Mapping Australian history and culture
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. First Australians...
| Name | Indigenous Names of Major Australian Cities |
|---|---|
| Description | Major cities in Australia are located in places that have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander names, and in some cases these names have become commonly used for that city or region. In naming cities, it can be difficult to identify one Indigenous name as Indigenous people of that area are likely to have many different names for different landmarks within the city area. This map aims only to show the most commonly accepted Indigenous names of cities and may be updated and added to. In many cases the name refers to a place that doesn't exactly match the city or town's location. Where possible, links are provided to other interactive maps and sources explaining these names, why they are used and alternative names. Spelling: Alternative spellings of languages, clans and people are provided. For example, Boorloo / Boorlo. This is not an exhaustive list of spellings. Differences in spellings exist for a number of reasons. Indigenous languages usually were initially written down by linguists and anthropologists recording words as they heard them. Since then other writers have used different spellings, so transcriptions differ. Also, multiple dialects of some languages result in different spellings. Pronunciations: There are also variations in pronunciations. Pronunciation of place names is based on the way they are spoken by Aboriginal people, the 10 News First's How to Pronounce Australian cities' First Nation Names and the ABC's Pronunciation Guide. Capital letters are used to signify what part of the word the stress falls on. For example, in English, the stress of the word “reading” is at the beginning of the word, so we say READ-ing rather than read-ING. |
| Type | Placename |
| Content Warning | This map aims only to show the most commonly accepted Indigenous names of cities. There may be many Indigenous names for a place depending on context, place and/or landmark within a city. Some names may be contested by different Indigenous groups. We have tried to provide links for more information about each name and the complexities related to each location. |
| Contributor | Jacqui Wright |
| Entries | 9 |
| Allow ANPS? | Yes |
| Added to System | 2023-08-15 16:44:25 |
| Updated in System | 2023-12-18 10:11:24 |
| Subject | indigenous, dual naming, declonising, place names |
|---|---|
| Creator | Dr Jacqueline Wright |
| Publisher | TLCMap |
| Contact | bill.pascoe@unimelb.edu.au |
| Citation | Refer to First Languages Australia or the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia for more nationally-focused information on Indigenous languages and place names. For more on pronunciation of some of the Indigenous placenames on this map watch How to Pronounce Australian Cities' First Nation Names and consult ABC's Pronunciation Guide. |
| DOI | |
| Source URL | https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/do-you-know-what-aboriginal-land-youre-on-today/ytff85vi1 |
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| Language | INDIG |
| License | CC BY |
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| Date Created (externally) | 2023-08-15 |
Meanjin is a Turrbal word for the area where Brisbane's central city was established. According to the Queensland State Library, Turrbal Country covers Brisbane’s Northside, Pine River, Bribie Island, and parts of Greater Brisbane and Redcliffe whereas Yuggera Country covers Ipswich, Lockyer, Boonah, Brisbane Valley, Brisbane Western Suburbs, parts of Greater Brisbane, Esk, Fassifern Valley and Gatton. The Queensland Government acknowledge both Yuggera people and the Turrbal people as the Traditional Custodians of Meanjin. See Uncle Shannon Ruska pronounce and explain the traditional place name of Meanjin (Brisbane).
Warrang has been documented as the Gadigal word for Sydney Harbour (Cove) though many people are now calling Sydney Gadigal. Sydney metropolitan area is comprised of about 29 clan groups. Most of these clans refer to themselves collectively as the Eora Nation. The Gadigal clan is a clan of the Eora Nation. Eora means ‘here’ or ‘from this place’. Local Aboriginal people used the word to describe to colonisers where they come from. Many Aboriginal people of the Greater Sydney region refer to themselves as Dharug.
https://www.sydneybarani.com.au/sites/aboriginal-people-and-place/
https://australian.museum/learn/cultures/atsi-collection/sydney/place-names-chart/
Two language groups, the Ngunnawal and the Ngambri people claim custodianship of the lands and waterways around Canberra. Ngambri-Guumaal elder, Shane Mortimer believes Canberra was derived from the word Ngambri. Mortimer says that one of Canberra's first settlers, Joshua Moore named his property Kamberri after the local people, because he couldn't get his tongue around the 'ng' sound. In a letter penned by Moore in 1826 he calls his property "Kamberri". However, Canberra is also called Ngunnawal Ngambri because both nations claim traditional custodianship of the ACT. A third group, the Ngarigo people, also have ties to Canberra's far-south suburbs.
The City of Melbourne is located on the sovereign lands of the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung Peoples of the Eastern Kulin. In the Woiwurrung Naarm means ‘place’ and signifies that the area was an important meeting place for the language groups of the Kulin nation. See Senior Wurundjeri Elder of the Kulin Nation Aunty Joy Murphy pronounce and explain the traditional place name of Naarm (Melbourne).
Nipaluna names the place where the city of Hobart sits. Hear Gomeroi woman and 10 News First journalist Madeline Hayman-Reber pronounce the traditional place name of Nipaluna (Hobart).
Connected to the Red Kangaroo Dreaming, Tarndanya refers to the location south of the Karrawirra Parri (Torrens River) covering what is now the site of Adelaide city. The Kaurna word directly translates as 'male red kangaroo rock', referring to an original rock formation on the site, now destroyed. Hear Gomeroi woman and 10 News First journalist Madeline Hayman-Reber pronounce the traditional place name of Tarndanya (Adelaide).
https://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/community/reconciliation/kaurna-place-naming/
NITV cite historian Neville Green's 1933 book, 'Broken spears: Aborigines and Europeans in the southwest of Australia, as documenting Boorloo as a place name. According to Green Boorloo sits in Moroo territory, one of four territories of the Whadjak Peoples. It extends north of the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River), across the Perth CBD and the north-west suburbs. The Whadjuk nation is a part of the Noongar peoples collective, a network of 13 or so similar linguistic groups covering south-west Western Australia. Hear Gomeroi woman and 10 News First journalist Madeline Hayman-Reber pronounce the traditional place name of Boorloo (Perth).
Gulmerrogin (also ) translates as 'our land' in the Larrakia language. Garramilla, another Larrakia word means 'white rock' and refers to the white stone cliff faces found around Darwin's beaches and harbour. Larrakia Country runs from the Cox peninsula in the west, to Gunn Point in the north, and the Adelaide River in the east, down to the Manton Dam area southwards. See Senior Larrakia Elder, Uncle Doctor Richard Fejo explain the traditional place name of Gulmerrogin (Darwin).
Mparntwe is Arrernte for 'Watering Place'. It refers to the waterhole in the Todd River located at the Old Telegraph Station on the northside of town. However, Mparntwe is now used to refer to the majority of the Alice Springs township. Hear Gomeroi woman and 10 News First journalist Madeline Hayman-Reber pronounce the traditional place name of Mparntwe (Alice Springs).