Sydenham Park has gone through a rebirth following its recent name change to Woi-wurrung name, ‘Yaluk barring Park’.
At the council meeting on March 19, council endorsed Sydenham Park’s name change to ‘Yaluk barring Park’ following submissions made on the name change from the community.
In 2022, council considered a notice of motion raised by councillor Bruce Lancashire on changing the name of Sydenham Park to an appropriate Aboriginal name suggested by local Aboriginal groups.
Last year Brimbank council revealed three shortlisted names that were received from the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation for the renaming of Sydenham Park.
Following a community consultation process, including 164 feedback responses received from community members, ‘Yaluk barring Park’ has emerged as a fan favourite with a majority of 64.4 per cent in support of the Woi-wurrung name.
‘Yaluk barring Park’ means river trail in the Woi-wurrung language. The name represents the trails people walk along and near the Maribyrnong River.
Cr Lancashire said the name change is one that is supported by the Aboriginal community and will help unlock its tourism potential.
“It’s something we can be very proud of as a community, as a council, that we’re taking this bold step to achieve this and change this name,” he said.
The other names in consideration were ‘Yerrin taydo Park’, meaning bush walk in the Woi-wurrung language, representing the paths that will run through the parks that people will walk through connecting people to ‘Bundjil’ – or mother earth. As well as ‘Wurrwu baan Park’, meaning running water in the Woiwurrung language, representing the flow of water in Kororoit and Jackson creeks in the north of the park.
Brimbank council said that by changing the name, Brimbank acknowledges the cultural significance of the park to the Wurundjeri Woi wurrung people.
The park’s former name was also said to pose a public safety risk as Sydenham Park is not located within the suburb of Sydenham causing confusion for emergency response and transport and mail services when trying to locate the park.
Hannah Hammoud
