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History of country town names - Y


The following information is a summary of the origins for towns names in rural Western Australia. Please select the first letter of the town you wish to see.
Please note: The names of all rural towns are being added progressively to the database.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

YALGOO

Latitude 28° 20' S Longitude 116° 41' E

The townsite of Yalgoo is located in the Murchison region, 499 km north north east of Perth and 118 km east north east of Mullewa. Gold was discovered in the area in the early 1890's, and by 1895 there were 120 men working the diggings and buildings being erected. The goldfield warden asked for a townsite to be surveyed and gazetted, and following survey the townsite of Yalgu was gazetted in January 1896. The spelling Yalgu was used because of spelling rules for Aboriginal names adopted by the Lands & Surveys Department (the letter u best representing the "oo" sound). Within a month the Lands & Surveys had decided reluctantly to use the original Yalgoo spelling, and this spelling has been used ever since. Some doubt about the spelling being officially changed resulted in an amendment from Yalgu to Yalgoo being gazetted in 1938.

Yalgoo is an Aboriginal name first recorded for Yalgoo Peak by the surveyor John Forrest in 1876. The name is said to mean "blood" or "place of blood", derived from the word "Yalguru". An alternative view is that it is derived from the Yalguru bush which abounds in the area, and has blood red sap.


YALUP BROOK

Latitude 32° 54' S Longitude 115° 54' E

The townsite of Yalup Brook is located in the south west agricultural region, 120 km south of Perth and 8 km south of Waroona on the South Western Highway. It is located on the Perth to Bunbury Railway line which opened in 1893, and a Yalup Brook station was established in the late 1890's. A small townsite to meet the needs of nearby settlers was gazetted in 1912, but there has been little development in the townsite due to its proximity to Waroona and Wagerup. The townsite derives its name from the nearby brook of the same name, an Aboriginal name first recorded by a surveyor in 1889. It also appears to be the same name as Yorlup, a name recorded in this area in 1833.


YANDANOOKA

Latitude 29° 19' S Longitude 115° 34' E

The townsite of Yandanooka is located in the northern agricultural region, 348 km north of Perth and 20 km south east of Mingenew. The area was first settled by Thomas Whitfield in the 1850's, and was also on the route of the Midland Railway when it opened in 1895. A Yandanooka siding was established following the opening of the railway line, but was moved 4 kilometres south in 1902. When the siding was moved the government decided the new site was suitable for a future townsite, and land was set aside in 1903. Townsite lots were surveyed in 1913, and the townsite gazetted in 1919. Yandanooka is the Aboriginal name of a nearby water source, Yandanooka Spring. It is said to mean "plenty of hilly country in sight" from "Yanda" (coming) and "Nooka" (hills). The spring name has also been spelt Yendenooka.


YANMAH

Latitude 34° 11' S Longitude 116° 01' E

Located in the forested area of the south west, Yanmah is situated 320 km south of Perth and 20 km west north west of Manjimup. It is located in the midst of an area taken up for the Group Settlement Scheme in the 1920's, and was conceived in 1922 following interest from people wishing to erect stores to supply the needs of the group settlers. A subdivision scheme was developed by Surveyor W Hepple Brown, and the name "Janninup", the Aboriginal name of the area, was suggested by him for the townsite. The alternative name of "Mitchelldean", after the then Premier was also suggested, but Surveyor Brown then nominated the name Yanmah, an Aboriginal word meaning "go ahead" or "go quickly"(Brown had obtained the word from Aborigines whilst working in the Kimberley). The townsite was gazetted as Yanmah in January 1923.


YARDING

Latitude 31° 56' S Longitude 117° 59' E

The townsite of Yarding is located in the central agricultural region, 225 km east of Perth and 20 km west of Bruce Rock. It is located on the railway line from Quairading to Bruce Rock, and when the location of the line was fixed in 1912, Yarding was identified as one of the original station sites. The station was originally suggested to be named Yardyarding, but this was considered too long, and was shortened to Yarding. It was also named Mokami after a nearby spring for a short while before Yarding was approved in 1913. Land was set aside for a townsite in 1913, and in 1914 it was gazetted as the townsite of Yarding. The name is of Aboriginal origin, being derived from Yard Yarding Spring, first recorded by a surveyor in 1879.


