Why is Australia called Oz?

The word Australia when referred to informally with its first three letters becomes Aus. When Aus or Aussie, the short form for an Australian, is pronounced for fun with a hissing sound at the end, it sounds as though the word being pronounced has the spelling Oz.

I wonder if people associate Oz with 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'. Actually that would be so cool if Australia actually tried to coin the term and open an Wizard of Oz attraction, with the yellow brick road and all.

That would bring so much money like during Easter for egg hunt on the yellow brink road and Halloween. Very seasonal but effective to use throughout the year.

And beautiful Emerald City, that had beautiful interior and a great shopping ground, I bet many people will travel their for Christmas.

I mean all these holidays were created for business and Wizard of Oz is timeless.
Gosh if only I HAD MONEY.  :'(
*copyrights lol

go look for an Oz Money bags...Packer dead but I am sure somebody inherited.  seek dem out ::LOL:: ::LOL:: ::LOL:: ::LOL:: ::LOL::

Citizens are Aussies :

changed to Ozzies ....then to Oz !

better than Assies or Asses  :-[