The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 52
Names of places
Names of places.
The names of places and things are very expressive, and in most instances euphonious, though in many cases greatly distorted by European pronunciation. Thus the proper name of Bodalla is Eurobodella, known for many years as "Boat Alley." Larella, near Molong, is better known as "Larry's Lake," and many others. ("Gabo" Island is altogether a misnomer; it is a blackfellow's pronunciation for "Cape Howe." Woolloomooloo, I was informed by an old resident, is the result of a blackfellow trying to say windmill), &c., &c., &c.
Every tree, plant, rock, animal, and insect has a name, and localities are named accordingly. About Yass, for instance, or, I believe, more properly Yarra, such names as Yarra-lumla, Yarra-minya, Yarra-don. Yarra-laurila, &c., are to be found. Yarra I believe to be the name of a species of gum tree. The termination denotes the locality.