FAQ

The small ceramic tiles were a great part of the space, and we had hoped to reinstate them. Unfortunately, they were too fragile to be removed and reinstalled. We have spoken to the artist who led the community artwork, who let us know that over 1,000 children were involved! The larger ceramic tiles were able to be salvaged, and we've offered these to the Warrandyte Historical Society. The new play space will have a water play area, where we're installing the community art mosaic pebbles created at this year's Warrandyte Pottery Expo. We also plan to reinstate the ceramic drinking fountains within the new design. We've kept both the artist and our community reference group for the project informed during this process.

Stage one of the upgrade is set to commence in June 2020 and expected to be completed in late November 2020. 

Leave your details on the "Stay Informed" tab on this project page and we can send you updates on this project as they are made available.

According to the VICNAMES database, there is no registered official name for this area 217-225 Warrandyte Road, Warrandyte.

During the consultation for the Masterplan development, an official name for this area was requested by the community.  

The Warrandyte River Reserve is on Crown Land. The land is managed by Manningham Council under a Committee of Management arrangement.

We have contacted the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), who has approved of the naming process to be undertaken.

The naming process is to be undertaken in accordance with the Geographic Place Names Act 1998 and the Naming rules for places in Victoria 2016.

Manningham is a naming authority for naming of Council owned and managed reserves. We will make a submission to the Geographic Names Office with the name and supporting documentation.

The Registrar of Geographic Names has the authority to endorse and enter a name in VICNAMES.

For further information including the  most common place naming questions please visit: land.vic.gov.au/place-naming/first-time-here/frequently-asked-questions

Once endorsed by Council at the September Meeting, the park will be officially named wonguim wilam, (phonetically pronounced as ‘WON-GOOM-WIL-LUM’, all written in lowercase this is a Woi-wurrung word, which is in the language of the Wurrundjeri Woi-wurrung people, the First Peoples of the Manningham area. The written name is all in lower case, the convention adopted by the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people.

The name translates in English to Boomerang Place.

The existing playspace name ‘Federation Playspace’ will be removed and the new playspace will adopt the proposed park name.

It is protocol to engage with Traditional Owners to seek permission to use their language words, and seek guidance about what language words might be appropriate for use when naming public places.

Manningham Council requested a name for this park from the Wurrundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation.  

Wurundjeri’s Aunty Doreen Garvey-Wandin provided the below reason for this name:

Warrandyte Implement Making Pre-contact food resources/areas where people continued to procure food Aboriginal people were seen making spears and boomerangs from tea tree in the vicinity of Tresize Street and Cemetery Road. Bill Onus, who was living in Epping, is recorded as giving boomerang demonstrations at the old Warrandyte cricket ground. Two of these Boomerangs were given to Bill McCulloch (a local resident?).  

Bill Onus was born in the 1920s indicating that a possible date for the boomerang demonstrations could be anywhere between the 1940s-1960s. This may also be the source of a miniature boomerang located and Pound Bend and held at the Parks Victoria office (AAV 7922-560).

Upon request, the name for this park was provided for exclusive use.

Woi-wurrung naming is an opportunity to preserve culture and recognise our First Peoples.

Manningham’s Draft Reconciliation Action Plan includes Action 8.4: “Reviewing and updating Council’s signage and naming policies and processes to align with state policy and consider Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung aspirations”.

This naming process places us at the forefront of supporting the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2032. The purpose of the declaration of the decade is to encourage more work to protect, revitalise, preserve and promote First Peoples language.

Geographic Names Victoria rules are encouraging and supportive of the opportunity to promote unique language and use of Aboriginal place names.

A dual name for the park was discussed with Geographic Names Victoria, for example ‘wonguim wilam/Lions Park’.

However, this was not consistent with their approach and they encouraged Council to proceed with only one name, being an Aboriginal name.

Upon request, the name for this park was provided for exclusive use.

The name is not open for debate or consultation, this is a key part of respecting First Nations culture.  

Manningham’s Naming of Reserves Policy supports regional and district parks with a First Nations name.

We acknowledge that many people feel a connection to this space over the years that we want to ensure this is recognised.  

We are meeting with key stakeholders to discuss ways to ensure acknowledgment.

This may be through a sign which will discuss the history of the site and groups involved, plaques to recognise funding contributions and inclusion in the opening of the park at the completion of stage two works.

• Late August to early September - meeting with key stakeholders.
• End September – Council Meeting.
• October – Public Awareness Campaign.
• November – Manningham Council to formally submit name and supporting documents to the Geographic Names Office.