Hi Mick

Could cause some discussion with this. There was a thread a while ago debating whether it should be Sydneysiders or Haboursiders. I had an Australian Kids Encyclopedia years ago and it listed these sort of names for every state. Can't remember them all but Bananabenders(Queenslanders) Croweaters(South Aus.) Top Enders (NT) were a few. It also certainly used the term Sydneysiders for NSW. Can't for the life of me remember what Victorians were called in that book.

When we visit Queensland we tend to be called Mexicans cause we're from south of the border.

We are called Sydneysiders,"In the spirit of friendly rivalry, Australian states and territories are identified through nicknames. For example, Queensland, where the northern climate encourages tropical fruit growing, is the land of 'banana benders', and Western Australia, home to some of Australia's most magnificent beaches, is populated by 'Sandgropers'. Some terms are less established, for example Victorians were once called 'gum-suckers' when the resin from gum trees (type of Australian tree also known as a Eucalypt) was used as an early substitute for chewing gum. " from the macquarie dictionary.

Hadn't heard that one EM. Very interesting.

Another I just recalled is Appleislanders for Tasmanians.

Now I'm off to grab some leaves from the tree in the front to give them a good old suck!

If you're from NSW you are referred to as a New South Welshman, and I agree a sydney resident is a Sydneysider not a harborsider. In the context of footie rilvalry NSW are "cockroaches" and Qld are "cane toads".

I've always understood sandgropers for WA to refer to their land in general, and especially farmland, being very sandy.

Residents of Melbourne are indeed Melbournians, and I would refer to someone from Brisbane as a Brisbanian, I've heard residents of Hobart referred to Hobartians, I don't know if this is the accepted term though.

..observation would suggest you add the suffix most easily adapted to the name in the following order of preference

1. -ian

2. -ite

3. Who named that city?...just make something up! (this applies to Sydney, goodness knows what you call someone from Port Macquarie but you can bet it only involves the word Port, discard the Macquarie part.)

Sydney = Sydneysiders

Melbourne = Melbournians

South Australians = Croweaters

Victorians = Mexicans to people from Southern New South Wales (come from south of the border - get it?)

Western Australians = Sandgropers

Tasmanians = Tasweegans or Apple Islanders

Northern Territory = Territorians

Queenslanders = Banana Benders

New South Wales (I not aware of an overall nick name - someone else may be able to help)

Australian Capital Territory = unfortunate (my pun as I live just over the border in NSW)

And for info

New Zealand = Kiwis

Snodge & BigW

You're playing with fire using the word "Melbournians" if mfj is listening. When I advertently used that spelling he was quick to point out that the correct term is "Melburnians".

always someone ready to correct you aussieJ..it comes with the site i think !

The Macquarie dictionary sanctions either spelling, though giving Melburnian top ranking, so it's up to the individual it would seem.

brisbanite is the proper term, not brisbanian