During World War I, many German or German-sounding place names in Australia were changed due to anti-German sentiment. The presence of German-derived place names was seen as an affront to the war effort, and to the sensibilities of many in the Australian population at the time.
The names of locations were often Anglicised (Peterborough), given Aboriginal names (Kobandilla, Karawirra), or named after notable soldiers (Kitchener and Holbrook) or World War I battlefields (Verdun, The Somme). This was done by local councils or the postal authorities, often as the result of a petition by locals.
In South Australia, the Nomenclature Act of 1935 restored the former German names to a number of places the names of which had been Anglicised during World War I.
| Germanton changed to |
Holbrook, the Post Office being renamed on 20 September 1915[1] |
| German's Hill changed to |
Lidster, the Post Office being renamed on 1 February 1916[1] |
| German Creek changed to |
Empire Vale, the Post Office being renamed on 1 May 1915[1] |
| Schlinkers Lane Ultimo, Sydney, changed to |
Bullecourt Lane |
| Bergen changed to |
Murra Murra. The Post Office was renamed in about October 1916[2] |
| Bergenside changed to |
Neuve. The Post Office was renamed in about August 1916[2] |
| Bismarck changed to |
Maclagan. The Post Office was renamed in about March 1916[2] |
| Engelsburg changed to |
Kalbar. The Post Office was renamed in about July 1916[2] |
| Fahley changed to |
Kilbirnie. Kilbirnie Post Office opening in about 1916[2] |
| Friezland changed to |
Kuridala,[2] |
| Gehrkevale changed to |
Mount Mort. The Post Office was renamed Mount Grace in about September 1916, then Mount Mort in about November 1916[2] |
| German Gardens changed to |
Belgian Gardens |
| Gramzow changed to |
Carbrook |
| Hapsburg changed to |
Kowbi. The Post Office was renamed in about October 1916[2] |
| Hessenburg changed to |
Ingoldsby. The Post Office was renamed in about September 1916[2] |
| Kirchheim changed to |
Haigslea. The Post Office was renamed in about October 1916[2] |
| Marburg changed to |
Townshend in June 1917 |
reverted to Marburg in 1920[3] |
| Minden changed to |
Frenchton. The Post Office was renamed in about October 1916 |
reverted to Minden in 1930[2] |
| Roessler changed to |
Applethorpe. Applethorpe Post Office opened in about 1916[2] |
| Stegelitz changed to |
Woongoolba. The Post Office was renamed on 6 June 1916[2] |
| Teutoburg changed to |
Witta. The Post Office was renamed in about 1916[2] |
| Bartsch's Creek changed to |
Yedlakoo Creek |
reverted to Bartsch Creek 1986 |
| Berlin Rock changed to |
Panpandie Rock |
| Bethanien changed to |
Bethany |
| Bismarck changed to |
Weeroopa |
| Blumberg changed to |
Birdwood. The Post Office was renamed on 1 July 1918[4] |
| Blumental changed to |
Lakkari |
| Buchfelde[5] changed to |
Loos |
very frequently Buchsfelde |
| Cape Bauer changed to |
Cape of Wondoma |
reverted to Cape Bauer 1948 |
| Carlsruhe changed to |
Kunden changed in 1918 |
| Ehrenbreitstein changed to |
Mount Yerila |
| Ferdinand Creek[6] changed to |
Ernabella Creek |
| Friedensthal changed to |
Black Hill |
| Friedrichstadt changed to |
Tangari |
| Friedrichswalde changed to |
Tarnma. The Post Office was renamed on 1 July 1918[4] |
| Gebhardt's Hills changed to |
Polygon Ridge |
reverted to Gebhardt Hills 1986 |
| German Creek changed to |
Benara Creek |
reverted 1986 |
| German Pass changed to |
Tappa Pass |
| Germantown Hill changed to |
Vimy Ridge |
road name only reverted to Germantown Hill Road |
| Gottlieb's Well changed to |
Parnggi Well |
| Grunberg changed to |
Karalta |
reverted to Grunberg in 1975 |
| Grunthal changed to |
Verdun. The Post Office was renamed on 1 July 1918[4] |
| Hahndorf changed to |
Ambleside. The Post Office was renamed on 1 July 1918. |
reverted to Hahndorf in 1935[4] |
| Hasse's Mound changed to |
Larelar Mound |
| Heidelberg changed to |
