Hi Jack,

Nope. In my local area it is - or was when I was growing up - very common.

Australian Word Map

Scroll to the middle of the page and enter the word "Hooray" in the search box. the page also has links to the variations, Hooroo, and Oo-roo

"The word 'hooray' is used to mean 'goodbye' in the Newcastle area of NSW."

"[Sydney informant] As children we always pronounced it "Huh'-ray" when we meant "good-bye" (the accent on the first syllable), but "hoo-ray'", when expressing delight over a win, say, at footie."

"I grew up in Newcastle and we always used Hooray when leaving. My Sydney friend always thought that I was happy to go until she moved to Newcastle. She then realised that everyone used the term."

"I've heard this word used both by my grandmother in Tully North Queensland and in Pyrmont where I grew up. I heard its use had died out but the working class of Pyrmont still use it. Like other contributors the accent is on the first syllable when used to mean goodbye or au revoir."

BTW, I was born and raised in the Hunter Region and have lived in Newcastle since mid 70's.

Helen