Australian Maps/Facts/Figures/Slang Dict. - Reference only

[Tibrogargan]

AUSTRALIA



A little over 200 years ago Australia was sparsely inhabited by the aboriginal people. In 1788 the first European settlers arrived in the First Fleet. The 2001 census showed there are 19,400,000 people in Australia on census night, an increase of 6.2% from the 1991 figures.Of all people, 73.9% were Australian born and of those born elsewhere, 36.2% came from the United Kingdom. New Zealand or Ireland, with the majority of the remainder coming from Italy, Vietnam, Greece, China and Germany. People of aboriginal descent increased by a third from 265,458 in 1991 to 352,970. Of these, over half, 55.8%, were counted in New South Wales and Queensland. In the Northern Territory the indigenous proportion of the population was 23.7%.

AUSTRALIAN POPULATION BY STATE as at 2001

STATE   
ACT..............314,171
NSW..........6,532,459
NT................197,590
QLD...........3.627.816
SA.............1.502.397
TAS..............470.272
VIC...........4,828,968
WA............1.909,751

THE GEOGRAPHY OF AUSTRALIA

Australia is the earth's largest island and its smallest continent.The mainland comprises 5 states and 2 territories. The sixth state, Tasmania, is 200 kilometres south of Victoria and separated from the mainland by Bass Strait.To the east, Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands are governed from Australia, as is the Antarctic holding based around Mawson.It is the driest continent on earth with around 1/3rd considered desert. It is approximately 3,700 km. long (north to south) and 4,000 kilometres wide.The mainland section is roughly divided in the east by the Great Dividing Range which lies inland from the eastern seaboard and runs from the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland to Melbourne in Victoria. Included in the range is Australia's highest peak, Mount Kosciusko (2,229 metres) near the New South Wales-Victoria border in the snow capped alpine region of the Great Dividing Range.West of the dividing range the land is mainly flat with a few low ranges including the Flinders Ranges in South Australia and the MacDonnell Ranges near Alice Springs.The centre of the continent is mainly desert and sparsely populated. Around 80% of the Australian population lives within the eastern seaboard or the coastal fringes of the continent.Massive salt lakes, often dry for long periods, will be found in the mid-north of South Australia and these are fed by a large river system which carries water for hundreds of kilometres to fill them. The largest of these, Lake Eyre (9,475 sq km.), was filled this year (1994) for the first time in over a decade. What water does not evaporate from these lakes is fed into the Central Australian Artesian Basin, a vast natural underground series of aquifers from which occasional springs bubble in the most remote desert areas, and from which Alice Springs draws its water supply.

 
EXTERNAL TERRITORIES

External Territories are those remote from the mainland Australia and governed by it.

Australian Antarctic Territory   
Coral Sea Islands Territory   
Territory of Heard and MacDonald Islands   
Christmas Island   
Macquarie Island (Administered by Tasmania)   
Norfolk Island   
Lord Howe Island (Administered by N.S.W.)   
Cocos (Keeling) Islands   
Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Australia is the Worlds Largest Exporter of:

Coal,  Sheep, Wool, Lead, Alumina, Refined Zinc Ores, Diamonds and Mineral Sands
Other Exports include : Veal, Beef, Lamb, Mutton, Sugar, Cereals, Nickel and Iron Ore.

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NEW SOUTH WALES - including AUST CAPITAL TERRITORY



ABOUT NEW SOUTH WALES

New South Wales is the site of Australia's first settlement by Europeans in 1788, is the most populated state in the Commonwealth of Australia. and contains the Australian Capital Territory and Canberra, the Federal parliamentary capital of Australia in the south.
The capital, Sydney, has Australia's largest population and is built on one of the most beautiful harbours in the world. The city is surrounded by mountains and has many fine beaches.
New South Wales can be divided into many sections of interest, particularly along the eastern coastline. The far north near the border with Queensland, where it meets the Gold Coast, is renowned for its fine beaches and relaxed life-style. South of there is the rich rural and resort area which takes in large banana and primary produce areas, around Coffs Harbour and Byron Bay. Just north of Sydney is the industrial city of Newcastle, a major steel producer. It is also the centre for a large primary industry and is the gateway to the Hunter Valley wineries which produce some of Australia's finest wines.
To the west, and visible from the city of Sydney are the Blue Mountains, part of the Great Dividing Range and a popular and spectacular area with quaint villages and beautiful scenery to explore.
To the south, the Southern Highlands are rich in history and were a popular country resort area for early Sydneysiders. Many fine historic homes still exist and can be visited. Today it is a rich rural productive area with many National Parks and some spectacular scenery.
Further South, the coastal resorts of Batemans Bay and Bega are popular holiday destinations and, inland lies the ACT national capital of Canberra, and the gateway to the Southern Alps, which are a major skiing and snow sports resort in winter.
The border of New South Wales and Victoria is mainly formed by the mighty Murray River and all the towns and cities along its length are prosperous rural centres with a background as river ports dating back to last century, and still popular water recreation centres. Fishing for the giant Murray Cod is one of the great recreation activities available, as are water skiing, swimming and boating. River cruises on paddle wheel steamers is available at some ports.
In the south-west, The Riverina is a large rice and grain producing area along the Murrumbidgee River which rises in the alpine area and meanders several hundred kilometres to join the Murray River near Robinvale.
The west of the state, beyond the Great Dividing Range leads to the real outback of Australia, and vegetation and facilities diminish the further you travel. The far west is on the eastern fringe of Sturt's Stony Desert and many of the towns like Burke, Broken Hill, and Wilcannia provide comfortable stopovers for the traveller in the harsher environment.

