One from the vaults: Things in Australia that made me smile – Aussie Signs

Posted on 05/02/2021 by

45 Comments

As you might imagine, there were plenty of things in Australia which made me smile. here’s another post from our 2017 #adventuredownunder.

I have yet to finish mining our trip Down Under!

Road Signs

Although we didn’t drive as much this time as on our last trip to Australia, the roadside messages still amused me. Australians think nothing of driving long distances and those roads can be soporific. To keep drivers on their toes, signs wisely exhort you to stop every two hours or to pull over and take a nap if you’re feeling sleepy. But they mix it up all the time and I love their ingenuity.

You’ll see plenty of this sign, white letters underlined on a red background, which surely must strike fear into anyone reading it.

Wrong way, go back!

Here’s just a few of the other ones we’ve seen:

  • Cut your speed, don’t make a grave mistake (accompanied by picture of a headstone)
  • Sore eyes? Powernap now!
  • A 15 minute powernap could save your life
  • Open your eyes fatigue kills
  • Droopy eyes? Powernap now!
  • Yawning? A microsleep can kill!
  • Don’t sleep and drive.
  • Open your eyes fatigue kills.
  • Drowsy drivers die.
  • Stop. Revive. Survive.
  • Survive this drive.
  • Fatigue is fatal.
  • Only sleep cures fatigue.
  • Vicroads ask passengers to share the driving.

In that last sign it rather assumes that the passengers all have driving licences!

But it’s not just road signs that bring a smile to my face. Traffic lights exhort you to “Give Way to PEDS”, short for pedestrians, not performance enhancing drugs.

Entertainment and Shop Signs

aussie-sign-1

Last year I wondered what the hell are or is “Pokies,” they’re everywhere in Australia. I looked them up on Google which provides two explanations. In this case, the signs refer to Poker machines. Of course, I should have guessed with the Aussie love of abbreviating words and then making them end in “ies” such as Barbies, tinnies and so on and so forth. But how was a girl to know? While the signs are everywhere, I’ve yet to see one of the machines. Or maybe I have and assumed it was a cigarette vending machine?

aussi-sign-7

Tattoos are very popular in Australia and there’s plenty of tattoo parlours. So when I kept seeing signs for “Tatts” I assumed it was shorthand for tattoos but no, it’s the name of the Australian Lottery.

Australians also like to display their sense of humour with signs such as these:-

Aussies are really serious about their coffee and it's excellent
Aussies are really serious about their coffee and it’s universally excellent
Fishing is a hugely popular sport Down Under
Fishing is a hugely popular sport Down Under

Now you can understand my concern about sharks and why I won’t swim in Australian waters.

They take their food seriously too
They take their food seriously too
Though Indian Pizza is a step too far
Though Indian Pizza is a step too far
My father-in-law was G Whatley and he's got two sons so this shop sign rather tickled our fancy
My father-in-law was G Whatley and he’s got two sons so this shop sign rather tickled our fancy
Australia tries hard to be PC but see what I spotted in a shop front
Australia tries hard to be PC but see what I spotted in a shop front

Category: Favourites, TravelTags: , , ,

45 Comments on “One from the vaults: Things in Australia that made me smile – Aussie Signs”

  1. The abbreviated language is still causing us trouble ! And by the time you spot the sign Wrong Way Go Back ..it’s just too late 😂

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  3. ♡ No doors; or have you just yet to find the pics 🤔 ? Not quite a door; about 15 years ago I was on guided tour in the WA Regional Country areas heading for the beach and as the mini coach drove past a gate I read the sign which, instead of ‘No Trespassing’, said “Private Land, FUCK OFF!!!” and I laughed all the way to the beach 😂🤣😅😆😁😄😃😀🙂

    …♡♡♡…

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  5. Oh wow this post made me laugh, I see those signs every day so never think anything of them 😂 what was the other “google” explanation for pokies…I had no idea others didn’t know what they are, or Tatts. My fav signs here are the animal ones, with kangaroos, koalas and others ❤️ great post 👍

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  12. There is (was?) a Thai Pizza place here in Long Beach, Cal. I heard it’s fantastic but haven’t tried it.

    Are Aussie roads long and straight? I know there are miles and miles of relatively sparse visual stimulation. That’s why US roads tend to have wavy patterns… it helps people stay alert.

    Thanks for the pics!

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  18. What caught my eye was the sign that read  “somewhere bar” I mean really can you imagine trying to give directions, and the cell phone connection is spotty…LOL. I too would never guess that “Tatts” was the name for the Australian Lottery. Now onto the last image my toddler niece has one of those dolls, and loves it cause it is soft, cuddly, and reflects her skin tone. So, I personally can’t call our Australian on that. I am now however, curious now what the rest of the store display looked like, and what the store sold, and how you come to the conclusion they are not PC
     

    Liked by 1 person

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    • I may have jumped to conclusions on the PC bit and I don’t remember what the shop sold. Too taken aback by the two dolls.

      Like

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