Correspondence Between Sydney May And F.J Watson Concerning Aboriginal Place Names (ITM489477)

Union Street, [Toowong], S.W.1. January 7th, 1941

Dear [Mr May],

Your letter of 6th inst is to hand. I am sorry if I caused any trouble by writing to the Courier re. the name Inala,but, as I was,to an extent, responsible for suggesting the name, I would not let pass the statement of a Courier-Mail correspondent that the meaning of the word was "Peaceful Haven". It had already appeared in the newspaper that its meaning was "home of Rest, neither meaning being correct, for the abo^s. readily been expressed as Elysium or Walhalla.

[Barrani] should probably be Baráiní (ai as i in the English word wine and the ultimate syllable as nee). It is a Kabi word meaning "on the top" , from barai, the top, and the inflexion ni indicating"on or above ".

Re. [Bundaleer], I can give no information. Bundal is the Yugarabul ([Brisbane])name for the cunjevoi, but the ultimate syllable puts it out of court as a S.E.Queensland abo. word.

Yours faithfully, [FJWatson] ([F.J.Watson].

Union Street, [Toowong], S.W.1. Dec. 28th, 1940.

[Mr. Sydney May], University of Queensland,

Dear Sir,

I have your letter of 23rd to hand, With regard to the list of place names enclosed therewith I fear that I can give little information. I can only suggest that the name [Cooloola] may have been derived from koólooloi, the cypress pine and [Coroibah] from kurúiba (kuroó-ee-ba) meaning place of grey forest opossums. [Goondoo] may be from gunda (goonda), the cabbage-palm.

As I am not personally acquinted with the localities I cannot say whether this is correct. Although all the places mentioned are within the Kabi territory I cannot recognise any of the other names as being of that language. Unfortunately many place names are so ancient that the blacks themselves have lost their meanings as well as their proper pronunciation, and white people have so progressively mis-spelled and mispronounced them that they are now entirely unintelligible.

The name [Teitsel] contains the letter S , showing that it is not an aboriginal word. The alteration of one letter, viz. S to Z makes a fairly common German surname.

I may mention that the fact,that some years ago, I had an inquiry of an old resident of the locality of the lakes as to the meaning of their names, shows that , locally , they are not known.

Your faithfully, [FJWatson]

23rd December, 1940.

Mr. F. J. Watson, Nyleta, Union Street, TOOWONG. S.W.1

Dear Sir,

I submit to you a list of names occurring between Caboolture and Gympie. Should you know anything of these I would value your explanation.

What does Thooree Wurra mean? Could it by any chance mean Scrubby Creek.

Yours faithfully,

Hon. Secretary.

Nyleta Union street, Toowong, S.W.1. December ,2nd, 1940.

Mr. Sydney May, Hon. Secretary, Q'ld Place Names Committee, University of Queensland

Dear Sir,

Re. the matter of a new name for the locality about Shorncliff. -- Since my conversation with you on the subject, I have recalled that the native (Kabi) name for the cabbage-tree (not the cabbage palm tree) is"Kawa" . This word itself might be suitable. In the same language, kirar-kawa and wirra-kawa each have the meaning of cabbage-tree creek.

Regarding Sandgate itself, I would mention that some years there was some newspaper discussion on the matter of the name of the Sandgate lagoons, when an old resident ^{a Mr. R.W. Southerden} stated that on the older Government maps the name was given as Einbunpin, but no meaning of the same was forthcoming. I think, however that this name is but a corruption of Yimbunban, meaning "place of reeds or rushes, from yimbun, a reed with an edible root, the botanical name of which is Typa Augustifolia. The name is likely to have been corrupted through E-in-bun-pin.

It may be mentioned that Yimbin has already been adopted as the name of a railway station.

Yours faithfully, F.J. Watson

P.S. The name above-mentioned seems to have been applied particularly to the first lagoon; the lagoons being known to early settlers as first, second and third lagoons. These lagoons are a little to the north of Sandgate Central/ FJW

Kall Kalaara Kilara Scrub ?? Milla Milla ?

25th November, 1940.

F.J. Watson, Esq., "Nyleta", Union Street, TOOWONG. S.W.1.

Dear Sir,

In reply to your letter of the 22nd instant, I have to thank you for your excellent advice. We investigated the three words, Yuraba, Burooba and Wanduma, all of which seem very suitable.

At my talk to the Constitutional Club last Thursday, I was asked to suggest a name for two or three homes (i) place on a hill, (ii) a place with two weeping figtrees (ficus benjamini), (iii) an explanation of "Lota". Furthermore, I have been asked to supply the aboriginal name for (i) Sandgate, (ii) Shorncliffe or the Cabbage Tree Creek end of Sandgate. You could give the actual name or suggest a euphonious name describing the locality. Originally called Shorncliffe, the adoption of this name for the Railway Station and State School has caused confusion of locality.

I would also like to know the aboriginal name for "bend in the river".

I will probably have the opportunity to call out and see you on Wednesday afternoon and discuss these matters.

Yours faithfully,

Hon. Secretary.