YARLOOP

Latitude 32° 57' S Longitude 115° 54' E

The townsite of Yarloop is located in the south west agricultural region, 126 km south of Perth and 16 km north of Harvey. The townsite began as a timber siding on the Perth-Bunbury Railway in 1896, but spelt Yailoup, and later Yarloup, before being spelt Yarloop in 1899. Yarloop was an important timber town, mainly as a rail centre, in the late 1890's, and there is still a timber mill operating in the townsite. It was also a private town, and was not gazetted a townsite until 1962.

The name Yarloop is said to have originated from the words "yard loop"; the rail loop
into the timber yard there. However, the name is more likely Aboriginal in origin. Yalup Brook is situated only about 5km north of Yarloop and there is similarity in pronunciation of the word and the early spelling variations of the siding support it being Aboriginal. .


YARRI

Latitude 29° 47' S Longitude 122° 22' E

Yarri is an abandoned goldfields townsite located 753 km east north east of Perth and 158 km north east of Kalgoorlie. Gold was discovered in this area in 1902, the area being referred to as "New Edjudina" for a while. The Mines Department requested a townsite be surveyed as there were new residences and businesses springing up, and a surveyor suggested the townsite be named "Yarrie", as this was the Aboriginal name of the place. Applying spelling rules for Aboriginal names, the Lands Department changed it to Yarri, and the townsite was gazetted in January 1903. However, no lots were sold in the townsite, and it was cancelled in 1904. A new townsite was surveyed and gazetted in 1908.


YEALERING

Latitude 32° 36' S Longitude 117° 38' E

The townsite of Yealering is located in the great southern agricultural region, 220 km east south east of Perth and 30 km north north east of Wickepin. In 1910 the government decided to construct a railway line from Wickepin to Merredin, the proposed route of the line passing close to Yealering Lake. The Yealering Lake Progress Association wrote to the government regarding the location of the proposed siding and also suggesting a townsite be declared. Land was set aside for a townsite in 1911, and following the survey of lots the Townsite of Yearlering was gazetted in October 1912. This spelling was a printers error, and it was corrected to Yealering a month later. Yealering is an Aboriginal name derived from the nearby lake, the first recorded use of this name being in 1870 when the area was taken up as a grazing lease. The meaning of the name is not known.


YELBENI

Latitude 31° 10' S Longitude 117° 40' E

Located in the central agricultural region 222 km east north east of Perth and 14 km west south west of Trayning, Yelbeni is one of many country towns built around a railway line. When the Dowerin to Merredin railway was planned in 1910 Yelbeni was selected as the site for a siding. Land was set aside for a townsite to be named Yelbene in 1910, but when it was surveyed and gazetted in 1912 it was spelt Yelbeni. The changed spelling most likely reflects a more correct pronunciation according to spelling rules for Aboriginal names adopted by the Lands & Surveys Department. Yelbeni derives its name from Yelbene Well, a watering point on an old road to the goldfields noted during a 1892 survey of the road. The meaning of the name is not known.


YELLOWDINE

Latitude 31° 18' S Longitude 119° 39' E

The townsite of Yellowdine is located in the goldfields region, 402 km east of Perth and 33 km east of Southern Cross. It is located on the Southern Cross to Coolgardie railway which opened in 1896, although the Yellowdine Railway Siding is included in a July 1895 list of stations and sidings. Gold was discovered at a number of locations from 9 to 30 kilometres south of Yellowdine Siding in 1934, and as Yellowdine was the nearest rail point, the government decided to develop a townsite at the siding. At first a new townsite at the nearest gold find was to be named Yellowdine, and this townsite Duladgin, but when the gold field townsite was named Mount Palmer, Yellowdine became available. Yellowdine townsite was gazetted in April 1935. The name is most likely Aboriginal, and the onetime misspelling of Yelladine may be a more authentic spelling. One of the earliest industries in the town was a plaster works built there in 1934. The meaning or source of the name is not known, as it does not appear to be a local Aboriginal name.