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THE NORTHERN TERRITORY



ABOUT THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

The Northern Territory is located in the Central-north of Australia between Queensland and Western Australia, and north of South Australia. The Top End has a high rainfall in the 'Wet Season' (Nov.to March) with warm winters due to its proximity to the equator. The southern section has mainly hot, dry weather with very cold winter nights.Darwin was first settled in 1839 after 2 previous attempts. The Northern Territory contains two of Australia's best known attractions. Kakadu in the north, and Ayers Rock (Uluru) in the south.

[Tibrogargan]

QUEENSLAND



ABOUT QUEENSLAND

Queensland calls itself the 'Sunshine State', and enjoys semi-tropical weather, thousands of kilometres of beaches, and an easy going life-style. In the north the tropical region has rain-forests, gorges, islands, and massive rivers which cut access to many places after rains. Being tropical it is also cyclonic and the extremes of weather can be experienced. In the south, the climate is more moderate with cooler nights and clearer days. It is divided east-west by the Great Dividing Range which closely follows the coastline. West of the range the 'Outback' is cattle country with sparse vegetation and in the more remote areas nights will be below zero in winter and days can reach 50° in summer. Queensland also contains several of Australia's best known and visited tourist attractions in the Gold Coast, and the Great Barrier Reef. In the far north Cape York Peninsula and the Daintree Forest and gaining increasing popularity, and the islands off the coast in the reef are popular holiday destinations for millions each year.

[Tibrogargan]

SOUTH AUSTRALIA



ABOUT SOUTH AUSTRALIA

South Australia is known as the driest state in the driest continent on earth. but that doesn't mean it doesn't have some of the most beautiful coastline and lakes you will see. For example, the Blue Lake at Mount Gambier is renowned for its deep rich azure colour, while the mighty Murray River wends its serene way for 400km. right through its southern portions. By contrast, the giant salt lakes of Lake Eyre and Gairdner are massive, usually dry, and spectacular in the wildflowers, bird and wildlife which abound there in all seasons and conditions. Lake Eyre is the common venue for attempts at the world land speed record.This varied landscape offers many opportunities for a fascinating holiday.In the south east of the state you will find lakes and craters, mountains, wineries and forests; along the Riverland, the rich fruit and wine producing areas are a popular place for visitors, and in the far north the 'Outback' and the Simpson Desert offer an ongoing challenge to the 4WD adventurer, and a vista unseen elsewhere.Across the Nullabor Desert to the west, the stark treeless landscape contrasts with the spectacular coastline only a few kilometres to the south where the Southern Ocean crashes onto the coast, creating diverse patterns in the rock face and sheltering the whales which come each season to breed in the spacious waters.In the mid-north the Flinders Ranges are a spectacular range of red cliffs with numerous walking tracks, gorges and chasms to explore. Behind Adelaide the quaint villages which dot the Adelaide Hills offer many opportunities for browsing antique and craft shops, visiting museums, or picnicking under the shady gum trees in beautiful surroundings.The Fleurieu Peninsula and Barossa Valley are renownd wine producing areas with interesting little towns and villages each offering its unique atmosphere and lifestyle to the visitor. Victor Harbor has recently become a significant whale watching centre as these norw protected giants return in larger numbers to their traditional breeding grounds.Kangaroo island off the Peninsula, is now one of the most famed destinations for visitors to the state and offers spectacular scenery and unique wildlife experiences.At the heart of this region is the city of Adelaide. With around one million population it is an ideal size to enjoy the benefits of a big city, while enjoying the cosiness of one not quite so large. To the north and south are the internationally recognised wine regions of the Barossa Valley and Southern Vales, to the west is the Gulf St. Vincent, providing a near continuous beach for 100km., and to the east, the hills and Murray River.

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TASMANIA



ABOUT TASMANIA

The island state of Tasmania is located some 200 kilometres south of the mainland of Australia and is Australia's smallest state, measuring only some 200 kilometres from north to south and east to west at its broadest points.Rich in Australia's young history, it was the second settlement in Australia after Sydney and the first settlers arrived in 1803 to what is now Hobart. It was primarily established as a penal settlement to house prisoners from the United Kingdom and much of this early penal history can be seen around the state.It takes its name from Abel Tasman who first charted the island in 1642 and originally named it Van Diemens Land. Like those who visit it today he was struck by its intense and varied beauty. The  island can be divided mainly into 4 sections. The north west, where the ferry from Melbourne disembarks at Devonport, the North East, with beautiful beaches and snow capped mountain peaks, the South West, renowned for the system of rivers and the beautiful rain forests which comprise a magnificent World Heritage Area, and the South East, which houses the ruins of the penal settlement of Port Arthur, and has a rugged and beautiful coastline interspersed with many fine beaches.The principal cities are the capital, Hobart, in the south, and Launceston, in the north.

