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Archiver > AUS-SA-YORKE > 2004-10 > 1097183386


From: Phill & Lorraine Townsend <>
Subject: Re: [AUS-SA-YORKE] Mareeba
Date: Fri, 08 Oct 2004 07:09:46 +1000
In-Reply-To: <006e01c4aca6$c03d2dc0$a1d46dcb@1610777251>


Hello Jill,
Thanks you for your reply and your comments about our book.

Our 'Mareeba' is generally believed to be an aboriginal name meaning
'Meeting Place of the Waters'. Three rivers, Barron R, Atherton(Chinaman)
Ck and Tinaroo Ck join just at the northern end of town.

Aboriginal names were often suggested by the Native Police who most commonly
were not from this area. They came from other tribes usually far away
otherwise they were of no use in monitoring (for want of a better word) the
local tribes. I would not have thought the police would have come from as
far away as SA though. Languages were different for each of the very many
tribes of Australia.

Also a local historian has a theory that the name derives from letters from
three local girl's names. In which case you would hardly think it would
appear twice in SA and once in WA.

Fancy your family coming from here - small world isn't it.
If I can help you with anything from up here, please don't hesitate to ask.
Many thanks for your reply.
Lorraine


on 08/10/2004 5:42 AM, J. Morley at wrote:

> Hi Lorraine this is not an answer to you question but
> I have a book
> Street Names of Mareeba Nth. Qld.
> A great little book that tells the history of the names of the streets
> written by you I expect?

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