State Library of NSW
[Page 19]
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Bad ... Yah-will
Quick ... Ah-rin-money
Slow ... Wool-lah-wah
Small ... Boon-mun
Big ... Wil-lah-rah
Heavy ... Wool-lah-wah
Fat ... Goo-ry
Rotton (or putrid) ... U-kah Some Place Names Grafton – "Woors-roo-middah". Freeburn explained that "Woorsroo" means the human neck. Presumably therefore the locality got its name from the neck of land upon which the town is built. See any large scale swap of the river.
Elizabeth Island – "Eerie-eerie-id-jah". Literally "edible people". Derived from an ancient fable, or legend, to the effect that, in the dim past, people were killed and eaten upon this island.
Woodford Island – "Moor-loo-wah-hoo". The name (says Freeburn) of the Brushgrove end of the island meaning "many black snakes", "Moorloo" being this reptile's name.
Camira cattle station – "Boo-roo-gin-bah". Place of wind or a windy place.
Clarence River Heads Southside – "Yum-bah". A Sea shell. Freeburn said "a rough shell about as big as a man's fist, clings to rocks and is edible." (not an oyster shell). It is a pity that "Yumbah" has been corrupted to the incorrect "Yamba" by which name the township at Clarence river heads is known.
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