YERECOIN

Latitude 30° 55' S Longitude 116° 23' E

The townsite of Yerecoin is located in the northern agricultural region, 156 km north north east of Perth and 21 km north north west of Calingiri. The extension of the railway north from Bolgart was approved in 1914, the line to Calingiri being opened in 1917, and the section from Calingiri to Piawaning in 1919. Yerecoin was one of the stations on the latter section of line, but the surrounding land was owned by the Midland Railway Company, and was not subdivided by the Company until 1925. The Company also set aside 200 acres for a townsite at Yerecoin, but the land was sold to one owner, and development of the townsite area was slow. A school was opened in 1927, and was followed by other community buildings. Yerecoin was gazetted a townsite in 1966. Yerecoin is an Aboriginal name derived from a nearby well. The name was first recorded by a surveyor in 1879


YERILLA

Latitude 29° 29' S Longitude 121° 50' E

Yerilla is an abandoned goldfields townsite located 830 km east north east of Perth and 105 km east north east of Menzies. Gold was discovered in the area in the mid 1890's, and the miners soon formed a progress committee, and in 1896 requested the declaration of a townsite. The townsite was gazetted in November 1896.


YILLIMINNING

Latitude 32° 54' S Longitude 117° 22' E

Yilliminning is a townsite in the great southern agricultural region, 212 km south east of Perth and 20 km east north east of Narrogin. In 1906 the Minister for Lands visited the area, and local settlers sought his support for the declaration of a townsite. Land was set aside for a townsite, a hallsite surveyed and hall erected, and then lots were surveyed in late 1906. The townsite of Yillimining was gazetted in July 1907, but no lots were sold due to doubts about the future of the townsite because it wasn't on the route of a proposed new railway.

In 1909 the government constructed a new railway line from Narrogin to Wickepin, the line passing to the west of Yillimining townsite. A siding named Yillimining was established 5 km west of the townsite, and there was soon demand for a townsite to be declared. Following the survey of lots a new townsite of Yillimining was gazetted in 1910, and the old townsite further east cancelled. After years of confusion over the spelling, the form of this name was amended to Yilliminning in 1944. The townsite name is Aboriginal, being derived from a rock, pool and river of this name nearby. The names were first recorded by a surveyor in 1892.


Y0RK

Latitude 31° 53' S Longitude 116° 46' E

Located 96 km east of Perth, York is the oldest inland town in Western Australia. Land was set aside for a townsite at York in 1830, soon after the discovery of the district by Robert Dale. The townsite was not gazetted, but its boundaries were adopted by the Executive Council and signed by the Governor 19th April 1836. It is named after York in England, the name having been suggested by two Yorkshire members of Robert Dale's exploration party of October 1830. The Aboriginal name of the area is Balladong.


YORNANING

Latitude 32° 44' S Longitude 117° 10' E

The townsite of Yornaning is located in the great southern agricultural region, 184 km south east of Perth and 22 km north of Narrogin. It is located on the Great Southern Railway, and in the late 1890's a siding was established here named simply as "Water Tank". When the name of the siding was changed in 1903/4 the name Yornaning was suggested, but in line with a common practice with siding names was shortened to Yornan. At the request of the Railways Department this was changed to Yornaning in 1905. A townsite was gazetted adjacent to the siding in 1907. Yornaning is an Aboriginal name derived from "Yornanmunging", an Aboriginal place name recorded in this area by John Forrest in 1869. It has also been spelt "Yornanunging" and "Yernanunging". The meaning of the name is not known.


