The A-Z of the meanings of South Australia’s town names

THERE are fascinating stories hidden in the town names of South Australia.

Well, some of them at least. There are plenty of instances where a town was named after obscure army general or naval fighting on the other side of the world, or even after a local politician in an attempt to curry some favour in Parliament House.

But by and large the names tell the stories of the indigenous people and the first settlers who worked hard to make a rather inhospitable state their home. Here’s the first part of the A-Z of the origins and meanings of South Australia’s town names.

If you missed it, you can check out the A-Z of the meanings of Adelaide’s suburb names here .

Allendale East: Possibly named after William Allen Crouch, one of the earliest settlers in the region. East was probably added to distinguish it from another Allendale near Kapunda.

Alma: After the River Alma in the Crimea, site of an allied victory in 1854.

American River: Camp site of American sealers in the early 19th Century. The men built a boat from local timber.

Andamooka: Originally called Andamoka after the Aboriginal word for a large waterhole in the area, which was seen by John McDowell Stuart in 1858.

Angaston: Named after early landholder George Fife Angas. Prior to survey the area was known as German Pass.

Ardrossan: Named by Governor Fergusson after a seaport in Ayrshire, Scotland.

Armagh: Named by William Henry Clarke, who was born in Newry, County Armagh, Ireland.

Arno Bay: Named not for after the Italian river, but for after the local Aboriginal word for a sandhill well.

Arthurton: Named in honour of Governor Musgrave’s son, Arthur.

Ashbourne: Named after Ashbourne in county Derbyshire, England.

Ashton: Named by George Hunt – who cut up the area to make way for market gardening – after his hometown in Northamptonshire.

Auburn: Named by Thomas Henry “Piebald” Williams after the village in Ireland.

Balaklava: Named after the Battle of Balaclava, in the Crimean War.

Balgowan: After the village in Perthshire, Scotland.

Balhannah: James Turnbull Thompson named it after his mother – Hannah – but there is some disagreement on with whether the “Bal” is a corruption of the French “belle”, meaning beautiful, or from the Celtic word meaning town.

Barmera: Possibly from the Aboriginal word Pamuri, meaning place of spears. Other sources claim it was named after a tribe that lived in the area.

Basket Range: Another name with a couple of possible origins. Named either after a Mr Basket, who collected timber cutting licence fees in the area, or for the baskets used by the wives of German miners to carry vegetables to market.

Beachport: Named by Sir Samuel Way after Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, Secretary of State for the colonies.

Berri: Some sources say the town was named after the Aboriginal word ber-beri, meaning a bend in the river, while others say it is derived from the name of a native bush.

Bethany: Originally called Neuschlesian, or New Silesia, by German immigrants, before becoming Bethanein after the town in Palestine. Later anglicised to Bethany.

Bibaringa: From the Aboriginal word for hilltop.

Birdwood: Originally known as Blumberg, or “hill of flowers” in German, it was changed to honour Sir William Birdwood, a British commander of Australian soldiers at Gallipoli.

Black Point: Named after the appearance of the local geography.

Blakiston: From an 11th Century manor house in County Durham.

Blanchetown: Named by Governor R.G. MacDonnell for his wife, Lady Blanche.

Blewitt Springs: For Mary Evans (nee Blewitt), wife of surveyor William Evans.

Blyth: Named after Sir Arthur Blyth, a prominent South Australian politician.

Booborowie: An Aboriginal word meaning “round waterhole”.

Booleroo Centre: Either from an Aboriginal word meaning “plenty”, or possibly “soft mud”.

Bordertown: Chosen by the SA government as a depot for gold escorts. Actually a number of kilometres from the state border.

Bowmans: Named after early settlers and brothers Edmund, John, Thomas and William Bowman.

Bridgewater: The Bridgewater Hotel was named after the bridge (obviously) that crossed Cocks Creek on the road to Mt Barker. The town was named not long after by miller John Dunn.

Brinkworth: Named after James Brinkworth, who owned the land on which the railway junction was located.

Brukunga: Aboriginal, meaning “fire stone”.

Buchfelde: Named by German brothers Richard and Otto von Schomburgk, who were blacklisted during the European revolution of 1848. After fleeing to Australia they the brothers named the area in honour of their benefactor, Leopold von Buch.

