a. and sb. [f. Westralia, a telegraphic abbrev. of West Australia.] a. adj. Of or pertaining to West Australia. b. sb. A native or inhabitant of West Australia; pl. West Australian mining shares.
a. 1896. Economist, 14 March, 325/1. The position of the Westralian Government in the matter is a serious one. Ibid., 25 April, 532/2. Westralian shares have been somewhat more freely dealt in.
1896. 19th Cent., Nov., 711 (title), The Westralian Mining ‘Boom.’
1900. Speaker, 12 May, 153/1. The Westralian Outlander complains that all the taxation falls on the gold-mines.
1904. Blackw. Mag., March, 398. Westralian finance copied the bad features of the Kaffir Circus.
b. 1896. Economist, 20 June, 809/2. Westralians have been weak on balance.
1896. 19th Cent., Nov., 711. When … every department of the Stock Exchange was inactive, Westralians came to the rescue.
1900. Westm. Gaz., 17 Aug., 7/1. The boom in Westralians which does not come off.
Hence Westralianism.
1905. Westm. Gaz., I May, 9/1. Statements … on the subject of Westralianism.
1905. Daily Report, 9 Sept., 6/1. Scandals, such as during recent years have made the term ‘Westralianism’ one of evil significance.