YOTING

Latitude 31° 58' S Longitude 117° 36' E

The townsite of Yoting is located in the central agricultural region, 183 km east of Perth and 19 km east of Quairading. It is located on the railway line from Quairading to Bruce Rock, and when the location of the line was fixed in 1912, Yoting was identified as one of the original station sites. Following the survey of lots at the siding the townsite of Yoting was gazetted in 1914. The name is Aboriginal, being derived from the name of the nearby Yoting Well or spring which was first recorded in 1873. Bruce Leake, an early settler, wrote in 1938 that "Yot" means two women who have quarreled, hitting each other with "wannas" or digging sticks about five feet long used only by the Aboriginal women.


YOUANMI

Latitude 28° 37' S Longitude 118° 50' E

Youanmi is an abandoned goldfields townsite located 570 km north east of Perth and 90 km south west of Sandstone. Gold was discovered in the area in 1896, but was of insufficient richness to warrant being developed. The area was rediscovered in 1908, and by 1910 there were sufficient miners in the area for the "Youanme Progress Committee" to request a townsite be declared. Following the survey of lots the townsite was gazetted in August 1910, but was spelt "Yuani". This spelling was adopted because it was regarded as the correct spelling of this Aboriginal name, and Youanme was a local corruption. However, it was soon realised that the gazetted spelling would lead to the name being mispronounced, and in December 1910 it was changed to the current spelling, Youanmi. The "mi" at the end of the name is pronounced as in "me". Another spelling recorded for the name is "Euanni", and "Coorang" is also recorded as an alternative Aboriginal name for the area.

The name was first recorded for a spring in the area by a surveyor in 1887, the name having been given to the surveyor by an old Aboriginal accompanying him. The meaning of the name is uncertain, one source advising it actually means "you and me", although this is unlikely. Other sources suggest it relates to a type of mulga trees located around the spring or the bob tailed goanna, the Aboriginal name of which is "Youan" or "Uan".


YOUNDEGIN

Latitude 31° 47' S Longitude 117° 20' E

The townsite of Youndegin is located in the central agricultural region, 154 km east north east of Perth and 20 km south south east of Corrigin. It is located on the early main track to the eastern pastoral region, established by C C hunt in 1864, and in 1876 the government set aside land here for police purposes. With the discovery of gold in the late 1880's the track attracted more traffic, and by 1891 an inn named the "Youndegin Arms" had been built here. The government then decided to sell lots, and following a subdivision the townsite of Youndegin was gazetted in 1892. The construction of the railway lines away from Youndegin, and a new route for the main road to the goldfields meant there was no demand for land at Youndegin, and very little development ever took place. The name is Aboriginal, being derived from the nearby Youndegin Hill recorded by C C Hunt in 1864.


YOUNGS SIDING

Latitude 35° 01' S Longitude 117° 31' E

The townsite of Youngs Siding is located in the south coastal region, 440 km south south east of Perth and 34 km west of Albany. In 1889 Millars Karri and Jarrah Forests Ltd constructed a railway line from Torbay Junction (now Elleker) to Torbay, and in the mid 1890's Millars extended the line to Denmark. One of the sidings on the extended line was named Young's, and in 1903 the government set aside land at "Young's Siding" for a future townsite. In 1911 the "Young's Siding and Lake Saidie Progress Association" requested the government make land available at Young's Siding. The land was very wet and low lying, and it was 1916 before any lots were surveyed. The townsite of Youngs was gazetted in 1917, the siding being dropped from the name by a government decision. Although officially Youngs, local usage remained Youngs Siding, and in 1999 the name of the townsite was amended to Youngs Siding. The name honours David Young 1825-1918, a farmer who took up land in the area in the 1850's and later farmed at Marbelup.


YOWERAGABBIE

Latitude 28° 14' S Longitude 117° 38' E

Yoweragabbie is a townsite in the Murchison region, 576 km north north east of Perth and 28 km south west of Mount Magnet. When the Mullewa-Cue railway line opened for traffic on 1 July 1898 Yoweragabbie was one of the original sidings on the line. The siding serviced the surrounding pastoral properties, and in 1913/14 land was set aside for a commonage at the siding, and also for a townsite. The townsite of Yoweragabbie was gazetted in April 1914, but very little development ever took place there. The name is Aboriginal, being derived from the name of a nearby well recorded by a surveyor in 1886.


