Traditional Place Names |
We recognise that Australia always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
Where ever you are in Australia, you are on the lands and waters of Australia's First Peoples. Including Traditional Place Names is one way we can all acknowledge that places are firstly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander places.
Australia Post
In 2021, Australia Post launched address labelling marking traditional place names. The new Australia Post packaging includes a dedicated spot where the Traditional Place Name can be included.
Rachael McPhail: Making Traditional Place names part of mailing addresses
The next time you send a letter or parcel in Australia, consider including the Traditional Place name in the mailing address.
Read more about Rachael McPhail
Find Traditional Place Name
One day there will be an online resource where we can enter a suburb/post code/state that will show the Traditional Place Name.
It's important to note that in some regional areas, a single postcode can extend across a large amount of territory, and a postcode could include the lands of more than one group of traditional owners. For this reason, it is not possible to match postcodes to traditional owners.
How to find a Traditional Place Name
Google "Traditional Place Name + Suburb + State + Post code" - research carefully.
Example: Traditional Place Name Preston Victoria 3072
Google Search: Traditional Place Name Preston Victoria 3072
AustPost - Find A Post Code
At this point in time (2024), AustPost does not show Traditional Place Names with a suburb / post code.
Find A Post Code
Australia Traditional Place Names
Below are the traditional place names of Australia's major cities. Please note this list is not definitive. Alternative place names and alternative spellings may exist.
Importantly, each city is located on the sovereign and unceded Country of First Nations people. In general, acknowledging Country is not the same as using traditional place names. For example, Boorloo is the traditional place name for Perth, but Boorloo is located on Whadjuk Noongar Country.
Mparntwe (Alice Springs) - Arrernte Country
Tarndanya (Adelaide) - Kaurna Country
Meanjin/Magandjin (Brisbane) - Yuggera/Jagera and Turrbal Country
Gimuy (Cairns) - Yirriganydji and Yidinji Country
Canberra - Ngambri and Ngunnawal Country
Gulumoerrgin (Darwin) - Larrakia Country
nipaluna (Hobart) - nipaluna country
Naarm (Melbourne) - Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung Country
Boorloo (Perth) - Whadjuk Noongar Country
Warrane/Warrang (Sydney Cove) - Gadigal Country
Traditional Place Names Online
An Australian First
Ripefruit Media is proudly the first publisher in Australia to include a Traditional Place Name with a venue address (2021).
❊ Web Links ❊
➼ Traditional Place Names
➼ Rachael McPhail: place_names_in_addresses: instagram.com
➼ www.abc.net.au
➼ AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia
➼ Traditional Place Names N.S.W (pdf)
❊ Also See.. ❊
➼ AIATSIS | Map of Indigenous Australia
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