X for Xtra unusual place name

Here in Tasmania we have lots of unusual place names. Some are:

  • Bust-me-gall Hill
  • Break-me-neck Hill
  • Swearing Bobs Plains
  • Black Charlies Opening
  • Mother Browns Bottom
  • Gelignite Creek
  • Doo Town

My dad, Bob, was on the Nomenclature Board so knew lots of unusual named places like those above.

He would always run Hobart Walking Club trips to these places especially those with Bob in the title. My brother and I would always check out the names of mountains, hills, creeks and rivers whenever we were in the car with our parents.

Up in the northern part of Tasmania, there are some towns and other landmarks relating to the bible.

  • Promised Land
  • Devil’s Gate Dam
  • Walls of Jerusalem National Park
  • Lower Beulah

But my favourite unusual place name in Tasmania is Nowhere Else. This is a locality about 8km west of Sheffield, the town of the murals. On one of our holidays as kids, I invited one of my school friends Robin to come with us. Dad photographed my brother, Robin and myself at the signpost to Nowhere Else.

 

W for West Hobart

West Hobart is an inner suburb west of the city of Hobart in Tasmania. Originally it was farming land like hops, orchards, market gardens as well as poultry and dairy. But being on the foothills of kunanyi (Mt Wellington), there was also coal mining, quarrying and a brick works.

Nowadays the suburb has many artists and musicians living there. It has changed from the working class suburb from the 1960’s.

How does West Hobart relate to my family?

My father lived in Goulburn Street and went to school at Lansdowne Primary School in West Hobart.

My grandmother lived in Warwick Street while married to my step grandfather. He was a keen gardener and as a family we would often go at Christmas where he decorated a huge tree in the backyard. They also had lots of small birds and a great vegetable garden.

As kids we would often go to Knocklofty Terrace to go tadpoling.

Mum’s first cousin was born at Elim Salvation Army home in Lansdowne Crescent.

J for Judbury

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Judbury is a rural area in the Huon Valley which is south west of Hobart in Tasmania. It was originally called Judds Creek in 1855 named after the earliest settler there John Cane Judd.

If visiting Hobart on the second Sunday of the month, then a great drive down to Judbury for their market is well worth the time. Great food over the lunch time as well as local products. It is held at Calvert Park which is the Judbury Recreation Ground.

My parents enjoyed bike riding and one of their favourite places to go with the Hobart Walking Club bike riders was down around the Huon Valley area especially Ranelagh to Judbury. In the photo above, mum wasn’t well enough to cycle so I drove her in the car while dad joined their friends. We met them at Judbury for lunch.