YUNA

Latitude 28° 20' S Longitude 115° 00' E

The townsite of Yuna is located in the northern agricultural region, 503 km north north west of Perth and 37 km north east of Nabawah. In 1910 the Yuna Farmers Association requested the government survey some town lots at Yuna. At the time of the request an extension of the Upper Chapman Railway to Yuna was contemplated, and surveying lots and declaring a townsite was deferred until the railway route and terminus had been determined. There was also local differences about the most desirable site, and two locations, one near Yuna Spring and one about 6 km east of this where the railway was proposed to terminate, were in contention. The eastern site was selected as the location for a townsite to be named Yuna in 1912, and a siding named West Yuna was established near the spring. Lots were also surveyed at the West Yuna siding, and this was gazetted as West Yuna townsite in 1913, and was changed to Whelarra in 1918 before being cancelled in 1968.

Because of the West Yuna townsite development at Yuna was at first opposed by the government, and some of the land was mined for pottery clay. By 1927 a school had been erected at Yuna, and the government decided to develop a townsite there. Following the survey of lots the townsite of Yuna was gazetted in 1929. Yuna is an Aboriginal name first recorded as Younah Spring in 1863. One source refers to it as meaning bad or rotten meat.


YUNDAMINDERA

Latitude 29° 07' S Longitude 122° 02' E

Yundamindera is an abandoned goldfields townsite located about 865 km east north east of Perth and 70 km east north east of Kookynie. The area was referred to as "The Granites" when gold was discovered here in the late 1890's, and by 1901 there was sufficient population and development for the government to gazette Yundamindera as a townsite. The name Yundamindera was proposed by the Goldfield Warden who advised that the locals had informed him that this was the Aboriginal name of the place. The meaning of the name is not recorded.


YUNDERUP

Latitude 32° 35' S Longitude 115° 48' E

The townsite of Yunderup is located on the islands in the delta at the mouth of the Murray River, 94 km south of Perth and 12 km west north west of Pinjarra. There are eight separate islands in the townsite, although not all have townsite lots on them. A scheme of subdivision was proposed and surveys carried out in 1897. The original names suggested for the townsite were "Isleworth" (after an island in the Thames), "The Delta" and "Venice". Later the names "Murray" (after the river) and "Yoondooroop" (after one of the islands comprising the townsite) were suggested. Approval was given for the use of the Aboriginal, name and Surveyor General H.F. Johnston recommended that it be spelt "Yundurup" to conform with spelling rules for Aboriginal names adopted by the government. The townsite was gazetted as "Yundurup" in 1898, but over the years common usage converted the pronunciation to "Yunderup", with the "u's" pronounced as in "cup", and this spelling was adopted in 1973.

The name is derived from the Aboriginal name of one of the islands, first recorded as Yoondooroop Island by a surveyor in 1897. This island was also referred to as "Long Island" in 1893 and in 1926 as "Goat Island" because it was over run with goats. The name possibly refers to the short tailed lizard or bobtail, the Aboriginal word for which is Yoorna, Yorna or Yun. However, the name is also used in more than one place to refer to estuarine features, and the meaning may be related to this type of place.


YUNNDAGA

Latitude 29° 45' S Longitude 121° 03' E

Yunndaga is an abandoned goldfields townsite located 718 km east north east of Perth and 7 km south of Menzies. Gold was discovered in the area in the mid 1890's, and in 1898 a business and residence subdivision was laid out at what was then referred to as Woolgar. Business and residence subdivisions were very temporary, and gave no secure tenure to the inhabitants. By 1904 there was a feel of permanency about Woolgar, and the mining warden advised it was time to gazette the place as a townsite. As there was already a place in Queensland with this name and alternative name was required, and the mining warden suggested 3 names, one of which was Yundagar. The Department of Lands and Surveys then applied spelling rules it had adopted for Aboriginal names, and the townsite of Yunndaga was gazetted in March 1904.

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