Burra: One of our most controversial placenames, the town was originally known as Burra Burra. It is either derived from the Aboriginal word meaning “great”, or “big”, or possibly from a Hindi word, also meaning “big”. There were a number of workers from the subcontinent employed in the region.

Bute: After Bute Island, in Scotland.

Cadell: Named after Murray river pioneer Captain Francis Cadell, who Cadell was murdered by one of his crew during a trip to Ambon, Indonesia.

Callington: From the town in Cornwall.

Caltowie: Aboriginal for “waterhole belonging to the sleepy lizard”.

Cambrai: Another German name lost during World War I, Cambrai was originally called Rhine Valley. Cambrai is a town in France.

Cape Jaffa: Named by Nicolas Baudin after Jaffa in Israel.

Cape Jervis: Named by Flinders after the family name of Lord St Vincent.

Carey Gully: Named after Patrick Carey, an early settler in the area.

Carpenter Rocks: Named by Baudin for the shape of the rocks, which are said to resemble the shape of a saw.

Carrickalinga: From an Aboriginal word meaning “place of red gum firewood”.

Ceduna: Probably a corruption of the Aboriginal word “chedoona”, meaning a place to sit down and rest.

Chaffey: Named after the Chaffey brothers, early irrigators in the area.

Chandlers Hill: Named after Charles Chandler, an early settler and farmer.

Charleston: There are two theories on this town – one is that it was named after Charles Dunn, a farmer and blacksmith in the area, but the more likely theory is that it was named after Charles Newsman, a shepherd.

Cherry Gardens: Named after the discovery of native trees with abundant fruit.

Clare: Founded by Edward Gleeson, who named the area after County Clare, in Ireland.

Cleve: Named after the English home of Thomas Snow, Secretary to Governor Jervois.

Cobdogla: Named after the king of the Overland Corner Aboriginal tribe.

Cockatoo Valley: Named after the abundance of cockatoos in the region during an excursion in 1837,

Coffin Bay: Despite its rather foreboding name, it was actually named by Matthew Flinders after Isaac Coffin, later Vice-Admiral Isaac Coffin.

Coober Pedy: Aboriginal word meaning “hole in the ground”.

Coobowie: Aboriginal for “wildfowl on the water”.

Coonalpyn: An Aboriginal word meaning which translates to “barren woman”.

Coonawarra: A rise or hill covered with honeysuckle trees, in the local Aboriginal language.

Copley: In honour of William Copley, a member of the Legislative Council for the Northern District.

Corny Point: Named by Flinders in 1802. One theory states that it was because it looked like a corn on the “foot” of YorkePeninsula.

Cowell: Named by Governor Jervois after Sir John Clayton Cowell.

Crafers: Named after David Crafer, a local publican.

Crystal Brook: Named by Edward John Eyre (who misspelled it “Chrystal” Brook) for the stream’s clear water. The Aboriginal word for the area was Mercowie, also meaning clear water.

Cudlee Creek: From an Aboriginal word for dog. Wild dogs were once abundant in the area.

Cummins: Named after politician William Patrick Cummins.

Curramulka: Aboriginal for a waterhole where emus drink.

Currency Creek: Named after Currency Lass, a whaling boat that entered the creek in 1837.

Darke Peak: Named after John Charles Darke, who was speared and killed by Aborigines in the area.

Denial Bay: Named by Flinders after he attempted to penetrate the bay inland. It was also an allusion to nearby St Peters Island.

Dublin: Named by Governor MacDonnell after his birthplace in Ireland.

Echunga: An Aboriginal word meaning “close by”.

Eden Valley: Surveyors in the region found a tree with the word “Eden” carved into the trunk. They agreed, and the name stuck.

Edillilie: “Two springs close together”, in the regional Aboriginal language.

Edithburgh: Named by Governor Fergusson after his wife, Edith. Naturally.

Elliston: Named after Ellen Liston, a governess for a local landowner.

Encounter Bay: Commemorates the meeting of two great explorers – Matthew Flinders and Nicolas Baudin – in 1802.

Eudunda: Named after a spring west of the town, which the Aboriginal people called Eudunda-cowie.

