Brimbank council has endorsed the consultation process required to rename Sydenham Park, which includes a shortlist of names to be put for community consultation.
As part of ongoing works at Sydenham Park, the Keilor North reserve will be renamed to an Indigenous title through a Wurundjeri defined process.
Council will present a shortlist of Woi-Wurrung names for community consultation from November this year, seeking feedback on the renaming proposal.
The renaming process will engage firstly with the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation as the Traditional Owners and the Brimbank Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee (BATSICC).
Speaking at the council meeting on July 18, councillor Virignia Tachos said she is looking forward to council receiving the shortlist of Indigenous names which reflect the unique significance and history of the site.
“I don’t believe [the name] Sydenham Park really reflects accurately the spiritual significance of the area. I think this is a very appropriate process to give it some meaning and significance,” she said.
Council will consider and endorse a final name for the site in February, 2024.
On completion of the naming process, the selected name will be shared with Traditional Owners who will again be consulted in 2024 to plan an event to celebrate the re-naming of the site.
