West Or Western Australia (for Australian Dopers)

[Markxxx]

I've been watching Prisoner (Prisoner: Cell Block H) and the plot involves Nola from Perth, Western Australia.

I noticed more often than not the characters call it West Australia, not by the proper name Western Australia. Since Prisoner is an Australian show (it was in the early 80s) I'm assuming it's common.

I noticed a lot of times the characters will just say "W.A" pronouncing each letter as well.

My question for the Australian dopers is it common to refer to WestERN Australia as West Australia?

[AK84]

One Aussie I knew called it the "largest city state in Human History".

[Snickers]

My info's 10 years out of date, but I studied at Murdoch Uni in Perth for 6 months in 1999 as part of my undergrad - I remember it most commonly being referred to as WA or Western Australia. Never heard West Australia.

[Giles]

"Western Australia" or "W.A." -- I don't think I've ever heard "West Australia".

[madrabbitwoman]

double u a - occassionally West Oz - have heard folks from there being called Westralians. Have heard West Australia more than once

[Cunctator]

'WA' has been a popular short form for years. 'West Australia' seems to be becoming more common - perhaps spurred on by the name of the major newspaper in Perth, the West Australian. I notice that even the ABC news has taken to using it occasionally.

[Jervoise]

I grew up in WA. "WA" is the most common way of referring to the state. "West Australia" is uncommon but would probably pass unnoticed in conversation.

[Manwich]

I grew up in WA too and I am pretty sure I heard "West Australia" sometimes but with an aussie accent, "Western Australia" could easily get blurred and become "West Australia" or "Westraya".

I agree "W.A." is more common though.

[Rala]

I live in Perth. West Australia is less common than Western Australia or WA, but is sometimes used. And West Australian is more common than Western Australian.

[Gleena]

Live in Sydney, do business with a country Australia program - speaking to those in WA, they often say WA or what sounds like Western Australia, but that does, as Manwich says, sound a bit like West'stralya with the accent.

[Manwich]

In case anyone does not have enough information about how people form WA refer to WA, in the late 80s or early 90s, the phrase "G'day from W.A." was used as a slogan by the WA tourism board or whatever they were called back then. See, it rhymes!

I also want to add my favourite phrase about WA. I think it sums up the place quite nicely:

There are only two states to be in: WA... and pissed!

You can/could buy T-shirts and stickers with that slogan. I have a feeling they were not printed by the tourism board, however.

[GuanoLad]

Originally Posted by Rala

And West Australian is more common than Western Australian.

This. I have heard those from WA referred to as "West Australian" but the state always as "Western Australia" though the "-ern" might get lost or de-emphasised in the accent.

[Cicero]

We live there and both are used. Western Australia is the correct term as in the Parliament of Western Australia.

[Askance]

Originally Posted by GuanoLad

This. I have heard those from WA referred to as "West Australian" but the state always as "Western Australia"

This this. But I'd add that "Westralian" has a certain currency.