When was the first reference to Australia as “Oz”?
I don’t have a definitive answer, but it was a common term when I lived there in the 70’s.
A brief google for ‘aussie etymology’ suggests all the related terms (aussie, ozzie, oz) are of early 20th-century origin
Since at least 1908, according to the OED. L Frank Baum’s *The Wizard of Oz * was originally published in 1900, so perhaps they’re related. The book could have popularised the country name, for example.
I always thought it came from a shortening of the word “Aussie”. Even though the spelling isn’t similar, Aussie sounds like “ozzie” when I hear people say it. It seems to follow that “ozzies” come from Oz.
Or is that too much of a stretch?
Did it start in the show biz “Bible” Variety. They are known for shortening everything, and “Oz” is the accept term for Austrailan/New Zealand musicals (so much that Polydor’s Austraila branch is called “Emerald City”).
No stretch at all: It’s how the OED describes the etymology:
Under “Aussie,” the OED says the Australian pronunciation is “Ozzie.” “Ozzie” is also given as a name for Australians dating back to 1918.