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VICTORIA



ABOUT VICTORIA

Victoria calls itself the 'Garden State', a reference to the rolling green hills and valleys which make up the majority of the state. Varied in scenery, it is surrounded by water on 3 sides. To the north the mighty River Murray makes up the bulk of its border to New South Wales, while to the east and south, the Tasman Sea, Bass Strait, and the Southern Ocean have carved out a spectacular coastline which varies from golden beaches to stark outcrops such as the Port Campbell National Park. Also in the north is the Alpine National Park, a skiing area which offers winter sports from around June to August, and mountain-climbing and exploration throughout the rest of the year.
In the west of the state, close to its border with South Australia, desert wilderness areas can be seen. The Little Desert and Wyperfeld National Parks are renowned for the wildflowers which bloom throughout the year, mainly around September, and are popular walking and exploring venues.
Among the major attractions of the state is The Grampians National Park, west of Melbourne. This beautiful area offers walking trails, spectacular lookouts and lake swimming and fishing. South-east of Melbourne, Phillip Island is a popular place to observe the nightly procession of penguins returning to their nests after a days activities.
The capital of Victoria, Melbourne, enjoys the reputation of being Australia's Cultural capital, and this is reflected in the many live shows which are presented at the theatres which abound in the city.

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA



ABOUT WESTERN AUSTRALIA

In Western Australia the majority of the population live in the capital, Perth, in the south western corner of the state at Lat. 31 degrees 57' south and Long. 115 degrees 51' east. Straddling the Swan River and situated on the golden beaches of the Indian Ocean, Perth is a spacious, modern and easy-going city and claims to be the world's most remote capital city, Adelaide is 2,200 kilometres east. Perth was the venue for the America's Cup Challenge in the mid 1980's after local businessman Alan Bond won it from America for the first time in its history. Early world exploration saw Dirk Hartog land on its coastline in 1616.  Western Australia was settled at Perth in 1829 and the early settlers faced harsh times. Floods and droughts were common and it was not until the 1850's when convict labour was introduced to the colony that an infrastructure of bridges and roads began to develop in earnest. Off the coast of Perth is Rottnest Island, a 2,000 hectare island accessed by plane or ferry from Perth or Fremantle. Western Australia has a varied and interesting geography. The fertile south west corner is a rich rural and agricultural centre producing most crops and dairy products, and the wineries around the Margaret River are among Australia's finest. The far north east, near the Northern Teritory border around Kununnurra, was developed some 25 years ago as a vast irrigation area using the dammed lake for the production of rice crops and other agricultural products. The scheme didn't work at the time, but new interest is being generated and the project looks like being successful in the near future. The north west contains vast mineral wealth and the iron deposits there are among the worlds largest. Commercial diamonds are being mined at the Argyle Diamond mine, and the North West Shelf off the coast has vast oil and gas reserves which are now recognised as Australia's largest. Gold is still mined at Kalgoorlie in the east of the state and many major mining companies have investments in the state. Some pearling is still carried out from Broome on the northern coastline and the rest of the state is made up of vast cattle stations which provide much of the nations beef. Western Australia is remote from the rest of the country but its capital is recognised as the most beautiful in Australia and it works hard at competing with the eastern states with much success.  The state emblem is a Black Swan and its floral emblem is the Kangaroo Paw.

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SOME INTERESTING FACTS AND STATISTICS

Some of the highest, lowest, oddest and interesting facts about Australia.·

Highest Mountain: Mainland: Mount Kosciuszco 2,229 metres. The highest point is Mawson Peak on Heard Island at 2,754 m.  
Australia is the lowest continent in the world with an average of only 330 metres. and the lowest point is Lake Eyre in South Australia at 15 m. below sea level.
The most southerly mainland point is South Point, on Wilson's Promontory south of Melbourne. South East Point in Tasmania is the most southerly point of the main continent excluding the Antarctic.
The longest river is the Murray River and its tributary the Darling River, which joins it at Wentworth in the south-west corner of New South Wales. Together totalling 3,370 km. their drainage basin comprises more then 1 million square kilometres or around 14% of Australia.
The largest state is Western Australia with an area of over 2.5 million square kilometres. The largest island is Australia itself, followed by Tasmania, but offshore the largest is Melville Island of 5,786 sq km. near Darwin.
The smallest state is Tasmania.
The hottest temperature recorded in Australia was 53 degrees celsius at Cloncurry in Queensland in 1889.
The coldest temperature recorded was at Charlottes Pass in the snowfields of the Great Dividing Range near Mt. Kosciuszko of -23 degrees celsius in 1994.
The highest rainfall ever in Australia was 907mm. of rain at Crohamhust in Queensland on February 1893. The highest average rainfall recorded was at Bellenden Ker in Queensland where 11,251 mm. fell in 1979.
The driest place in Australia is Lake Eyre with an average annual rainfall of less than 125mm.
The most extreme range of temperature has been recorded at White Cliffs, an opal mining centre in Western New South Wales with extremes of 57.2 degrees between below-zero winter nights and hot summer days.

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SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT TASMANIA  

The Bush Inn at New Norfolk (1825) is the oldest continually licensed public house in Australia.
The Theatre Royal in Hobart is Australia's oldest operative live theatre.
Tasmania has Australia's oldest brewery, the Cascade brewery in Hobart.  
Tasmania has Australia's most complete ruins of a convict settlement at Port Arthur.
Tasmania has a higher proportion of its land area (22.6 per cent) reserved for recreation and conservation purposes than any other State.  
Western Tasmania's World Heritage Area is one of the last great unspoilt temperate wilderness areas in the world.
Tasmania possesses the finest brown trout angling in the southern hemisphere and is the source of all brown trout stocks in Australia and New Zealand.
Tasmania has the longest and deepest caves and the deepest natural freshwater lake in Australia, Lake St Clair.
Launceston's Cataract Gorge Chairlift is the longest single-span chairlift in the world.
Tasmania has the fastest growing farmed Atlantic salmon in the world and one of the world's largest and most modern hatcheries.
The reputation of Tasmania's premium wines is protected by the only legislated apellation scheme in Australia.
Tasmania has the largest lavender farm in the world and it is the only commercial lavender producer in the southern hemisphere.
The dominant rainforest species are eucalypts, including the tallest stands of hardwood in the southern Hemisphere and the biggest white gum (89 metres tall and 10 metres around) in the world.
The forests also include a unique range of minor species, including myrtle, blackwood, sassafras, leatherwood, celery top pine, Huon pine and King Billy pine. These timbers are used extensively in the craft and quality furniture industries.
A Huon pine tree in the south-west wilderness is estimated to be 4,000 years old, making it the oldest living thing on earth.
Tasmania has 68 golf courses - more per capita than any other state in Australia.
Tasmania is closer to the equator than Rome, Chicago or the Azores.
Tasmania has the cleanest air in the world and its rainwater is so pure that quantities have been shipped to Australian Olympic Athletes competing overseas.
Tasmania is the most decentralised State and Tasmanians travel the shortest distances of any Australian workers between their homes and their jobs.
Tasmania is the southern-most State and lies 240km south of the Australian mainland, on a latitude of 40 degrees south.  Its territory includes Macquarie Island, halfway between the Australian mainland and the Antarctic continent, but the capital, Hobart is no further from the equator than New York or Madrid.

[klaasend]

Maps courtesy of AUI Info:
http://www.auinfo.com/

[jobie]

Maps courtesy of AUI Info:
http://www.auinfo.com/

Great link and lots of good info.  Thanks.

[klaasend]

Maps courtesy of AUI Info:
http://www.auinfo.com/

Great link and lots of good info.  Thanks.

  Try the link again.  I had too man "i" in the link and it was an insurance company site in Australia.

[Tibrogargan]

AUSTRALIAN SLANG DICTIONARY

A little help with Australian colloquialisms :

A

Ace! : Excellent! Very good!
Aerial pingpong : Australian Rules football
Aggro : abbreviation for aggressive, aggression,aggravated
Amber fluid : beer
Ambo : ambulance, ambulance driver
Ankle biter : small child
Apples, she'll be : It'll be all right
Arvo : afternoon
Aussie (pron. Ozzie) : Australian
Aussie salute : brushing away flies with the hand
Av-a-go-yer-mug : A phrase used to encourage someone to put more effort into something

B

B & S : Bachelors' and Spinsters' Ball - a very enjoyable party usually held in rural areas  
Back of Bourke : a very long way away
Bail (somebody) up : to corner somebody physically
Bail out : depart, usually angrily
Banana bender : a person from Queensland
Bangers : Sausages
Barbie : barbecue (noun)
Barney : An argument or fight
Barrack : to cheer on (football team etc.)
Bastard : term of endearment
Bathers : swimming costume
Battler : someone working hard and only just making a living
Beano : a festivity, celebration
Beaut, beauty : great, fantastic
Big-note oneself : brag, boast
Big smoke : city
Bikkie : biscuit - also "it cost big bikkies" - it was expensive; to have had the bikkie - useless, not working  (biscuits are cookies)
Billabong : an ox-bow river or watering hole
Billy : teapot, large tin can for boiling water over a camp fire.
Bingle : motor vehicle accident
Bities : biting insects
Bitzer : mongrel dog (bits of this and bits of that)
Bizzo : business ("mind your own bizzo")
Black Stump, beyond the : a long way away, the back of nowhere
Bloke : man, guy
Bloody : very (bloody hard yakka)
Bloody oath! : that's certainly true
Blow in the bag : have a breathalyser test
Blowie : blow fly
Bludger : lazy person, layabout, somebody who always relies on other people to do things or lend him things
Blue : fight ("he was having a blue with his wife")
Blue, make a : make a mistake
Bluey : pack, equipment, traffic ticket, redhead
Bluey : blue cattle dog (named after its subtle markings) which is an excellent working dog. Everyone's favourite all-Aussie dog.
Bluey : heavy wool or felt jacket worn by mining and construction workers.
Bluey : bluebottle jellyfish
Bodgy : of inferior quality
Bog in : commence eating, to attack food with enthusiasm
Bog standard : basic, unadorned, without accessories (a bog standard car, telephone etc.)
Bogan : person who takes little pride in his appearance, spends his days slacking and drinking beer
Bogged : Stuck in mud, deep sand (a vehicle).  
Bonzer : great, ripper
Boogie board : a hybrid, half-sized surf board
Boomer : a large male kangaroo
Booze bus : police vehicle used for catching drunk drivers
Boozer : a pub
Bored witless : very bored
Bottle shop : liquor shop
Bottle-o : liquor shop (originally a man with hessian bags going around picking up beer bottles in the 50's and 60's)
Bottler : something excellent
Bottling, his blood's worth : he's an excellent, helpful bloke.
Bounce : a bully
Bouncer : a security guard especially at a disco or nightclub
Bourke Street, he doesn't know Christmas from : he's a bit slow in the head. (Bourke Street is a brightly lit Melbourne street)
Bowl of rice, not my : not my cup of tea; I don't like it
Brass razoo, he hasn't got a : he's very poor
Brekkie : breakfast  
Brickie : bricklayer
Brisvegas : Brisbane, state capital of Queensland
Brizzie : Brisbane, state capital of Queensland  
Brumby : a wild horse
Buck's night : stag party, male gathering the night before the wedding
Buckley's, Buckley's chance : no chance ("New Zealand stands Buckley's of beating Australia at football")  
Bull bar : stout bar fixed to the front of a vehicle to protect it against hitting kangaroos (also roo bar)
Bundy : short for Bundaberg, Queensland, and the brand of rum that's made there
Bunyip : mythical outback creature
Bush : the hinterland, the Outback, anywhere that isn't in town
Bush bash : long competitive running or motorcar race through the bush
Bush telly : campfire
Bush Telegraph: unofficial communication network by which rumours are spread
Bushie : someone who lives in the Bush  
Bushranger : highwayman, outlaw
Bushwhacker : One who lives in the bush
Bushwhacked : extremely fatigued, exhausted
Bush week : a fictitious time when country people come to town, a time of year when stupid things happen
Bushy Tailed : full of good health – as in “bright eyed and bushy tailed”
Bust : to apprehend for an illegal activity, a police raid, to go bankrupt
Butcher : small glass of beer in South Australia - From the theory that a butcher could take a quick break from his job, have a drink and be back at work
BYO : unlicensed restaurant where you have to Bring Your Own grog, also similar party or barbecue

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C

Cab Sav : Cabernet Sauvignon (a variety of wine grape)
Cactus : dead, not functioning ("this bloody washing machine is cactus")
Cakehole: mouth, as in “shut your cakehole”
Can do: capable and obliging
Cane toad : a person from Queensland
Captain Cook : look (noun) ("let's have a Captain Cook")
Cark it : to die, cease functioning  
Centralia : central region of Australia
Champers: champagne
Chewie : chewing gum
Chinwag : chat,conversation
Chokkie : chocolate
Chook : a chicken
Chrissie : Christmas  
Chuck a sickie : take the day off sick from work when you're perfectly healthy
Chunder : vomit
Clacker : anus (from Latin cloaca = sewer). Also the single orifice of monotremes (platypus and echidna) used both for reproduction and for the elimination of body wastes.
Clayton's : fake, substitute
Cleanskin : Bottle of wine without a label. Usually bought in bulk by companies who then add their own personalised label and use the wine as e.g. gifts to clients
Cleanskin : cattle that have not been branded, earmarked or castrated.
Click : kilometre - "it's 10 clicks away"
Clucky : feeling broody or maternal
Coathanger : Sydney Harbour bridge
Cobber : friend
Cockeyed : slanted to one side, foolish, absurd
Cockie : farmer
Cockie : cockatoo
Cockie : cockroach
Cockroach : a person from New South Wales
Codger : a bloke, fellow, especially old or odd
Coldie : a beer
Come a gutser : make a bad mistake, have an accident
Compo : Workers' Compensation pay
Conch (adj. conchy) : a conscientious person. Somebody who would rather work or study than go out and enjoy him/herself.
Cooee, not within : figuratively a long way away, far off - England weren't within cooee of beating Australia at cricket
Cooee, within : nearby - I was within cooee of landing a big fish when the line broke. He lives within cooee of Sydney.
Cook (noun) : One's wife
Corker : something excellent. A good stroke in cricket might be described as a 'corker of a shot'
Corroboree : an aboriginal dance festival
Counter lunch/Countery : pub lunch
Cozzie : swimming costume  
Crack onto (someone) : to hit on someone, pursue someone romantically
Cranky : in a bad mood, angry
Cream (verb) : defeat by a large margin
Creepy-crawley : insect
Crook : sick, or badly made
Crow eater : a person from South Australia
Cubby house : Small, usually timber, house in the garden used as a children's plaything.
Cut lunch : sandwiches
Cut lunch commando : army reservist
Cut snake, mad as a : very angry
Cut up : to cause distress to, criticise severley

D

Dag : a funny person, nerd, goof
Daks : trousers
Damper : bread made from flour and water  
Dead horse : Tomato sauce (ketchup)
Deadset : true, the truth
Dero : tramp, hobo, homeless person (from "derelict")  
Digger : a soldier
Dill : an idiot
Dingo's breakfast : a yawn, a leak and a good look round (i.e. no breakfast)
Dinkum, fair dinkum : true, real, genuine ("I'm a dinkum Aussie"; "is he fair dinkum?")
Dinky-di : the real thing, genuine
Dipstick : a loser, idiot
Divvy van : Police vehicle used for transporting criminals. Named after the protective 'division' between the driver and the villains.
Dob (somebody) in : inform on somebody. Hence dobber, a tell-tale
Docket : a bill, receipt
Doco : documentary
Dog : unattractive woman  
Dog's eye : meat pie
Dole bludger : somebody on social assistance when unjustified  
Down Under : Australia and New Zealand
Drink with the flies : to drink alone
Drongo : a dope, stupid person
Dropkick : see 'dipstick'
Drum : information, tip-off ("I'll give you the drum")
Duchess : sideboard
Duffer, cattle : rustler
Dummy, spit the : get very upset at something
Dunny : outside lavatory
Dunny budgie : blowfly
Dunny rat, cunning as a : very cunning
Durry : tobacco, cigarette
Dux : top of the class (n.); to be top of the class (v.) - "She duxed four of her subjects".

[Tibrogargan]

E

Earbashing : nagging, non-stop chatter
Ekka : the Brisbane Exhibition, an annual show
Esky : large insulated food/drink container for picnics, barbecues etc.
Exy : expensive

F


Face, off one's : drunk ("He was off his face by 9pm")
Fair dinkum : true, genuine
Fair go : a chance ("give a bloke a fair go")
Fair suck of the sav! : exclamation of wonder, awe, disbelief (see also "sav")
Fairy floss : candy floss, cotton candy
Feral : V8 ute (q.v.) sporting large heavy bullbar, numerous aerials, large truck mudflaps and stickers almost all over the rear window and tailgate. Sometimes seen with a Mack emblem on the bonnet and always with large (multiple) driving lights
Feral (n.) : a hippie, a wild rough living person
Few sandwiches short of a picnic : slow witted
Fisho : fishmonger
Flake : shark's flesh (sold in fish & chips shops)
Flat out like a lizard drinking : flat out, busy
Flick : to give something or somebody the flick is to get rid of it or him/her
Flick it on : to sell something, usually for a quick profit, soon after buying it.
Fly wire : gauze flyscreen covering a window or doorway.
Footy : Australian Rules football
Fossick : search, rummage ("fossicking through the kitchen drawers")
Fossick : to prospect, e.g. for gold
Fossicker : prospector, e.g. for gold  
Fremantle Doctor : the cooling afternoon breeze that arrives in Perth from the direction of Freo
Freo : Fremantle in Western Australia
Fridge : Refrigerator
Frog in a sock, as cross as a : sounding angry - a person or your hard drive!
Fruit loop : fool
Full : drunk
Full as a boot : drunk
Furphy : false or unreliable rumour

G

G'Day : hello!
Gabba : Wooloongabba - the Brisbane cricket ground
Galah : fool, silly person. Named after the bird of the same name because of its antics and the noise it makes.
Garbo, garbologist : municipal garbage collector
Give it a burl : try it, have a go
Gobful, give a : to abuse, usually justifiably ("The neighbours were having a noisy party so I went and gave them a gobful")
Gobsmacked : surprised, astounded
Going off : used of a night spot or party that is a lot of fun - "the place was really going off"
Good oil : useful information, a good idea, the truth
Good onya : good for you, well done
Goog, as full as a : drunk. "Goog" is a variation of the northern English slangword "goggie" meaning an egg.
Greenie : environmentalist
Grinning like a shot fox : very happy, smugly satisfied
Grog : liquor, beer ("bring your own grog, you bludger")
Grouse (adj.) : great, terrific, very good
Grub : food
Grundies : undies, underwear (from Reg Grundy, a television person)
Gutful : drunk, "he's had a gutful”
Gutful : too much  “I’ve had a gutful of this nonsense”
Gyno : gynaecologist
    
H

Hack it : tolerate
Half your luck : expression often indicating envy of good luck
Handle : beer glass with a handle
Hard Yakka : hard work
Harold Holt, to do the : To bolt. (Also "to do the Harold")
Hassle : to give problems
Heaps : a lot, e.g. "thanks heaps", "(s)he earned heaps of money" etc.
Holy dooley! : an exclamation of surprise = "Good heavens!", "My goodness!" "Good grief!" or similar
Homestead : Main residence on a cattle or sheep station
Hoon : hooligan
Hooroo : goodbye
Hotel : often just a pub
Hottie : hot water bottle

I

Icy pole, ice block : popsicle, lollypop

J

Jackaroo : a male trainee station manager or station hand (a station is a big farm/grazing property)
Jillaroo : a female trainee station manager or station hand
Jo Blake : rhyming slang for snake
Joey : baby kangaroo
Journo : journalist
Jug : electric kettle
Jumbuck : sheep

K

Kangaroos loose in the top paddock : Intellectually inadequate ("he's several kangaroos loose in the top paddock")
Kelpie : Australian sheepdog originally bred from Scottish collie
Kero : kerosene
Kick in : contribute money or something
Kindie : kindergarten
Knock : to criticise
Knock back : refusal (noun), refuse (transitive verb)
Knocker : somebody who criticises
Knock off : steal

L

Lair : a flashily dressed young man of brash and vulgar behaviour, to dress up in flashy clothes, to renovate or dress up something in bad taste
Lair it up : to behave in a brash and vulgar manner
Larrikin : a bloke who is always enjoying himself, harmless prankster
Laughing gear : mouth
Lend of, to have a : to take advantage of somebody's gullibility, to have someone on ("he's having a lend of you")
Lippy : lipstick  
Lizard drinking, flat out like a : flat out, busy
Lob, lob in : drop in to see someone ("the rellies have lobbed")
Lollies : sweets, candy
London to a brick : absolute certainty ("it's London to a brick that taxes won't go down")
Long paddock : the side of the road where livestock is grazed during droughts
Longneck : 750ml bottle of beer in South Australia
Lucky Country, The : Australia, where else?  
Lurk : illegal or underhanded racket

[Tibrogargan]

M

Maccas (pron. "mackers") : McDonald's (the hamburger place)
Mad as a cut snake : Very angry
Mallee bull, as fit as a : very fit and strong. The Mallee is very arid beef country in Victoria/South Australia.
Manchester : Household linen, eg sheets etc
Mate : buddy, friend
Mate's rate, mate's discount : cheaper than usual for a "friend"
Matilda : swagman's bedding, sleeping roll
Metho : methylated spirits
Mexican : a person from south of the Queensland or New South Wales border
Mickey Mouse : excellent, very good. Beware though - in some parts of Australia it means inconsequential, frivolous or not very good!
Middy : 285 ml beer glass in New South Wales
Milk bar : corner shop that sells takeaway food
Milko : milkman
Mob : group of people, not necessarily unruly
Mob : family or group of kangaroos
Mongrel : despicable person
Moolah : money
Mozzie : mosquito
Muddy : mud crab (a great delicacy)
Mug : friendly insult ("have a go, yer mug"), gullible person  
Muster : round up sheep or cattle
Mystery bag : a sausage

N

Nasho : National Service (compulsory military service)  
Never Never : the Outback, centre of Australia
Nipper : young surf lifesaver
Noah, Noah’s Ark : rhyming slang for shark
No drama : same as 'no worries'
No worries! : Expression of forgiveness or reassurance (No problem; forget about it; I can do it; Yes, I'll do it)
No-hoper : somebody who'll never do well
Nong : fool, idiot
Not the full quid : not bright intellectually
Nuddy, in the : naked  
Nut out : hammer out or work out (an agreement, say)

O

O.S. : overseas ("he's gone O.S.")
Ocker : an unsophisticated person
Offsider : an assistant, helper  
Oldies : parents - "I'll have to ask my oldies"
On a good lurk :  on to a good thing
On ya mate : Usually means well done, can be used sarcastically
Op shop : opportunity shop, thrift store, place where second hand goods are sold
Open slather : free-for-all, anything goes
Outback : interior of Australia
Oz : Australia!

P

Paddock : field, meadow, fenced off grazing area on a farm or station
Pash : a long passionate kiss; hence "pashing on"
Pav : Pavlova - a rich, creamy Australian dessert
Perve (noun & verb) : looking lustfully at the opposite sex  
Pig's bum! : I don't agree with you
Piker : Someone who doesn't want to fit in with others socially, leaves parties early
Pink slip, get the : get the sack (from the colour of the termination form)
Pint : large glass of beer (esp. in South Australia)
Piss : beer. Hence "hit the piss", "sink some piss"  "he's pissed"
Plate, bring a : Instruction on party or BBQ invitation to bring your own food. It doesn't mean they're short of crockery!
Plonk : cheap wine
Poddy-Dodger : a cattle rustler, one who steals unbranded calves
Pokies : poker machines, fruit machines, gambling slot machines
Polly : politician
Pom, pommy : an Englishman
Pommy bastard : an Englishman
Porky : Lie, untruth (pork pie = lie)
Port : suitcase (portmanteau)
Postie : postman, mailman
Pot : 285 ml beer glass in Queensland and Victoria
Pozzy : position - get a good pozzy at the football stadium
Prawn : shrimp
Prezzy : present, gift

[Tibrogargan]

Q

Quid, make a : earn a living - "are you making a quid?"
Quid, not the full : of low IQ. [Historical note: 'quid' is slang for a pound. £1 became $2 when Australia converted to decimal currency]

R

Rack off : push off! get lost! get out of here! also "rack off hairy legs!".
Rag : newspaper
Rage : party
Rage on : to continue partying - "we raged on until 3am"
Rapt : pleased, delighted
Ratbag : mild insult
Raw prawn, to come the : to be generally disagreeable
Reckon! : you bet! Absolutely!
Reffo : refugee
Rego : vehicle registration
Rellie or relo : family relative
Ridgy-didge : original, genuine
Right, she'll be : it'll be all right
Right, that'd be : Accepting bad news as inevitable. ("I went fishing but caught nothing." "Yeah, that'd be right.")
Rip snorter : great, fantastic - "it was a rip snorter of a party"
Ripper : great, fantastic - "it was a ripper party"
Ripper, you little! : Exclamation of delight or as a reaction to good news
Ripsnorter :  fantastic
Road train : big truck with many trailers
Rock up : to turn up, to arrive - "we rocked up at their house at 8pm"
Rollie : a cigarette that you roll yourself
Roo : kangaroo
Roo bar : stout bar fixed to the front of a vehicle to protect it against hitting kangaroos (also bull bar)  
Ropeable : very angry
Rort (verb or noun) : Cheating, fiddling, defrauding (expenses, the system etc.). Usually used of politicians
Rotten : drunk - "I went out last night and got rotten"
Rubbish (verb) : to criticize