Farina: Now a ghost town, named after the Latin word for flour.

Farrell Flat: For Dean James Farrell, a respected religious minister.

Flaxman Valley: Named after Charles Flaxman, who bought the land on behalf of George Fife Angas.

Forest Range: A descrip tive name for the area.

Freeling: Named after Major-General Sir Arthur Henry Freeling, Surveyor-General and Colonial Engineer.

Georgetown: Possibly named after George Fisher, a local landowner who drowned in a shipwreck, or Sir George Fisher, a local MP.

Gladstone: Named after the British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone.

Glenburnie: A Scottish name, possibly meaning “a spring in the narrow valley”.

Glencoe: Named after Glencoe in Scotland.

Glendambo: Takes its name from the nearby Glendambo homestead. The source of the homestead’s name seems to be unknown.

Glossop: Named for J.C.T. Glossop, of the HMAS Sydney, which destroyed the German cruiser Emden in the Cocos Islands during WWWorld War I.

Goolwa: From an Aboriginal word believed to mean “the elbow”, reflecting the bend in the River Murray.

Greenock: There are a few theories on this one. It’s possibly an anglicisation of a German word Gruneck. Other theories are that it was named after Greenock in Scotland, or after Lord Greenoch, a friend of Colonel Light’s.

Gumeracha: Laid out by William Beavis Randell in 1860, the town’s name is thought to be a corruption of the Aboriginal word Umeracha, being the name for a nearby waterhole.

Hahndorf: Named for after Captain Dirk Meinhertz Hahn, commander of the German immigrant ship Zebra, which arrived at Port Adelaide on December 28, 1838. It was renamed to Ambleside during World War I, but reverted to its original name in 1935.

Halbury: So named because it’s in the Hundred of Hall.

Hamley Bridge: Named after Francis G. Hamley, Administrator of South Australia, 1868-69.

Hardwicke Bay: Named by Flinders in 1802 after the Earl of Hardwicke.

Harrogate: Named after Harrogate in Yorkshire, England.

Hatherleig: After Hatherleigh in Devonshire, England.

Hawker: Named after G.C. Hawker, a South Australian politician.

Hayborough: Named after Alexander Hay, who laid out the town.

Heathfield: A descriptive name.

Hilltown: Again, a descriptive name.

Hindmarsh Island: Named in 1837 after South Australia’s first Governor, John Hidmarsh.

Hindmarsh Valley: The Governor receives another guernsey.

Horsnell Gully: Named after John Horsnell, who arrived in South Australia in 1839 and lived in the gully.

Humbug Scrub: One source says the area was given its curious name by Colonel Light, as it reminded him of the Battle of Barossa, “where guerilla forces were a humbug”. Another says it was given by a resident of the area who hated living there.

Inneston: Named after W.R.D. Innes, a director of the mining company that took up a lease to extract gypsum from the area.

Iron Knob: Named for after the iron ore mine, the town was proclaimed in 1915.

James Well: Near Ardrossan on the Yorke Peninsula, named after settler William Wearne James.

Jamestown: Formerly known as Belalie, it was renamed by Governor Sir James Fergusson, possibly after himself (although there are villa ges of the same name in Scotland, Fergusson’s country of origin).

Jupiter Creek: The name was bestowed by local gold miners, possibly after a bullock who had a fondness for running away to graze in the area.

Kadina: An Aboriginal word meaning “lizard plain”.

Kalangadoo: Possibly a corruption of an Aboriginal word meaning either “dog watering place” or “yabby hole”. Other sources say it comes from an Aboriginal word meaning “swamp with many gums”.

Kangarilla: Another Aboriginal word whose meaning is disputed. Could mean “birthplace”, or possibly “two waterholes”. Another source says “a place for kangaroos and timber” or “kangaroos and water”. Yet another says it means “where the sheep mother sits down”. What’s not in dispute is that the area was once known as Eyre’s Flat.

Kanmantoo: F rom an Aboriginal word meaning “different speech”.

Kapunda: An Aboriginal word “cappieoonda”, meaning “water jumps out”, in reference to a spring.

Karoonda: Aboriginal word meaning “winter’s camp”.

