Correspondence Between Sydney May And F.J Watson Concerning Aboriginal Place Names (ITM489477)

SRS 444/1 Item: 29 CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN SYDNEY MAY AND F.J WATSON CONCERNING ABORIGINAL PLACE NAMES Date Range: 14-Jan-1939 - 24-Nov-1942 Access 30 years

Box 9

[right margin] Correspondence 14 Jan 1939 - 24 Nov 1942

"Nyleta" Union Street, Toowong, S.W.I November 24th, 1942.

Mr. Sydney May,

University of Queensland,

Dear Sir,

I have to hand your letter of 20th instant relative to the place names Mt. Beppo, and Tin Can Bay.

I know of no authority as to the application of the n name Beppo to the mountain in question, but I have little doubt that it is derived from the Yugarabul (Brisbane River language) word "bippo" which itself means "mountain.

Re. Tin Can Bay.

Tin Can is a conversion, by "folk etymology" of the word "tintchin" --- approximate spelling ---- an aboriginal name for a species of mangrove, Bruguiera Rheedii. The meaning of the name was given to me, from a now forgotten source, some 55 years ago. Its earliest known history is connected with the early sawn timber industry of Maryborough, when Messrs Pettigrew and Sim of Dundathu Sawmill exploited it for soft timbers, chiefly kauri pine from which a local creek ---Kauri Creek-- was named. Much of this timber was rafted and towed by tugboats to Maryborough.

With the "cutting out" of the pine forests and the consequent waning of the timber industry at Maryborough the bay has become a station for fishermen, professional and amateur.

The shores of Tin Can Bay are swampy and the mangroves which abound therein doubtlessly inspired the name.

Yours faithfully, FJ Watson Associate Member Q.P.N.C

[left margin] To/ Mr. Sydney May, Hon. Secretary, Q.P.N.C. University, Brisbane.

COPY:

"Nyleta" Union Street, Toowong. S.W.I November 24th, 1942.

Mr. Sydney May, University of Queensland.

Dear Sir,

I have to hand your letter of 20th instant relative to the place names Mt. Beppo, and Tin Can Bay.

I know of no authority as to the application of the name Beppo to the mountain in question, but I have little doubt that it is derived from the Yugarabul (Brisbane River language) word "bippo" which itself means "mountain".

Re - Tin Can Bay.

Tin Can is a conversion, by "folk etymology" of the word "tintchin" --- approximate spelling --- an aboriginal name for a species of mangrove, Bruguiera Rheedii. The meaning of the name was given to me, from a now forgotten source, some 55 years ago. Its earliest known history is connected with the early sawn timber industry of Maryborough, when Messrs. Pettigrew and Sim of Dundathu Sawmill expoited it for soft timbers, chiefly kauri pine from which a local creek -- Kauri Creek -- was named. Much of this timber was rafted and towed by tugboats to Maryborough.

With the "cutting out" of the pine forests and the consequent waning of the timber industry at Maryborough the bay has become a station for fishermen, professional and amateur.

The shores of Tin Can Bay are swampy and the mangroves which abound therein doubtlessly inspired the name.

Yours faighfully, (signed) F. J. Watson Associate Member Q.P.N.C

Unofficial.

Dear Mr, May,

While having little doubt that the name Tin Can was derived from tintchin, I have always had some doubt as to whether it was a word of the local abo. language , for,according to some reliable authorities it was a Brisbane aboriginal's word. One of the mangroves in the Wide Bay District was locally called pirri, the name being inspired from the fact that the aerial root of the tree look something like fingers.

Of course, it may be an alternative name. Many trees in the Wide Bay district have the same names as they are known by the Brisbane aborigines; and, again, there are more than one species of mangrove. No one seems to know who named the bay, It would be interesting to know if Andrew Petrie named it when on the Mary River expedition in 1842. He then had a couple of Brisbane natives with him, who apparently gave him the native names for some of the places he named at the time, as, for instance, Marouchidore (Muru-uchi-dya) after the Brisbane name of the black swan, for which the local word was kuluin. It is to be regretted that he left no diary regarding his expedition.

Yours faithfully FJ Watson

COPY:

Unofficial.

Dear Mr. May,

While having little doubt that the name Tin Can was derived from tintchin, I have always had some doubt as to whether it was a word of the local abriginal language, for, according to some reliable authorities it was a Brisbane aboriginal's word. One of the mangroves in the Wide Bay District was locally called "pirri", the name being inspired from the fact that the aerial root of the tree looks something like fingers.

Of course, it may be an alternative name. Many trees in the Wide Bay district have the same names as they are known by the Brisbane aborigines, and again, there are more than one species of mangrove. No one seems to know who named the bay. It would be interesting to know if Andrew Petrie named it when on the Mary River expedition in 1842. He then had a couple of Brisbane natives with him, who apparently gave him the native names for some of the places he named at the time, as, for instance, Marouchidore (Muru-uchi-dya) after the Brisbane name of the black swan, for which the local word was kuluin. It is to be regretted that he left no diary regarding his expedition.

Yours faithfully (signed) F. J. Watson