Two well-known locations in the Byron Bay area now have Aboriginal dual names, says the NSW Labor government.
It follows ‘requests from local communities and in a nod to the cultural significance of these sites’.
The media release says, ‘The NSW Geographical Names Board (GNB) has approved the submission from the National Parks and Wildlife Service to officially dual-name Cape Byron as Walgun, and Julian Rocks as Nguthungulli, while a park reserve in Bangalow has been named Piccabeen Park’.
Nguthungulli/Julian Rocks
‘Nguthungulli/Julian Rocks is a significant and sacred Aboriginal site associated with several dreaming stories of the Bundjalung of Byron Bay (Arakwal) people and other Bundjalung people. Nguthungulli, said to be the Father of the World, is the traditional name used by the Arakwal people.
Walgun/Cape Byron
‘Walgun/Cape Byron maintains significance to the Arakwal and other Bundjalung people, with the area being used for important gatherings and ceremonial practices.
‘Cape Byron is known by the local Aboriginal community as Walgun, which means ‘shoulder’ in the Bundjalung Language. The dual names are supported by the Bundjalung of Byron Bay Aboriginal Corporation and the Cape Byron Trust.
Piccabeen Park
‘The GNB and Byron Shire Council have also worked together to formally name a reserve in the suburb of Bangalow as Piccabeen Park, which is located at 27 Deacon Street, Bangalow.
‘Piccabeen is a Bundjalung word used to describe the Bangalow palm and/or baskets made from its palm frond. The reserve is home to many Bangalow palms. The name is supported by the Bundjalung of Byron Bay Aboriginal Corporation.
‘Since June 2001, the NSW government has supported a dual-naming policy for geographical features and cultural sites, with 45 geographical features having been dual-named so far.
‘The policy aims to recognise traditional Aboriginal place names alongside existing European names’.
Minister for Heritage and the Environment, Penny Sharp, said she looked forward to the names being used ‘so we can tell more of the stories of these important areas’.
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