After community consultation, the name bunjil nganga Parkland was endorsed at the last City of Whittlesea meeting for the area known as Quarry Hills.
Meaning ‘eagle view’, the name was identified from a cultural values study that informed a future directions plan for the site, which was developed in partnership with the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.
The 330-hectare parkland will expand to cover approximately 1100 hectares, and will be home to an Aboriginal Gathering Place, the Granite Hills Major Community Park, and an extensive trail network.
The name, which speaks to the breath-taking panoramic views from the site, will now be formally lodged with Geographic Naming Victoria.
City of Whittlesea Administrator Peita Duncan emphasised the name’s significance to acknowledge the cultural heritage and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung custodianship of the largest parkland in the municipality.
“The land is incredibly culturally significant where artefacts and ceremonial sites have been found, along with trees and quarries which hold significant cultural value. It’s also the site for our Aboriginal Gathering Place which is currently under construction,” she said.
“The name reflects a profound connection to the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people as the custodians of this site, a responsibility that is passed down through generations.
“The City of Whittlesea has the second largest Aboriginal population in metropolitan Melbourne, and adopting a Woi-Wurrung name for this iconic site demonstrates our commitment to acknowledging and deepening our understanding of our shared history as part of our reconciliation efforts.”
Council would like to thank the community for providing their feedback on the proposed name during a consultation period earlier in the year.
For more details on the name, including the origins, meaning, and pronunciation, visit www.engage.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/qhpnaming.