Keith: Proclaimed during the Governorship of Lord Kintore, who was had the title of Lord Keith. The original railway siding was known by the much more interesting name of Mount Monster.

Keyneton: Named after Joseph Keynes, a business partner of George Fife Angas.

Kimba: A corruption of an Aboriginal word meaning “bark house”, although another source says that it may mean “fire”.

Kingscote: Named after Henry Kingscote, a director of the South Australian Land Company.

Kingston On Murray: Named after Charles Cameron Kingston.

Kingston SE: Named by Governor MacDonnell after George Strickland Kingston.

Kongorong: Aboriginal word meaning “place of swans”

Koppio: Aboriginal word for water.

Koonibba: Corruption of Aboriginal word meaning “centre of the eye”, referring to a nearby rock waterhole.

Kuitpo: An Aboriginal word meaning grass place.

Lameroo: An Aboriginal word whose meaning has been lost, but a number of sources suggest it may have an obscene meaning.

Langhorne Creek: Named after Alfred Langhorne, who drove cattle overland from Sydney in 1841 and settled in the area.

Laura: Named by Governor Fergusson after the widow of H.B. Hughes, who owned land in the area.

Leigh Creek: Named after Harry Leigh, Alexander Glen’s head stockman.

Lenswood: From the town of Lens in France, the scene of fierce fighting during the First World War I.

Lewiston: Nomenclature is unknown, possibly named after Lewiston in Scotland, or after the Reverend John Le wis, a l ocal minister.

Lipson: Named after Harbour Masterharbourmaster Thomas Lipson.

Littlehampton: After the town in Sussex, England.

Lobethal: Named by German immigrants who, in honour of their newfound religious freedom, named it Lobethal, meaning which means “valley of praise”. The name was subsequently changed to Tweedvale during the First World War I.

Lochiel: Located in the Hundred of Cameron. Lochiel is one of the titles of the Chief of Cameron, in Scotland.

Lock: Named after Corporal A.E. Lock, who was killed in action in 1917.

Longwood: Named after Longwood, on the Atlantic island of St Helena, where Napoleon was banished by the English.

Louth Bay: Named by Flinders after Louth in Lincolnshire, England.

Loveday: Named after Ernest Loveday, surveyor for the Irrigation Department.

Lower Light: Named after Colonel Light.

Loxton: Named after William Charles Loxton, a boundary rider at Bookpurnong Station.

Lucindale: Named by Governor Musgrave for his wife, Lucinda.

Lyndoch: Named by Colonel Light after Lord Lynedoch, who won the Battle of Barrosa in Spain.

Lyrup: Probably named after Lyrup Hut, whose name may have been derived from a village near Hamburg, Germany.

Macclesfield: Named for the Earl of Macclesfield.

Maitland: Named by Governor Fergusson, who had ancestors with the family name Maitland.

Mallala: An Aboriginal worldword, although the meaning isn’t known.

Mannum: From the Aboriginal word “manumph”, whose meaning is not clear.

Manoora: Possibly the Aboriginal name for a spring in the area.

Marama: Aboriginal word for “black duck”.

Marananga: An Aboriginal word meaning “my hands”, relating to drawing water from a well by hand.

Marion Bay: Possibly named after the ship Marion, which was wrecked nearby, although some say the area had its name before the event.

Marrabel: After John E. Marrabel, a local landholder.

Marree: Supposedly an Aboriginal word meaning “possum place”. However, the fact that there are very few possums in the area, and the fact that the local word for possum is “bilda”, has cast doubt over this interpretation.

McLaren Vale: Named either after David McLaren, manager of the South Australian Company, or possibly after John McLaren, from who worked for the Land Office.

Meadows

A descriptive name. Was called Battunga by the Aboriginal people, meaning “a place of large trees”.

Melrose
Pedestrians, horse riders and early cars on the Mt Barker Rd in the early 1900s.

Pedestrians, horse riders and early cars on the Mt Barker Rd in the early 1900s.

Another name the experts disagree on. Named after either an early settler, or the town of Melrose, in Scotland.

Meningie

An Aboriginal word meaning “mud”.

Middleton

Named by Thomas Higgins, who owned the land, after either Middleton, in Ireland, or Middleton, in Sussex, England.

