The Cambridge Dictionary of Australian Places is a comprehensive national gazetteer which lists all Australia's cities and the country's thousands of suburbs, towns and Local Government Areas. The Dictionary also includes Australia's External Territories, significant geographical features, places of historical interest, national parks and other heritage areas. Clearly drawn maps are referred to in each entry and allow the reader to easily locate the places that are listed. There are more than 4,700 entries. They provide:. Pronunciation guides which deal with the difficulties and inconsistencies in the pronunciation of Australian place names. Etymological information - approximately a third of Australia's place names are of Aboriginal origin, and many of the long-established meanings are incorrect. Geographical information including population, details of climate for larger centres, latitude and longitude and, where relevant, information on elevations.

Historical and economic information including places of general historical significance and economic and social activities which have contributed to a town's development are outlined. From Sandringham to Smithfield and from Bli Bli to Buninyong, some of Australia's place names have outstanding richness and variety, while others are commonplace and not a few over-optimistic. In this book authors Richard and Barbara Appleton discuss the places behind the names and provide much previously unrecorded information. No other Australian reference work is as exhaustive as The Cambridge Dictionary of Australian Places. It is an important reference book for students of all levels and indispensable for anyone needing instant facts that can't be found in an atlas or encyclopaedia.