Kobandilla |
| Herrgott Springs changed to |
Marree. The Post Office was renamed on 1 July 1918[4] |
| Hildesheim changed to |
Punthari. The Post Office was renamed on 1 July 1918[4] |
| Hoffnungsthal changed to |
Karawirra |
reverted to Hoffnungsthal in 1975 |
| Hundred of Basedow[7] changed to |
Hundred of French |
| Hundred of Homburg[8] changed to |
Hundred of Haig |
| Hundred of Krichauff changed to |
Hundred of Beatty |
| Hundred of Paech[9] changed to |
Hundred of Cannawigra |
| Hundred of Pflaum[10] changed to |
Hundred of Geegeela |
| Hundred of Rhine (North) changed to |
Hundred of Jellicoe |
| Hundred of Rhine (South) changed to |
Hundred of Jutland |
| Hundred of Scherk[11] changed to |
Hundred of Sturdee |
| Hundred of Schomburgk[12] changed to |
Hundred of Maude |
| Hundred of Von Doussa[13] changed to |
Hundred of Allenby |
| Jaenschtown changed to |
Kerkanya |
| Kaiserstuhl changed to |
Mount Kitchener, in 1918 |
renamed Kaiser's Seat in 1975, now Kaiserstuhl once again |
| Klaebes changed to |
Kilto |
| Klemzig changed to |
Gaza. The Post Office was renamed on 1 July 1918 |
reverted to Klemzig in 1935, but the football club retains the name Gaza[4] |
| Krause Rock changed to |
Marti Rock |
| Krichauff[14] changed to |
Beatty |
changed to Mount Mary 1940 |
| Kronsdorf changed to |
Kabminye |
reverted to Kronsdorf in 1975 |
| Langdorf changed to |
Kaldukee |
| Langmeil changed to |
Bilyara (near Tanunda) |
reverted to Langmeil in 1975 |
| Lobethal changed to |
Tweedvale. The Post Office was renamed on 1 July 1918 |
reverted to Lobethal in 1935[4] |
| Mount Ferdinand changed to |
Mount Warrabillinna |
| Mount Meyer changed to |
Mount Kauto |
| Muller's Hill changed to |
Yandina Hill |
| Neudorf changed to |
Mamburdi |
reverted 1986 |
| Neukirch changed to |
Dimchurch |
reverted to Neukirch in 1975 |
| New Hamburg changed to |
Willyaroo |
| New Mecklenburg changed to |
Gomersal. The Post Office was renamed on 1 July 1918[4] |
| Olivethal changed to |
Olivedale |
| Petersburg changed to |
Peterborough. The Post Office was renamed on 1 July 1918[4] |
The Petersburg Times resisted the change until 1919, and did so under protest.[15] |
| Rhine Park changed to |
Kongolia |
| Rhine Hill changed to |
Mons |
| Rhine River (North) changed to |
The Somme |
changed to Somme Creek 1971 |
| Rhine River (South) changed to |
The Marne |
changed to Marne River 1971 |
| Rhine Villa changed to |
Cambrai. The Post Office was renamed on 1 July 1918[4] |
| Rosenthal changed to |
Rosedale. The Post Office was renamed on 1 July 1918[4] |
| Schoenthal changed to |
Boongala |
reverted 1986 |
| Seppelts[16] changed to |
Dorrien |
| Schreiberhau changed to |
Warre |
reverted 1975 |
| Siegersdorf changed to |
Bultawilta |
reverted to Siegersdorf in 1975 |
| Steinfeld changed to |
Stonefield. The Post Office was renamed on 1 July 1918[4] |
reverted 1986 |
| Summerfeldt changed to |
Summerfield |
| Vogelsang's Corner changed to |
Teerkoore. The Post Office was renamed on 1 July 1918[4] |
reverted to Vogelsang Corner 1986 |
| Wusser's Nob changed to |
Karun Nob |
reverted to Wusser Nob 1983 |
| Germantown changed to |
Grovedale. The Post Office was renamed on 1 March 1916[18] |
| Hochkirch changed to |
Tarrington. The Post Office was renamed on 1 March 1918[18] |
| Mount Bismarck changed to |
Mount Kitchener |
| Reinholtz's PO changed to |
Reynold's PO on 5 November 1920[18] |
| Waldkirch changed to |
Freshwater Creek (Anglesea Road, south-west of Grovedale) |
| Weinberg Road, Hawthorn, changed to |
Wattle Road |
| West Prussia Road, Wantirna, changed to |
Wantirna Road |
| Grünwald, changed to |
Arkona |
| Bismarck Avenue, Surrey Hills, changed to |
Warwick Avenue, in December 1918[19] |
| Heidelberg changed to |
Bickley, a Bickley Receiving Office opening on 1 January 1916[20] |
| Mueller Park changed to |
Kitchener Park |
reverted to Mueller Park 1981 |
See also
References
External links
