Queensland Premier, Annastascia Palaszczuk has joined with Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation members to formally reinstate the name used by traditional owners for Fraser Island – K’gari.
The Premier said the State Government had worked with the Corporation, tourism bodies, government agencies and the Fraser Coast Regional Council over many years to progressively embed the island’s original name.
“K’gari comes from the Butchulla people’s creation story of the island, which has been passed down orally for generations,” the Premier said.
“I’m proud that today we can officially welcome K’gari home, and reinstate the name used by traditional owners for all these years.
“We will continue to recognise Indigenous languages through place names, in the spirit of truth-telling and reconciliation as we walk the Path to Treaty.
“While steps like this can’t change the wrongs of the past, it goes a long way to building a future where all Queenslanders value, trust, and respect each other.
“This always was and always will be Butchulla Country.”
In 2017, the Fraser Island section of the Great Sandy National Park was renamed K’gari (Fraser Island) and in 2022, the island’s World Heritage Area was renamed K’gari (Fraser Island) World Heritage Area.
To coincide with the restoration of K’gari, more than 19 hectares of land was transferred to the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC.
This land can’t be bought, sold or mortgaged, and must be used for the benefit of its traditional owners, the Butchulla people.
Chair of the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation, Gayle Minniecon said it was “through disrespect to the Butchulla people that her name, K’gari – the home of the Butchulla people – was taken away”.
“Thankfully it is now through respect to the Butchulla people that K’gari- her name- has been reclaimed,” she said.
“Our oral history, our creation story will now be told and learnt as it should be.
“Our ancestors understood and committed to the importance of caring for K’gari since time immemorial and today we continue this cultural obligation.”
Minister for Treaty and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Leeanne Enoch said the Butchulla people have long shared K’Gari and their own culture and traditions with people from across the world, and this change recognises their generosity.
“So many people have been enriched by K’Gari’s unique history and their shared experiences with the Butchulla people,” the Minister said.
“I want to acknowledge the many generations of Butchulla people who have maintained their language, culture and traditions, which are shared by all who visit K’Gari.
“As Queensland continues on its Path to Treaty, the lands, place names and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will form a much greater part of our shared experience.”
In 2022, almost 6,000 public submissions were received with the majority in favour of the name change proposal.
The name change also changes the suburb of Fraser Island to K’gari.
More information on K’gari can be found at K’gari.
