FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Suburbs of the Illawarra Trivia Quiz

Many Australian cities and suburbs get their names from the Aboriginal language. This quiz is about the meanings of place names in the beautiful coastal Illawarra Region, south of Sydney.

A multiple-choice quiz by illawarra3. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
illawarra3

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
166,152

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
1191

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The largest city in the Illawarra: what does 'Wollongong' mean in Aboriginal? Hint

Meeting place

The sound of the sea

Site of the great corroborree

Beware the Quinkin

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. The southern-most town in the Illawarra Region is the beautiful isolated sea-side village of Gerringong, home of the famous Australian fisherman- Steve Starling and Australian Rugby League representatives Rod Wishart and Michael Cronin. What does 'Gerringong' mean? Hint

A great blowhole

Big hill

By the sea

A fearful place

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Just north of Kiama is the town of Minnamurra. The main road to Minnamurra is through an 18-hole golf course. 'Minnamurra' means what in Aboriginal? Hint

Plenty of fish

A waterfall

By the sea

Little hills

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Warilla is known for its growing town centre and world class lawn bowling club. What is the Aborginal meaning of 'Warilla'? Hint

It doesn't mean anything

Big waves

Long beach

Big fish

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. A popular holiday spot for Sydney tourists is the township of Windang, situated at the mouth of the beautiful Lake Illawarra. What does 'Windang' mean? Hint

A flat plain

Plenty of fish

Scene of a fight

A big meal

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. During the 1950s there was a big influx of immigrants to the Illawarra due to the steelworks, located in the centre of the Illawarra Region. One of the most popular suburbs to be populated during this time was the commercial town of Warrawong. What is the Aboriginal meaning of 'Warrawong'? Hint

Side of a hill

Lake side

A large boat

Large tree

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Out west can be found the old town of Dapto - one of the first to be settled in the region. Famous for its dog track and for being the home of the Aussie icon- Norman Gunston, what does 'Dapto' mean? Hint

Plenty of water

Big fire

Grub

A forest

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. At the foot of the Illawarra escarpment can be found the suburb of Unanderra. What is the meaning of 'Unanderra'? Hint

Big hill

Plenty of tucker

Many hills

Meeting place of creeks

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Behind the suburb of Unanderra stands Mount Kembla, on which are found the suburbs of Mount Kembla and Kembla Heights. What is the meaning of the name 'Kembla'? Hint

Kangaroo

Possum

Koala

Abundant game

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. What is one of the possible origins of 'Illawarra'? Hint

Big Eagle

High place near the sea

Beware the bunyip

Guardians of the gods

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Most Recent Scores

Apr 12 2024 : Guest 104: 5/10
Mar 11 2024 : Guest 172: 2/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The largest city in the Illawarra: what does 'Wollongong' mean in Aboriginal?

Answer: The sound of the sea

Wollongong (pronounced Wool-on-gong) is the third largest city in New South Wales. It was once a shipping port with exports in cedar and dairy, although these industries gave way to the manufacturing of steel when coal was discovered in the mountains behind the city. With its steel industry now waning, Wollongong has become most famous for its beaches and surrounding mountains.

Answer: A fearful place

Gerringong (pronounced Jerr-ing-gong) is a rural dairying village with a population of just 2478. As one of the most beautiful areas of the Illawarra one must wonder how the Aboriginals came to think of it as a place of fear!

3. Just north of Kiama is the town of Minnamurra. The main road to Minnamurra is through an 18-hole golf course. 'Minnamurra' means what in Aboriginal?

Answer: Plenty of fish

Minnamurra is situated on the Minnamurra River- a mecca for estuary fishing.

4. Warilla is known for its growing town centre and world class lawn bowling club. What is the Aborginal meaning of 'Warilla'?

Answer: It doesn't mean anything

'Warilla' was named by the 'white man'. When a name was needed for the area it was decided that it should have an Aboriginal sounding name. 'Warilla' is a rearrangement of the three syllables of 'Illawarra'.

5. A popular holiday spot for Sydney tourists is the township of Windang, situated at the mouth of the beautiful Lake Illawarra. What does 'Windang' mean?

Answer: Scene of a fight

Windang is home to no less than four holiday resorts. During the summer months, the population of Windang is tripled by the amount of tourists that annually visit the area.

Answer: Side of a hill

Warrawong (pronounced Worra-wong) is a hilly suburb that overlooks the region's steelworks. Many immigrants moved here because of its proximity to the industrial area.

Answer: Plenty of water

Dapto is the 'westy' town of the region, the population of which has risen dramatically over the past five years because housing is the cheapest in the suburb.

8. At the foot of the Illawarra escarpment can be found the suburb of Unanderra. What is the meaning of 'Unanderra'?

Answer: Meeting place of creeks

Originally named 'Charcoal Creek', Unanderra (pronounced Yoo-nun-derra) aquired its present name in 1881. Unanderra is in fact found at the junction of two creeks- Allan's Creek and Charcoal Creek.

9. Behind the suburb of Unanderra stands Mount Kembla, on which are found the suburbs of Mount Kembla and Kembla Heights. What is the meaning of the name 'Kembla'?

Answer: Abundant game

Mount Kembla is the site of Australia's worst mining disaster when at 2pm on July 31, 1902, a gas explosion killed 96 men and boys. The explosion could be heard seven miles away, and in the end 33 women were left widows and 120 children fatherless.

10. What is one of the possible origins of 'Illawarra'?

Answer: High place near the sea

Located only an hour south of Sydney, the Illawarra Region is a beautiful place to visit and has only recently become popular with overseas tourists for its mountains, rainforests and white sandy beaches. I would recommend anyone to come and visit!
Other sources suggest the name originally meant "high pleasant place by the sea", "five islands" or just "pleasant place".

Source: Author illawarra3

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Exit10 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.