Milang

An Aboriginal word meaning “a place of sorcery”.

Millicent

Named after Millicent Short, the daughter of the first Anglican Bishop of Adelaide.

Minlaton

From Minlacowie, meaning “freshwater well”.

Minnipa

An Aboriginal word whose meaning is not known.

Mintaro

Once thought to be of Spanish origin, now thought to be Aboriginal.

Miranda

A Spanish word meaning elevated view.

Moculta

Aboriginal name for a nearby hill.

Monarto

Supposedly named the wife of a local Aboriginal chief, King John.

Monash

After General Monash, a hero of World War I.

Moonta

From Moonta Moonterra, or place of impenetrable scrub.

Moorak

Aboriginal word for mountain.

Morgan

Named after politician William Morgan.

Mount Barker

Named by Charles Sturt for his friend Captain Collet Barker, killed by Aborigines at the mouth of the Murray in 1831.

Mount Compass

Named after Governor Gawler lost his compass in the area.

Mount Gambier

Named by Lieutenant James Grant in 1800 after Admiral Lord Gambier, commander of the fleet in the battle of Copenhagen.

Mount Pleasant

Either a descriptive name, or the name of the mother of an early settler.

Mount Torrens

Named after Colonel Robert Torrens, chairman of colonisation commissioners.

Mundulla

From mantala, or place of thunder.

Murray Bridge

Obviously named after the bridge, which was located near a spot where stockman swam cattle across the river.

Mylor

Named by acting Governor James Boucaut after his birthplace in Cornwall.

Mypolonga

“Lookout place upon a cliff”, in the local Aboriginal language.

Myponga

Either from Miappunga, meaning “divorced wife”, or possibly “high cliffs”.

N

Nairne

After Elizabeth Nairne, the wife of early settler Matthew Smillie.

Napperby

Aboriginal name, meaning unknown.

Naracoorte

A corruption of an Aboriginal word, possibly meaning “large waterhole”.

Narrung

Aboriginal for “place of the large sheoaks”.

Nepean Bay

Named by Flinders after Sir Evan Nepean.

Netley

After Netley Abbey, in Hampshire, England.

Nildottie

Aboriginal word meaning “smoke signal hill”.

Normanville

Named after Robert Norman, an early settler in the area.

North Shields

Named after North Shields in Northumberland, England.

Nuriootpa

From the Aboriginal word meaning “neck country”, a reference to the area being part of the neck of a giant called Wano by the Kaurna people.

O

Oakbank

Named by James Johnstone after the Oakbank works in Glascow.

Olympic Dam

Named after the original pastoral lease, which took its name from a livestock watering dam.

Oodnadatta

Aboriginal word meaning “flowers of the mulga”.

Orroroo

There are a few explanations. An Aboriginal word, some maintain that it means “meeting place of the magpie”, while others say it means “early start”. Other suggestions include “a place of departure” and even the name of an Aboriginal girl who lived on a nearby station. According to legend, Sir Charles Tod, responding to a request to establish a post office in the town, replied, “Dear me! There are only two letters in Orroroo. What do you want a post office for?”

P

Padthaway

Aboriginal word meaning “good water”.

Parham

After John Parham, an early settler.

Paris Creek

Named after Robert Paris, who purchased the area.

Parrakie

An Aboriginal word referring to sinkholes or water running underground.

Paskeville

Named after General Paske, brother-in-law of Governor Jervois.

Penneshaw

Named by Governor Jervois, it is a combination of F.W. Pennefather, his private secretary, and Miss Flora Shaw, who became Lady Ludgard, wife of the Governor of Hong Kong.

Penola

An Aboriginal word meaning “big swamp”, or possibly “stringybark forest”.

Penong

Corruption of a native word meaning “tea tree”, although some sources claim it means “rocky waterhole”.

Peterborough

Originally Petersburg, this is another town whose name was anglicised during World War I. The town was named by J.H. Koch after his friend and original landowner Peter Doecke.

Piccadilly

Possibly a name given in jest after the bustling Piccadilly in London, although Manning suggests it’s more likely connected to the Kaurna legend of the giant being Wano. Possibly means “the location of (Wano’s) eyebrow”.

