
As good an explanation as any I guess. Thankfully nobody lives there, imagine having that for your postal address.
My first stop (following Mount Buggery) was my home state of Tasmania, where, incidentally we find the titular Nowhere Else located up the road (okay, dirt track) from Sheffield, which, authors comments aside, is quite nice really.
The whole book is written in a very humorous and slightly irreverent style, and it might just be my imagination, but did the author ramp up the irreverence levels a tad when he reached our little island state?
Yes, Mr. Eamon Evans, I read your “Monster Creek” entry! May Charlotte Badger (Badger Head) haunt your dreams!
This a great book for some entertaining reading and, what with knobs and boobies abounding, is also great fodder for schoolboy humour, as a bonus, there’s also plenty to learn too.
Put it on your Christmas want list and buy it for everyone else, not a one will be disappointed.
Copy provided by Hachette Australia for unbiased review.
September 10, 2017
A humourous explanation for some of Australia's weird and wacky place names. Very amusing.
February 7, 2021
Highly entertaining and informative.
Merged review:
Highly entertains and informative.
Merged review:
Highly entertains and informative.
April 19, 2017
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.
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.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews