Place Names Quiz

Place Names are important and most people have a good local knowledge. However how good are you when it comes to other places in Australia or elsewhere in the world?

Test your knowledge and skill and see how many place names you can identify from the following lists.  When you think you have identified the right name see if it exists in one of the on–line Place Name Gazetteers.

  Section 1 Questions – General Place Names Knowledge
1.1 Where did the most recent volcanic eruption on the mainland of Australia take place c. 600 CE?
1.2 What is Victoria's highest peak?
1.3 Where has an underground coal seam been burning for at least 1000 years?
1.4 Where were the first land grants made to free settlers? (1793)
1.5 What is Queensland's longest river?
1.6 What is the modern name of King's Town, NSW, founded in 1804?
1.7 Where is the longest sheer drop of any waterfall in Australia?
1.8 What was the end point of Edward Eyre's epic journey around the Great Australian Bight? (1841)
1.9 What is Australia's deepest gorge?
1.10 Where was Australia's first golf course laid out? (1847)
1.11 From where did Ludwig Leichhardt set out on his fatal journey? (1848)
1.12 What town was known first as The Settlement and then as Woolport before receiving its ' current name in 1849?
1.13 Where was the first Australian branch of the YMCA formed? (1850)
1.14 Where did Australia's first railway service run? (1854)
1.15 Where was Australia's first telegraph installed? (1854)
1.16 Where was the Humbug Society formed in 1859?
1.17 Where was bushranger Ben Hall shot dead in an ambush? (1865)
1.18 What town has the distinction of receiving rain on an average 300 days per year?
1.19 Which city is further north - Perth, Port Augusta or Dubbo? And what is its Longitude and Latitude?
1.20 How many localities or towns are there in Australia called "Perth"?

Answers to General Knowledge Questions

 

  Section 2 Question – Cryptic – Australian Rivers
  (eg Princess of Wales, a man, can and a vowel - Di a man tin a)
2.1 Almost yes
2.2 Rushing streams of water without "T"
2.3 Crookwell's July weather can be this
2.4 One who makes rope
2.5 They swim well
2.6 A command, without the Queen's signature
2.7 Same as an Australian capital city
2.8 Elizabeth Taylor's third husband

Answers to Cryptic Australian Rivers

 

  Section 3 Questions – Cryptic – Australian Place Names
  (eg Football posts burning - Goulburn)
3.1 Command to horses and desire
3.2 Boy's name and a measure of weight
3.3 Sphere and a rodent
3.4 Timber and cattle
3.5 Girl from wonderland jumps
3.6 Sailor and two vowels
3.7 Backs car into kerb
3.8 Famous English naturalist
3.9 First name of famous Australian explorer
3.10 Pyramids of rough stones
3.11 Corridor's stream

Answers to Cryptic Australian Place Names

 

  Section 4 Questions – Cryptic – Cities of the World
4.1 A ringing instrument and class or stage
4.2 White Cliffs of …
4.3 Insane disencumber
4.4 Famous stampede
4.5 Automobile's essential
4.6 Wander
4.7 Sprouts come from here
4.8 Group of animals, place of residence
4.9 Kind of bean
4.10 Equal part of verb to be
4.11 The Holy city

Answers to Cryptic Cities of the World

 

Place Names Quiz - Answers

If you have other questions and answers relating to Place Names in Australia, New Zealand or elsewhere in the world we would be happy to include them in future editions of the "Place Names Quiz".  Please feel free to contribute or provide feedback on the Quiz by emailing icsm@ga.gov.au.

  QUESTION ANSWER
  General Place Names Knowledge  
1.1 Where did the most recent volcanic eruption on the mainland of Australia take place c. 600 CE? Mt Gambier, SA
1.2 What is Victoria's highest peak? Mt Bogong
1.3 Where has an underground coal seam been burning for at least 1000 years? Wingen, NSW
1.4 Where were the first land grants made to free settlers? (1793) Liberty Plains, NSW (now Bankstown)
1.5 What is Queensland's longest river? The Flinders
1.6 What is the modern name of King's Town, NSW, founded in 1804? Newcastle
1.7 Where is the longest sheer drop of any waterfall in Australia? Wallaman Falls, Stony Creek, Qld
1.8 What was the end point of Edward Eyre's epic journey around the Great Australian Bight? (1841) Albany, WA
1.9 What is Australia's deepest gorge? Standley Chasm, NT
1.10 Where was Australia's first golf course laid out? (1847) Flagstaff Gardens, Melbourne
1.11 From where did Ludwig Leichhardt set out on his fatal journey? (1848) Darling Downs, Qld
1.12 What town was known first as The Settlement and then as Woolport before receiving its current name in 1849? Grafton, NSW
1.13 Where was the first Australian branch of the YMCA formed? (1850) Adelaide
1.14 Where did Australia's first railway service run? (1854 Between Melbourne and Port Melbourne
1.15 Where was Australia's first telegraph installed? (1854) Between Melbourne and Williamstown, Vic
1.16 Where was the Humbug Society formed in 1959? Gawler, SA
1.17 Where was bushranger Ben Hall shot dead in an ambush? (1865) Forbes, NSW
1.18 What town has the distinction of receiving rain on an average 300 days per year ? Waratah, Tas
1.19 Which city is further north - Perth, Port Augusta or Dubbo? And what is its Longitude and Latitude ? Perth
E 115° 52' S 31° 57'
1.20 How many localities or towns are there in Australia called "Perth" ? There are three:
Perth in Tas.
Perth in WA
Perth in NSW

  QUESTION ANSWER
  Cryptic – Australian Rivers  
2.1 Almost yes Yass River
2.2 Rushing streams of water without 'T' Torrens River
2.3 Crookwell's July weather can be this Snowy River
2.4 One who makes rope Roper River
2.5 They swim well Fish River
2.6 A command, without the Queen's signature Ord River
2.7 Same as an Australian capital city Adelaide or Brisbane River
2.8 Elizabeth Taylor's third husband Todd River

  QUESTION ANSWER
  Cryptic – Australian Place Names  
3.1 Command to horses and desire Geelong
3.2 Boy's name and weight Geraldton
3.3 Sphere and a rodent Ballarat
3.4 Timber and cattle Woodstock
3.5 Girl from wonderland jumps Alice Springs
3.6 Sailor and two vowels Taree
3.7 Backs car into kerb Parkes
3.8 Famous English naturalist Darwin
3.9 First name of famous Australian explorer Hamilton
3.10 Pyramids of rough stones Cairns
3.11 Corridor's stream Halls Creek

  QUESTION ANSWER
  Cryptic – Cities of the World  
4.1 A ringing instrument and class or stage Belgrade
4.2 White Cliffs of … Dover
4.3 Insane disencumber Madrid
4.4 Famous stampede Calgary
4.5 Automobile's essential Cardiff
4.6 Wander Rome
4.7 Sprouts come from here Brussels
4.8 Group of animals, place of residence Stockholm
4.9 Kind of bean Lima
4.10 Equal part of verb to be Paris
4.11 The Holy city Jerusalem