Consultation to start on officially renaming Fraser Island back to K’gari

While the World Heritage Area, Fraser Island became K’gari last year, the official place name for the world’s largest sand island has yet to change. As such community consultation opens this week for officially renaming Fraser Island as its Indigenous name, K’gari.

For Aunty Gayle Minniecon, chair of the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation (BAC), the reinstatement of K’gari as the island’s name has been a long time coming and advises “It means so much to the Butchulla People.For us it’s about respect for our people. It’s important for us to let our ancestors know that our culture is still strong and we continue to care for our country."

BAC director Christine Royan said K’gari’s story was the Butchulla people’s Dreaming story.

“The story of K’gari is the story of our creation,” she said.

“Having K’gari reinstated means that we are returning our story back to where it belongs – to its home.”

QLD Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the Queensland Government had actively worked with the Butchulla People to recognise the cultural significance of K’gari.

“We’ve listened to the Butchulla People who have maintained a strong commitment to reinstating the island’s traditional name,” Minister Stewart said.

“The island has been known as K’gari for thousands of years and I hope it will be formally known as K’gari for many more years to come.”

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon notes "K’gari means paradise in the Butchulla language and as a popular destination for its natural beauty, is a much more fitting name for such an iconic place.

“The name Fraser Island is culturally inappropriate – it is a tribute to Eliza Fraser, a woman whose narrative directly led to the massacre and dispossession of the Butchulla people.”

The proposal to officially rename opens for public consultation from 5th August 2022 until 3rd October 2022.

Image: Credit TEQ