New Indigenous Names for Famous Holiday Destination
The NSW Geographical Names Board has approved double naming for popular tourist locations in New South Wales following requests from local communities.
Two locations in Byron Bay have been given Aboriginal names in addition to their English names due to community requests.
Cape Byron will now also be known as “Walgun,” and Julian Rocks will be known as “Nguthungulli.” Dual naming has become more common in recent years as authorities aim to recognize traditional Aboriginal names alongside existing English names.
Byron Bay, a beautiful beachside town in northeastern New South Wales, is located 772 kilometers north of Sydney and 165 kilometers south of Brisbane. Cape Byron is home to an iconic lighthouse built in 1901, offering breathtaking views of the ocean to hikers and tourists.
Julian Rocks/Nguthungulli is a popular diving and snorkeling location known for its marine diversity.
The NSW government has dual-named 45 geographical features to date, with the aim of acknowledging and preserving Aboriginal culture and heritage. However, the practice of dual naming has drawn criticism in some circles.
In an opinion piece for The Epoch Times in August 2023, former Coalition Minister Eric Abetz criticized dual naming as “virtue signalling,” noting that real issues facing Indigenous communities remained unaddressed despite the focus on dual naming.
