May 10 2011
Toponymy
Almost a century ago, back in 1913, Canberra was a sprawl of turf and stringy gums on the Molonglo River, not a flagpole in cooee. Yet forefathers had earmarked the patch to be our nation’s new capital, if only to stop the two major states from brawling. As for a name, Canberra was suggested – the local word for meeting place.
Though taxpayers of the day had plenty of other ideas for the site, namely Swindleville, Cookaburra, Gonebroke, Wheatwoolgold and Kangaremu. Other ideas included the cluttered hybrids of Sydmelperadbrisho and Meladneyperbane, not forgetting Caucus City and Eucalypta.
But why stop there? Imagine every state and territory capital is in the market for a new name, Canberra included. What are your suggestions? Perhaps Sydney could be badged as Gridlock, or Allaboutaview, and Melbourne could cop Etagton, or Caffeinia. As for Canberra, seems Abbottabad is already bagsed.
But let’s get toponymic for a tick. Give us your ideas, and I’ll forward the best to the appropriate authorities. Six state capitals, and two territory towns, adds up to eight possible trophies, with an overall winner declared by week’s end. Deadline to observe is your civic duty is Thursday moonrise. So why wait? Nominate.
Comments
Anthony Douglas — 10 May at 10:49AM
If you ask an Anglican, Sydney is Fundytown. I think many others would go for Wartoview, or Wattaview.
SK — 10 May at 10:56AM
Canberra = Clowntown
IC — 10 May at 11:24AM
In my house Canberra is known (not entirely without affection) as Canblah...
IC — 10 May at 11:27AM
Is it too harsh to suggest that Perth ought to be renamed Anomie?
IC — 10 May at 11:31AM
Sydney = Pompo City?
IC — 10 May at 11:36AM
Hobart = Bretownd?
Boniface — 10 May at 11:47AM
Perth - Swan Lake
Hobart - Wellington City
IC — 10 May at 11:51AM
A rethink: my Hobart suggestion would read better as Brevilled. (Which has the added advantage of making one think of a grilled cheese sandwich.)
IC — 10 May at 11:58AM
Melbourne = Idawassy (after Crowded House)
Boniface — 10 May at 11:58AM
Darwin - Camelville (... think about it!...)
DA — 10 May at 12:00PM
Darwin: Croctopia
Perth: Bangalore
Canberra: Adminaby
Hobart: Cascade City
Melbourne: Pseudoeuro
Boniface — 10 May at 12:08PM
Adelaide - Death Valley
Boniface — 10 May at 12:13PM
Brisbane - Sequoia
Boniface — 10 May at 12:19PM
Canberra - Jackson City
RK — 10 May at 12:20PM
Brisbane - Campbelltown
Anthony Douglas — 10 May at 12:48PM
Sydney did used to be Sartorial. Now it's Moore or Less.
Moorebank works well. (Thanks RK for the idea)
Cloverfield, even, for those who like reality-style horror.
Canberra, continuing to bag pollies: Balloon.
If I was trying for a more uplifting tone, I'd try to get something around being the home of the (Last) Post&Ode (of Remembrance). Too hard.
RK — 10 May at 12:54PM
As Sydney is the place I know the best, I thought I would name the cities after Sydney suburbs (with some spelling adjustments)
Brisbane: Campbelltown
Perth: Forrestville
Adelaide: Church Point
Hobart: Granville (There is a Hobartville too)
Canberra: Abbottsford or Abbottsbury
Darwin: Emu Plains
Melbourne: Davidson (in honour of our own DA)
Sydney: Bella Vista
DC — 10 May at 01:46PM
For Brisbane, LasBane continues the BrisVegas idea, but sounds more evil (which I'm sure is an end unto itself).
My favourite story about Canberra's conception is that the layout was designed by Walter and Marion Burley Griffin, who were theosophists and apparently had some strange ideas about architecture and mysticism (which may explain all those loops). They also designed the Sydney suburb of Castlecrag, whose street names are all named after sections of a castle: The Rampart, The Parapet, The Barbette etc.
This is not necessarily relevant, but I'm sure we could rename Canberra as Blavatsky without problem.
Boniface — 10 May at 04:15PM
Sydney - Falafel Junction
Melbourne - Alfalfa North
Mr X — 10 May at 10:36PM
Darwin: Intelligentdesign City
Mr X — 10 May at 10:40PM
Sydney: West Los Angeles
Melbourne: Sydney Jr
Nib — 11 May at 12:59AM
If you Google map Castle Hills in NSW, I find it fun travelling past adjoining Castle-related street names.
Canberra- Caps Loch / Poliopolis
Sydney- Abridged City
Melbourne- Sprautwinsum
Darwin- Indigent
Brisbane- Tropicana
Perth- Gottafairwaydigo
Hobart- Kinston
Adelaide- Moran Eucanchoo
Rupert — 11 May at 06:36AM
@Boniface — 10 May at 11:47AM
Sorry, but Wellington is already the name of the capital of the bit of Australia about 3 hours east of Sydney.
SK — 11 May at 07:29AM
As a Sydneysider, I remember when Bob Carr was busy preserving (and extending) the coverage of national parks around Sydney. I thought at the time that he might rename Sydney after one of our southern suburbs....Carr's Park.
Others might think it appropriate for an entirely different reason...it sounds like peak hour on the main commuter roads.
DC — 11 May at 01:21PM
A set of suggestions from the obscure to the even more obscure.
Sydney: RumCorpInc
Brisbane: LasBane
Melbourne: Claude
Adelaide: Dorothea
Perth: Mine
Hobart: Colbard
Darwin: Tracy Springs
Canberra: Blavatsky
DA — 11 May at 01:35PM
Erudite, DC. A man who knows his yore.
I must admit to thinking a general town equivalent of this Storm may be fun in time to come. An early nomination:
Queenstown: Alopecia
Boniface — 12 May at 04:31PM
Adelaide - Death Valley
Brisbane - Sequoia
Canberra - Jackson City
Darwin - Camelville
Hobart - Wellington City
Melbourne - Alfalfa North
Perth - Swan Lake
Sydney - Falafel Junction (thanks Eddie)
@Rupert - True - the Wellington reference was to gumboots, weather and the mountain (although the weather and gumboots bit could just about apply to anywhere in SE Australia at present...)
Mr X — 12 May at 09:04PM
Canberra - Washington DC:Next Generation