The State Government has returned the indigenous place name of Jarndunmunha to Tom Price's Mt Nameless, as part of a new policy to adopt dual naming guidelines.
The State Government has returned the indigenous place name of Jarndunmunha to Tom Price's Mt Nameless, as part of a new policy to adopt dual naming guidelines.
The full text of an announcement from Land Information Minister Michelle Roberts is pasted below
One of Western Australia's highest peaks is to be renamed in recognition of its traditional indigenous place name.
Land Information Minister Michelle Roberts today announced that Mt Nameless, near Tom Price, would now enjoy a dual name and be known as Mt Nameless/Jarndunmunha.
Mrs Roberts said at 1,131 metres, Mt Nameless/Jarndunmunha was one of the highest and well-known peaks in WA, and it was fitting that the mountain would now carry both names.
"There is a growing awareness in local government of the recognition of traditional place names and the Shire of Ashburton along with local Aboriginal communities support the renaming of this peak," she said.
Mrs Roberts said the WA Geographic Naming Committee had 'Policy Guidelines for the Recording and Use of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Names', and had now adopted dual naming guidelines, which brought WA into line with other Australian States.
"The main objective of these guidelines is to ensure that Aboriginal place names are recognised by all Western Australians as a fundamental part of our State's heritage and the need for them to be preserved," she said.
"There are probably hundreds of traditional Aboriginal names, virtually unknown by the general community, for features such as mountains, lakes and rivers that currently have a well-known European name.
"Now that we have adopted the dual naming guidelines, there is an opportunity to recognise these traditional indigenous place names and garner wider community recognition."
Geographic Names Committee spokesman Brian Goodchild said Mt Nameless was named by a Hamersley Iron survey team in the early 1960s.
"In many cases, a preference for either the European or the Aboriginal name cannot be determined, hence the dual naming," he said.
"Where possible, proposals are investigated to establish if there is enough community support to replace the European name with the indigenous name, however the adoption of the dual naming guidelines provides an opportunity to promote and represent harmony between the two cultures."