The Cambridge Dictionary of Australian Places is the only reference work of its kind yet published in Australia. Just under a quarter of a million words in length, it lists virtually every population centre in the country and names the relevant local government area. Such centres range from the populous suburbs of capital and provincial cities down to townships with a population of 200 or less. Each local government area — city, town, borough, district council, municipality or shire — has its own entry, as do all important geographical features, national parks, dams and regions, as well as all States and internal and external Territories. An acceptable pronunciation is given for almost every name, and a map reference is provided in all cases. Origins of place names are usually discussed and explored.

The Dictionary's entries are in alphabetical order based on the first word of the entry heading. Subsequent words decide the order only where necessary — thus New South Wales precedes Newcastle and Great Australian Bight precedes Great Barrier Reef. Where it is thought that a reader, while examining one entry, will be helped by reading an associated entry, attention to the latter is drawn by the use of small capitals.

Selection of information

The urban centres and rural localities and their populations have been taken from the most recently published census figures (1986) provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).