The popular coastline stretch connecting Ocean Grove to the Barwon Heads Bridge in Victoria, Australia, will be renamed to Bukareeyoo, a Wadawurrung word meaning “between,” in a collaboration between the Barwon Coast Committee of Management and the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.
The area, known as the Ocean Grove Spit, has been culturally significant to the Wadawurrung for thousands of years and was historically used for camping and fishing due to its location between the ocean and the river, according to a report by the Bellarine Times.
It is currently used for activities such as walking, swimming, fishing, and picnics and is known as the Riverside campground over the summer and Easter periods.
Barwon Coast, the designated land manager for Bukareeyoo, will rename Bukareeyoo Campground in time for the 2024 camping season.
The renaming process was guided by the Geographic Place Names Act 1998 and the Naming Rules for Places in Victoria 2022, and it is expected that the new name will be formally gazetted in March 2023.
The renaming is part of a larger effort by Barwon Coast to embed Wadawurrung assertions into their decision-making, planning, and management and to return the Wadawurrung language to other areas of the coast that they manage.
Gary McPike, CEO of Barwon Coast, said the renaming of Bukareeyoo will help educate the broader community about Wadawurrung stories and history and serve as a daily reminder that the area is Wadawurrung Country.
He also mentioned that they are looking forward to everyone who uses the area beginning to refer to it as Bukareeyoo.
Traditional Owner Sarah Eccles said that giving the area a Wadawurrung language name will assist those who appreciate the cultural landscape in understanding whose traditional country it is, its cultural values, and its ongoing connections to Wadawurrung people.
She also emphasized that the partnership with Barwon Coast to restore the Wadawurrung language to the area is highly valued and in the spirit of “Koling wada-ngal,” which means “let us walk together.”
Get ready to delve into the Wadawurrung culture at Bukareeyoo! Explore the revamped coastline and wait for the Bukareeyoo Campground’s new name in 2024. It’s a fantastic blend of history and nature that you won’t want to overlook.
Isn’t it interesting how renaming Bukareeyoo can deepen our connection with Wadawurrung culture? Engaging with elders and the community adds valuable insights and appreciation to the area.