Bananaland

English

Etymology

From banana +‎ -land, since the tropical coast of Queensland is suited to growing bananas.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Proper noun

Bananaland

1. (Australia, slang) Queensland.
   • 1896, Henry Lawson, “Hungerford”, in While the Billy Boils, Sydney, N.S.W.: Angus and Robertson […], →OCLC, page 41:

     The post-office is in New South Wales, and the police-barracks in Bananaland.

   • 2007, Pip Wilson, Faces in the Street: Louisa and Henry Lawson and the Castlereagh Street Push‎^[1], page 145:

     But it's ages before the news gets up north to Bananaland that the ASL has passed more motions against agitators than you can poke a stick at, especially if they agitate amongst the unemployed.

   • 2010, Graham Seal, Great Australian Stories: Legends, Yarns and Tall Tales‎^[2], page 216:

     The recompense ‘James’ required from the Government was three miles depth of frontage along the whole route; but the representatives of the people in Bananaland thought the offer was a bit one-sided, and declined to negotiate.

Derived terms

• Bananalander

See also

• banana bender