Pinnaroo

Corruption of an Aboriginal word meaning “limestone”, although some sources claim it means “resting place” or “boss man”.

Point Lowly

Descriptive, named by Matthew Flinders.

Point Turton

After Governor Daly’s son-in-law.

Port Augusta

Named by A.L. Elder after the wife of Governor Young, Augusta Young.

Port Broughton

Named by Edward John Eyre after William Grant Broughton, first Anglican Bishop of Australia.

Port Elliot

After Sir Charles Elliot, Governor of Bermuda.

Port Germein

After John Germein, who discovered it while taking supplies to Edward John Eyre.

Port Hughes

After Sir Walter Hughes, a founder of the University of Adelaide.

Port Lincoln

Named by Flinders in honour of his home county of Lincolnshire, England

Port MacDonnell

Originally surveyed as Crete-Watta, but later changed to honour Governor MacDonnell, whose name can be found in place names across South Australia.

Port Neill

After A.S. Neil of the Marine Board.

Port Pirie

Named after Sir John Pirie, an original director of the South Australian Company.

Port Victoria

Named after the schooner Victoria, which visited the area.

Port Vincent

After the Port Vincent Special Survey of 1839, which set out to explore the area.

Port Wakefield

From the River Wakefield, named after Edward Gibbon Wakefield, an official in the colonisation system.

Price

After Florence Price, who married the Governor’s son.

Q

Quorn

Named after Quorndon, in Leicestershire, England.

R

Redbanks

A descriptive name.

Renmark

Possibly from an Aboriginal word meaning “red mud”, although early reports refer to the town as Rennie and Rene, and there was a ship’s carpenter called William Renny who worked in the area.

Riverton

Located on the Gilbert River.

Robe

After Governor F.H. Robe.

Roxby Downs

Named after the landowner brought cattle down from Roxby, in Queensland, and changed the name of his property to Roxby Downs.

Rudall

After politician S.B. Rudall.

S

Saddleworth

Laid out by James Masters, who was born at Saddleworth Lodge, Yorkshire, in England.

Sandy Creek

Named after the loose, sandy soil in the area.

Sevenhill

After the seven hills on which Rome stands.

Shea-Oak Log

Named after a piece of shea-oak was used to repair a broken plough.

Smoky Bay

Named after Flinders noticed smoke on the shoreline.

Snowtown

Named after Governor Jervois’s secretary, Thomas Snow.

Spalding

After Spalding, in Lincolnshire, England.

Springton

Named after The Springs dairy farm.

Stansbury

Named after a friend of Governor Musgrave.

Stirling

Originally called Stirling East, to avoid confusion with Stirling North, the name honours Sir Lancelot Stirling, MP.

Stirling North

Named by Robert Barr Smith after Edward Stirling, a business partner.

Stockport

After Stockport, Chesire, England.

Strathalbyn

From the word “strath”, Gaelic for a valley with a river, and Albion Iron Mills, in Glasgow, in which the town’s founder was a major shareholder.

Streaky Bay

Named by Flinders for the discoloured water in the bay.

Summertown

A descriptive name, as it was a good place to escape the summer temperatures on the plains.

Swan Reach

Named after the many black swans in the area.

T

Tailem Bend

Probably the corruption of an Aboriginal word, possibly meaning “bend”. Another theory says it’s derived from a word meaning “to miss”, referring to Ngurunderi failing to kill a giant Murray cod.

Tantanoola

Aboriginal, possibly meaning “boxwood hill”.

Tanunda

Aboriginal, meaning either “water hole” or “many water birds”.

Tarlee

Possibly a corruption of Tralee, in Ireland.

Terowie

Aboriginal word meaning “hidden waterhole”.

Thevenard

Named by Freycinet after Antoine Jean Marie, Comte de Thevenard, a French vice-admiral.

Tickera

Aboriginal for “marshmallow” (the plant, not the sweet treat).

Tiddy Widdy Beach

From an Aboriginal word meaning “bartering place”, due to the fact that Kaurna and Narangga tribes traded in the area.

Tintinara

Possibly named after a young Aboriginal boy who lived in the area, but more likely after the word for the stars in Orion’s belt.