S

Salute, Aussie : brushing flies away
Salvos, the : Salvation Army, bless them
Sandgroper : a person from Western Australia
Sanger : a sandwich
Sav : saveloy (see also "fair suck of the sav!")
Schooner : large beer glass in Queensland; medium beer glass in South Australia
Scratchy : instant lottery ticket
Screamer : party lover; "two pot screamer" - somebody who gets drunk on very little alcohol
Scrub up : dress up, as in “He scrubs up well”
Servo : petrol station
Shag on a rock, stands out like a : very obvious
Shark biscuit : somebody new to surfing
She’ll be apples : all will be well
She'll be right : it'll turn out okay
Sheila : a woman  
Shonky : dubious, underhanded. E.g. a shonky practice, shonky business etc.
Shoot through : to leave
Shout : turn to buy - a round of drinks usually ("it's your shout")
Show pony : someone who tries hard, by his dress or behaviour, to impress those around him.
Sickie : day off sick from work (chuck a sickie = take the day off sick from work when you're perfectly healthy!)
Skite : boast, brag
Skull/Skol (a beer) : to drink a beer in a single draught without taking a breath
Slab : a carton of 24 bottles or cans of beer
Sleepout : house verandah converted to a bedroom
Smoko : smoke or coffee break
Snag : a sausage
Sook : person or animal who is soft, tame, inoffensive. Hence sooky (adj.)
Spag bol : spaghetti bolognese
Spewin' : very angry
Spiffy, pretty spiffy : great, excellent
Spine bashing : resting, loafing
Spit the dummy : get very upset at something
Sport : (mate) used as a form of address usually between males
Spruiker : man who stands outside a nightclub or restaurant trying to persuade people to enter
Sprung : caught doing something wrong
Spunk : a good looking person (of either sex)
Squib : to back down, be a coward; n, one who backs down
Squizz (noun) : look - "take a squizz at this"
Standover man : a large man, usually gang-related, who threatens people with physical violence in order to have his wishes carried out.
Station : a big farm/grazing property
Stickybeak : nosy person
Stoked : very pleased
Stonkered : drunk
Strewth : exclamation, mild oath ("Strewth, that Chris is a bonzer bloke")
Strides : trousers
Strine : Australian slang and pronunciation
Stubby : a 375ml. beer bottle
Stubby holder : polystyrene insulated holder for a stubby
Stuffed, I feel : I'm tired
Stuffed, I'll be : expression of surprise
Sunbake : sunbathe
Sunnies : sunglasses
Surfies : people who go surfing - usually more often than they go to work!
Swag : rolled up bedding etc. carried by a swagman
Swaggie : swagman
Swagman : tramp, hobo

[Tibrogargan]

T

Ta : thanks
Tall poppies : successful people
Tall poppy syndrome : the tendency to criticize successful people
Tallie : 750ml bottle of beer
Taswegian : derogatory term for a person from Tasmania  
Tee-up : to set up (an appointment)
Thingo : Wadjamacallit, thingummy, whatsit
Thongs : cheap rubber backless sandals
Throw-down : small bottle of beer which you can throw down quickly.
Tickets, to have on oneself : to have a high opinion of oneself
Tinny : can of beer
Tinny : small aluminium boat
Tinny: lucky
Togs : swim suit
Too right! : definitely!
Top End : far north of Australia
Trackie daks/dacks : tracksuit pants
Trackies : track suit
Troppo, gone : to have escaped to a state of tropical madness; to have lost the veneer of civilisation after spending too long in the tropics.
Truckie : truck driver
True blue : patriotic
Tucker : food
Tucker-bag : food bag
Turps : turpentine, alcoholic drink
Turps, hit the : go on a drinking binge
Two up : gambling game played by spinning two coins simultaneously

U

Uni : university
Unit : flat, apartment
Up a gum tree :  stranded, in difficulties
Up oneself : have a high opinion of oneself - "he's really up himself"
Up somebody, get : to rebuke somebody - "the boss got up me for being late"
Useful as an ashtray on a motorbike / tits on a bull : unhelpful or incompetent person or thing - "he, she or it is about as useful as tits on a bull" etc. etc.
Ute : utility vehicle, pickup truck

V

VB : Victorian Bitter, a beer
Vedgies : vegetables
Vee dub : Volkswagen
Veg out : relax in front of the TV (like a vegetable)
Vejjo : vegetarian
Vinnie's : St. Vincent De Paul's (charity thrift stores and hostels)

W

WACA (pron. whacker) : Western Australian Cricket Association and the Perth cricket ground
Waggin' school : playing truant
Walkabout : a walk in the Outback by Aborigines that lasts for an indefinite amount of time
Walkabout, it's gone : it's lost, can't be found
Wallop : thump, fall heavily
Wally : someone who keeps making mistakes
Weekend warrior : army reservist
What-da-ya-know : an expression of surprise, a friendly opening to a conversation
Whacker: Idiot; somebody who talks drivel; somebody with whom you have little patience;
Whinge : complain  
Whiteant (verb) : to criticise something to deter somebody from buying it. A car dealer might whiteant another dealer's cars or a real estate salesman might whiteant another agent's property
Wobbly : excitable behaviour ("I complained about the food and the waiter threw a wobbly")
Wobbly boot on, he's got the : drunk
Wog : flu or trivial illness
Wombat : simple minded person  
Woop Woop : invented name for any small unimportant town - "he lives in Woop Woop"
Wowser : straight-laced person, prude, puritan, spoilsport
Wuss : coward; nervous person or animal

X

XXXX : pronounced Four X, brand of beer made in Queensland

Y

Yabber : talk (a lot)
Yabby : inland freshwater crayfish found in Australia (Cherax destructor)
Yakka : work (noun)
Yarn : a chat, a tall story
Yewy : u-turn in traffic ("chuck a yewy at the next traffic lights")
Yobbo : an uncouth person

Z

Zack : sixpence (5 cents) - "it isn't worth a zack", "he hasn't got a zack"

[Artcolley]

Last year I had an Australian client that I exchanged E-mails with as she was very much into the Border Collie trials there. Quite frequently she would  use the expression, " Not THIS little Black Duck"!

I never did ask her what it meant!!! I always wondered.
Through the year we have sort of lost touch (I sort of lost touchl with EVERYTHING in the past year, lol!)