Aboriginal place naming

Geographical features and places in Western Australia were named by the Traditional Owners of the land, long before the arrival of other peoples.

These names are intrinsically connected to an Aboriginal group’s understanding of its history, culture, rights, and responsibilities to the land.

Have you seen our new story map, Place Names Maali? Click here to learn more!

Naming guidelines

We are committed to the continued recognition of Aboriginal cultural heritage by capturing and recording the original place names and connection to geographical features and places. To do this, Landgate has published a guideline to Aboriginal naming and dual naming of features and places in Western Australia, to provide a framework for Aboriginal place naming in WA.

While the guidelines are specific to the naming of geographical features and places, Aboriginal names can be and are applied to roads and localities.

View the guidelines

What is Aboriginal naming?

The restoration of an Aboriginal name to be used officially provides recognition to the Aboriginal name and assists in reawakening the language of that area.

What is dual naming?

Did you know there are more than 50 places that are dual named in WA? Dual naming is the approach whereby geographical features or places are officially recognised by two distinct names. One name is usually of Aboriginal language origin and the other of non-Aboriginal origin. Where a feature is currently identified by an existing non-Aboriginal name, an Aboriginal name can be put forward to be assigned as a dual name and sit alongside this name.

Aboriginal and dual names in WA

Below are some name examples found across WA.

Aboriginal naming:

Little Sandy Desert

Kumpupintil Lake (formerly Lake Disappointment)

Lake Argyle

Bilbiljim (formerly Mount Misery)

Fremantle

Walyalup Koort (formerly Kings Square)

Dual naming:

Albany

Mammang Koort / King George Sound
Doggerdirup / Bald Head

Broome

Yawuru Nagulagun / Roebuck Bay Marine Park
Lalang-garram / Horizontal Falls Marine Park

Place Names Maali and Aboriginal Place Names Map

Welcome to Place Names Maali, a reconciliation, truth telling, and Aboriginal language revival project.

Containing the decoded names and pronunciations of 18 geographical locations within the City of Swan, Place Names Maali and the associated Aboriginal Place Names map reflects the spirit and history of Midland and its surrounding areas, providing an opportunity to educate the community about the cultural significance of the identified locations.

This project was delivered in collaboration with the City of Swan, Moodjar and the Maali miy (Voice of Swan Decoding Group), who worked together over a series of workshops to identify, decode and translate the Noongar place names throughout the City of Swan. Learn more about the decoding process and how Place Names Maali came to life here.

Incorporating the language, historical and cultural knowledge gained from this engagement process, the Aboriginal Place Names map features the locations, a brief video-history and the pronunciations and meanings of each geographic feature or place, bringing together a rich cultural story that connects language to place within the City of Swan.

Watch this brief video which includes interviews with Aboriginal Elders who gave their time and expertise in support of this initiative.

Visit the Aboriginal Place Names Map and learn more about Place Names Maali.

Launch Map

How you can help

Any individual, group or organisation can propose an Aboriginal name be restored and recognised as an official name. Such proposals must be endorsed by the relevant Traditional Owner group(s) and have local government support. If you know of an Aboriginal place name that is not officially named or is incorrect, or a non-Aboriginal place name that may cause offence to Aboriginal people, please contact the relevant local government.