Truro

After Truro, in Cornwall, England.

Tumby Bay

Named by Flinders after Tumby, in Lincolnshire, England.

Tungkillo

Corrupted Aboriginal word meaning “ghost moth grubs”.

Two Wells

Named for the two Aboriginal wells used by early settlers.

Ungarra

Aboriginal name for a waterhole in the region.

Upper Sturt

After the Sturt River, in turn named after Captain Charles Sturt.

Uraidla

A corruption of an Aboriginal word meaning “two ears”, which refers to the legend of the giant being whose outline can be seen in the Mt Lofty Ranges.

V

Venus Bay

After the schooner Venus.

Verdun

World War I battlefield in France. Originally Grunthal, the German name was changed during the war.

Victor Harbor

From HMS Victor, which Captain Richard Crozier used to survey the area in 1837. Was known as Port Victor until 1921, when it reverted to Victor Harbor.

Virginia

After Virginia in County Cavan, Ireland.

Vivonne Bay

Named by Baudin after Count Louis Victor Vivonne or Catherine de Vivonne.

W

Waikerie

A corruption of an Aboriginal word meaning given to a species of ghost moth, which were used as a food source.

Waitpinga

Aboriginal word meaning “windy place”.

Walker Flat

After Benjamin Walker, who built a flour mill at Mannum.

Wallaroo

From the Aboriginal wadla-waru, meaning “wallaby urine”. This became Walla-waroo, which was too long to be stamped on wool bales, so was shortened to Wallaroo.

Wanilla

Aboriginal for “water springs”.

Wangary

Aboriginal for “crow’s talk”.

Warnertown

Named by Governor Jervois after his secretary J.H.B. Warner.

Warooka

Aboriginal word meaning “muddy waterhole”.

Warramboo

An Aboriginal word meaning lake.

Wasleys

After Joseph Wasleys, a landowner.

Watervale

Descriptive, named for its location.

Wellington

Named for the Duke of Wellington.

Whitwarta

Aboriginal word meaning “freshwater”.

Whyalla

Aboriginal, possibly meaning “place of water” or “place of deep water”

Willaston

Possibly after Willaston, in Cheshire, England.

Williamstown

Named by landholder Lewis Johnstone after his eldest son.

Willunga

Aboriginal word meaning “place of green trees”, although some sources link it to the Wano (mythical giant) story and say it means “place of the chest”.

Wilmington

Named by Governor Musgrave after Wilmington, in the US.

Wirrabara

An Aboriginal word meaning “a forest with running water”.

Wolseley

Named after Baron Wolseley, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army.

Woodside

After Woodside, in Scotland.

Wool Bay

Wool was shipped from the area.

Woomera

Named after the Aboriginal throwing stick.

Wudinna

Aboriginal, although there is some disagreement about its meaning. One theory says an Aboriginal hunter accidentally speared a snake in the area while practising his spear-throwing, and exclaimed “Cudji weedi deena tuna”, or “spear stick into snake”, which was shortened to “weedideena”.

Wunkar

An Aboriginal word meaning “grass”.

Y

Yacka

Aboriginal word meaning “unpleasant place”. Other sources claim “sister to the big river”.

Yahl

Aboriginal name for the flat rush plant.

Yalata

From the Aboriginal word meaning “oyster”.

Yankalilla

Some disagreement over the meaning. Could be from the Aboriginal word for “falling”, after a myth in which the mummified body of Tjilbruke’s sister begins to fall apart.

Yeelanna

An Aboriginal word for a local spring.

Yongala

From yongla-cowie “good water”.

Yorketown

From the Right Honourable Charles Phillip Yorke of the Admiralty.

Younghusband

After William Younghusband, merchant and politician.

Yunta

Aboriginal word, possibly meaning “bullroarer”, although a number of experts believe it’s more likely to refer to a certain part of a woman’s anatomy.

Information taken from the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure Gazetteer, Manning’s Place Names of South Australia, by Geoffrey H. Manning, Place Names of South Australia by R. Praise and J.C. Tolley, and What’s In A Name? Nomenclature of South Australia by Rodney Cockburn. The list of towns was compiled from a list provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of this list, however, there are varying accounts of the history of some towns’ names.