Many Australians have uttered the phrase “Beyond the Black Stump,” but few know where it started. The exact origin of the expression meaning “the middle of nowhere” or “beyond civilization,” is hotly debated. The New South Wales town of Coolah has a pretty convincing backstory to their claim on the original charcoal tree remains. It’s said that the local Aboriginal Gamilaraay people called this area “Weetalibah-Wallangan,” translating to “Place where the fire went out and left a burnt stump.” Following European colonization and the establishment of the colony of New…
