Thanks Gwen - I agree with you entirely regarding the 's' on Brisbane Water. Thanks also for the history lesson - much appreciated. PamC (nee Coulter) -----Original Message----- From: Gwen Dundon <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, January 13, 2001 11:58 AM Subject: Brisbane Water >At the risk of everyone shouting at me to get off and give someone else a >go, I MUST moan about this: > >Please, when you are speaking or writing about Brisbane Water there is >actually no final "s" on Water! > >Historically, Brisbane Water is the correct name of this arm of Broken Bay >just above Sydney. > >I would be delighted and grateful to hear from anyone who knows of any >record which gives the exact date of the adoption of this name. The >earliest reference I have is in a Memorial to Governor Brisbane by James >Webb in August 1824. Webb was already living in the district. In the >Memorial he stated that he had seated himself on the west bank of the north >east arm of Broken Bay 'now known by the name of Brisbane Water'.... > >The Brisbane Water name is certainly confusing for many people from other >states who can't understand why the name is used in NSW. Naturally they >think of Queensland, and in fact the use of the name at both places was in >honour of Governor Brisbane (1821-1825). Qld was still part of New South >Wales at that time. > >More and more businesses are adding an "s" to Brisbane Water in their >trading name, probably without realising that that it is not historically >correct - or because that's how they prefer it. > >Perhaps others won't agree with me, but when so many things are changing in >our society I think it would be nice if, when possible, we could retain >placenames with a long historical attachment. > >OK, my hobby horse has rushed back to its stable now. > >Gwen > > >============================== >Shop Ancestry - Everything you need to Discover, Preserve & Celebrate >your heritage! >http://shop.myfamily.com/ancestrycatalog >