Anne Parisianne
The largest regional park in Whittlesea, Quarry Hills Parkland, is set to get a new name.
Whittlesea council and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (WWCHAC) have partnered to propose a new name for the park.
The proposed indigenous name, ‘bunjil nganga parkland’, means ‘eagle view’.
The name derives from an Aboriginal cultural values study and is part of a future directions plan for the 1,100-hectare park.
The parkland will also be home to the soon-to-be-built Aboriginal Gathering Place, a space within the heart of the parkland that will provide a culturally safe and inclusive space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to come together to feel socially and culturally connected.
This culturally safe space also aims to support educational services to the wider community to foster reconciliation and community healing.
Whittlesea council chair administrator Lydia Wilson said the new name for the parkland would help visitors better understand the cultural significance and history of the area.
“As we embark on the next chapter for our much-loved Quarry Hills Parkland, the proposed name ‘bunjil nganga parkland’ reflects a profound connection to the Woi-wurrung custodians and their rich cultural heritage,” she said.
“This change is not just about renaming, it’s a meaningful step towards fostering understanding and appreciation.”
The council is inviting community feedback on the proposed name change with submissions closing on March 25.
Details: www.engage.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/qhpnaming.
