Place names in Australia have names originating in the Australian Aboriginal languages for three main reasons: Historically, European explorers and surveyors may have asked local Aboriginal people the name of a place, and named it accordingly. Where they did not ask, they may have heard the place was so-named. Due to language difficulties, the results were often misheard and misunderstood names, such as the name of the Yarra River. There are a suspicious number of place names which translate as pretty and resting place, which may imply European romanticism, and no doubt a good deal of mispronunciation and corruption in general. Australian governments have officially named many places, particularly suburbs, after Aboriginal people or language groups, such as Aranda or Tullamarine. The place name has always been called thus by Aboriginal people, and Aboriginal people still live in the area. This is particularly so for Aboriginal communities, such as Maningrida in the Northern Territory. This is more frequent where non-indigenous settlement has been less dense, particularly in Central Australia and the Top End.
Watkin Tench, who arrived on the First Fleet in 1788, observed of the Aboriginal languages of the present-day Sydney area: "We were at first inclined to stigmatise this language as harsh and barbarous in its sounds. Their combinations of words in the manner they utter them, frequently convey such an effect. But if not only their proper names of men and places, but many of their phrases and a majority of their words, be simply and unconnectedly considered, they will be found to abound with vowels and to produce sounds sometimes mellifluous and sometimes sonorous. What ear can object to the names of Colbee (pronounced exactly as Colby is with us), Bereewan, Bondel, Imeerawanyee, Deedora, Wolarawaree, or Baneelon, among the men; or to Wereeweea, Gooreedeeana, Milba,Tench reports that: Mrs. Johnson, wife of the chaplain of the settlement, was so pleased with this name that she christened her little girl, born in Port Jackson, Milba Maria Johnson or Matilba, among the women? Parramatta, Gweea, Cameera, Cadi, and Memel, are names of places. The tribes derive their appellations from the places they inhabit. Thus Cemeeragal, means the men who reside in the bay of Cameera; Cadigal, those who reside in the bay of Cadi; and so of the others.Watkin Tench, The Settlement of Port Jackson, Chapter 17. "
Towns and suburbs
→A← Adaminaby Adelong Ajana Adelong Akuna Bay Aldinga Allambie Allambie Heights Allanooka Allawah Allora Amaroo Amelup Anembo Angledool Angourie Angurugu Anula Arakoon Araluen Arana Hills Aranda Aratula Ardmona Areyonga Argalong Arrawarra Arrino Attunga Aurukun Awaba
→B← Baandee Babakin Badgebup Badgingarra Badjaling Bailup Baladjie Balagundi Balarang Balbarrup Balcatta Balga Balgarri Balingup Ballarat Balkuling Ballaballa Bamaga Banya Banyo Barangaroo Bardoc Bargo Baringa Barra Brui (East Gordon) Barraba Barragup Baryulgil Beerburrum Beechina Beeliar Beerwah Bega Bellambi Bellara Bellata Bejoording Belka Belmunging Bemboka Benalla Bencubbin Bendering Benjaberring Berala Berrara Beria Bermagui Berowra Berri Bewong Creek Bilbarin Billimari Biloela Binalong Bindi Bindi Bindoon Binnaway Binningup Binna Burra Binnu Birralee Birrong Birtinya Bli Bli Bodalla Bodallin Buddina Bogan Gate Boggabilla Boggabri Bolaro Bolgart Bolong Bomaderry Bombala Bombo Bondi Bong Bong Bongaree Boodarockin Boogardie Boolading Boolaroo Booligal Boonoo Boonoo Boorabbin Booragoon Boorara Boorowa Boreen Point Bowelling Bowgada Bowral Boya Boyanup Boyup Brook Bredbo Brit Brit Broulee Brundee Buderim Budgewoi Bulimba Bullaring Bulli Buln Buln Bullaburra Bulong Bung Bong Bundamba Bundanoon Bundeena Bungulla Bunjil Bunyip Burakin Buraja Burekup Burpengary Buronga Burracoppin Burran Rock Burraneer Buttaba
