I was talking with a friend who mentioned “taking tea to India”. It made me wonder what the equivalents are around the world. “Taking coals to Newcastle” is the UK’s.

  • Zagorath@aussie.zone
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    5 months ago

    Coals to Newcastle works well in Australia too. (I don’t think I’ve ever actually heard that in practice though.)

      • Hegar@kbin.social
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        5 months ago

        Bauxite is the obvious one. Bringing bauxite to Australia. How could you forget about bauxite?

    • AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space
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      5 months ago

      Australia also has a Newcastle (in New South Wales, north of Sydney). Not sure if it has/had coal mines, though I wouldn’t be surprised if it did. Australians using the phrase may be referring to their Newcastle, and even unaware of the English one.

      • Zagorath@aussie.zone
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        5 months ago

        Australia also has a Newcastle (in New South Wales, north of Sydney)

        Yes, that’s why I mentioned it. When I said “works well in Australia”, what I meant was “in theory, the same logic you used to apply it to Newcastle-upon-Tyne could be used to apply it to Newcastle, NSW”, and not that it actually is used in Australia (I know I’ve never heard it).

        Not sure if it has/had coal mines

        Not just does it, but it is in fact home to Australia’s largest coal-shipping port. In fact, Port of Newcastle is, according to Wikipedia, the world’s largest coal terminal.