The Speewah

Abstract

Among the imaginary places unique to Australia, the Speewah has to rank as the one with the most attributes. The others recognised by dictionaries are mostly known just for their remote rural location: Bullamakanka, Bandywallop, Oodnagalahbi, and quintessentially Woop Woop. Snake Gully adds a perception of backwardness, and the Black Stump focusses on the remoteness. A lot more is known about The Speewah, a vast pastoral station ‘used as the setting for unlikely and tall stories of the outback’ as the Australian National Dictionary (AND) puts it, of which the best known collection has been Wannan (1965 and later editions). Show more