→C← Caboolture Cabramatta Cabramurra Calga Calingiri Caiguna Callala Caloundra Cammeray Canbelego Canberra Candelo Canna Carbunup River Cardup Caringbah Carnamah Caron Carrabin Carramar Chinocup Chittering Clackline Clybucca Cobargo Cocklebiddy Collarenebri Collaroy Conargo Condingup Congelin Coodanup Coogee Coogee Cookernup Coolac Coolah Coolamon Coolangatta Coolbellup Coolbinia Coolgardie Coolimba Cooloongup Coolup Cooma Coomalbidgup Coonabarabran Coonamble Coonawarra Cooran Cooranbong Coorow Cooroy Cootamundra (but Cootamundry Creek) Coraki Coramba Cordering Corowa Corrigin Corrimal Corryong Couridjah Corindi Cowandilla Cowaramup Cowcowing Cowra Cringila Cronulla Cuballing Cuddingwarra Cudgewa Cudmirrah Culburra Cullacabardee Cunderdin Cunjerong Point Curl Curl Currambine Currarong Currumbin Currumundi
→D← Dalaroo Dalwallinu Dalyup Dandaragan Dandenong Dangin Dardanup Darkan Dapto Dattening Deniliquin Derrimut Dharruk Diddillibah Dinninup Dimbulah Dirranbandi Doonan Drik Drik Drouin Dongara Doodlakine Dooralong Dowerin Dubbo Dudinin Dukin Dumbleyung Dungog Duranillin Duri Dwarda Dwellingup
→E← Echuca Echunga Ejanding Elanora Eleebana Eneabba Eradu Erina Ettalong Ettamogah Eucla Eugowra Eujinyn Eulaminna Eumundi Eungai Euroa Eurobodalla Eurunderee
→G← Gabanintha Gabbin Gagalba Galong Ganmain Garah Geelong Gerogery Gerringong Gidgegannup Gilgandra Gindalbie Gingin Ginninderra Giralang Girraween Girrawheen Gnangara Gnowangerup Goodna Goodooga Gooloogong Goomalling Goondi Goondiwindi Goonellabah Goonengerry Goongarrie Goonoo Goonoo Goornong Gringegalgona Grong Grong Gulargambone Gunbalanya Gudarra Gulgong Gullewa Gundagai Gundamaian Gundaroo Gungahlin Gunnedah Gunyidi Guyra Gwambygine Gwelup Gymea
→H← Howatharra Howlong
→I← Illabo Illaroo Illalong Illawong Iluka Inala Indooroopilly Ingebyra Innaloo Imbil
→J← Jamberoo Jandabup Jannali Jardee Jeebropilly Jennacubbine Jeparit Jerangle Jerdacuttup Jerrabomberra Jerramungup Jimboomba Jincumbilly Jindabyne Jindalee, Queensland Jindalee Jingalup Jindabyne Jindera Jingellic Jitarning Joondalup Jugiong
→K← Kalamunda Kalannie Kalbarri Kaleen Kalgan Kalgoorlie Kallangur Kallaroo Kalli Kambah Kambalda Kameruka Kanahooka Kangy Angy Kanowna Kanwal Karawara Karrabin Karingal Karangi Kardinya Kareela Kariong Karlgarin Karnup Karragullen Karrakatta Karrakup Karratha Karridale Karrinyup Karuah Karumba Katanning Katoomba Kauring Kebaringup Kellerberrin Kemblawarra Kendenup Keperra Kerang Khancoban Kiah Kiama Kiara Kiewa Kiley Killara Kirrawee Kirribilli Kirup Kogarah Kojonup Kokardine Konnongorring Koo Wee Rup Koojan Koolan Koolanooka Koolewong Koolyanobbing Koonawarra Koondoola Koongamia Koorda Kooragang Koreelah Korrelocking Kooringal Korumburra Kotara Kowanyama Krambach Kudardup Kukerin Kulikup Kulin Kulja Kulyalling Kumari Kundana Kunjin Kununoppin Kununurra Kuranda Kurnalpi Kurnell Kurrawang Kweda Kwelkan Kwinana Kwolyin Kyancutta Kyogle Kurri Kurri Kyabram Kyeemagh Kywong
→L← Lake Cooroibah Lameroo Lang Lang Larrakeyah Legana Lenah Valley Leongatha Leumeah Leura Liawenee Lilli Pilli Loorana Lurnea Lutana
→M← Magati Ke Malanda Maleny Mallina Malua Bay Manangatang Mandiga Mandogalup Manera Heights Mandurah Mandurama Mandurang Maningrida Manildra Manilla Manjimup Manmanning Maralinga Marangaroo Marayong Marbelup Marchagee Mardella Mareeba Marmong Point Maroochydore Maroota Maroubra Mareeba Marree Maribyrnong Mariginiup Mathoura Matong Maya Mayanup Maydena Meckering Meekatharra Meenaar Mendooran Menindee Merimbula Merredin Merriwa Merrygoen Mia Mia Michelago Miling Millaa Millaa Millmerran Milparinka Milperra Mindarie Minnamurra Mingenew Minyip Mirrabooka Mittagong Moama Moe Mogo Monbulk Mollymook Moodiarrup Moojebing Mooloolaba Moonah Moonbi Mooloolaba Mooney Mooney Moonijin Moora Moorabbin Moorine Rock Moornaming Moorooka Mooroolbark Mooroopna Moorumbine Morawa Mordialloc Moree Moruya Moulyining Mount Colah Mount Ku-ring-gai Mount Warrigal Muchea Mudgee Mudjimba Muja Mukinbudin Mulgarrie Mulgoa Mullaloo Mullalyup Mullengandra (formerly Mullanjandra) Mullewa Mulline Mullumbimby Mulwarrie Mundaring Mundijong Mundubbera Mungindi Mungalup Munglinup Muntadgin Murarrie Muradup Murdunna Murrin Murrin Murrumba Downs Murrumbeena Murrumburrah Murrurundi Murwillumbah Myalup Myaree
→N← Nabawa Nabiac Nalkain Nalya Nambrok Nambucca Nana Glen Nangeenan Nannine Nannup Naracoopa Naraling Narara Nareena Hills Narembeen Naremburn Narkal Narooma Narwee Narrabeen Narrabri Narrabundah Narrandera Nar Nar Goon Narngulu Narrabundah Narrandera Narrawallee Narre Warren Narraweena Narrikup Narrogin Narromine Needilup Neendaling Neerabup Nelligen Nemingha Nerriga Nerrigundah Ngunnawal Nhulunbuy Nimmitabel Ningi Nippering Nirimba Noarlunga Noggerup Nollamara Noojee Noongal Noongar Noosa North Dandalup North Yunderup Nowergup Nowra Nugadong Nullagine Numbah Nungarin Nungatta Nunngarra Nuriootpa Nyabing Nyngan
→O← Omeo Ongerup Ourimbah Ouyen
→P← Pambula Papunya Panania Pannawonica Parraburdoo Paringa Parramatta Patchewollock Patonga Pawleena Pegarah Pemulwuy Penna Perenjori Peringillup Pialligo Piawaning Pindar Pingaring Pingelly Pingrup Pinjar Pinjarra Pintharuka Pinwernying Pithara Poatina Pooncarie Pootenup Popanyinning Pormpuraaw Porongurup Primbee Pyree
→Q← Quaama Quairading Qualeup Quambone Queanbeyan Quandialla Quigup Quindalup Quindanning Quirindi
→R← Ramingining Reekara
→S← South Kumminin South Yunderup
→T← Tahmoor Talbingo Tallangatta Tallawarra Tallebudgera Tambellup Tammin Tangambalanga Tanilba Bay Tanunda Tarago Taralga Taranna Tarcutta Taree Taringa Taroo Taroona Tarragindi Tarraleah Tarrawanna Tarzali Tathra Telarah Tenindewa Teralba Terara Terrigal Tewantin Tharwa Thirroul Thredbo Thurgoona Tibooburra Tilpa Timbillica Tincurrin Tingalpa Tingha Tintaldra Tolga Tomerong Tongarra Toodyay Toogoolawah Toukley Toolibin Tooloom Toombul Toongabbie Toowong Toowoomba Toolijooa Toowong Toukley Towradgi Towrang Trangie Trayning Tuckanarra Tuggerah Tuggeranong Tuggerawong Tullimbar Tumbarumba Tumbi Umbi Tumblong Tumut Tuncurry Tura Beach Turlinjah Turramurra
→U← Uki Umina Unanderra Uraidla Uriarra Uralla Urana Urunga
→W← Wadalba Waddamanna Wadderin Wagaman Wagerup Wagga Wagga Wagin Wahroonga Walbundrie Walcha Walgoolan Walla Walla Wallabadah Wallangarra Wallerawang Walwa Wamberal Wanaaring Wandandian Wandering Wandi Wamboin Wandoan Wangaratta Wangi Wangi Wannamal Wannanup Wanneroo Wantirna Waramanga Warana Waratah Warrimoo Waroona Warrachuppin Warragul Warralakin Warrandyte Warrawong Warrnambool Warumbul Watheroo Wee Waa Welbungin Werombi Weetangera Werribee West Toodyay Wialki Wickepin Widgiemooltha Wilcannia Wilga Wilkawatt Willagee Willunga Wiluna Windang Windellama Wingala Wingello Wodalba Wodonga Wogarl Wokalup Wollombi Wollomombi Wollongong Wooloowin Wonboyn Wongai Wongan Hills Wonnerup Woodanilling Woodarra Woolgoolga Wooli Woollahra Woolloomooloo Woolloongabba Woongarra Woori Yallock Woorim Wombarra Wongawilli Woodenbong Woolgoolga Woollamia Woomargamah Woomera Woonona Wooroloo Wonthaggi Worrigee Woy Woy Wubin Wujal Wujal Wulkuraka Wundowie Wurtulla Wyalkatchem Wyee Wyening Wymah Wyong Wyongah
→Y← Yackandandah Yagoona Yalata Yalgoo Yallah Yallakool Yallambie Yalup Brook Yalwal Yamba Yambacoona Yanchep Yanco Yandanooka Yanderra Yandina Yarrahapinni Yerrinbool Yangebup Yanmah Yannawah Yannergee Yantabulla Yarding Yarloop Yaroomba Yarrabah Yarrabandai Yarralumla Yarram Yarramalong Yarraman Yarrawarrah Yarrawonga Yarra Bay Yarri Yatala Yattalonga Yatte Yattah Yealering Yeerongpilly Yelbeni Yellowdine Yennora Yeppoon Yerecoin Yeronga Yerrinbool Yilliminning Yirrkala Yokine Yolla Yoogali Yornaning Yoting Youanmi Youndegin Yoweragabbie Yowie Bay Yowrie Yuendumu Yulara Yullundry Yuluma Yuna Yundamindera Yungaburra Yunndaga
Regions and shires not named after town, river, etc.
Banyule City Council Baryulgil Barrenjoey Boroondara City Council Buloke Shire Corangamite Shire Demondrille Shire (abolished) Eurobodalla Shire Gannawarra Shire Illawarra Ku-ring-gai Municipality Moorabool Shire Mulwaree Shire (abolished) Murrumbidgee Murrundindi Shire