Three new facilities in Greater Geelong could be named to reflect the Aboriginal history and culture of each area in which they’re located.
The City of Greater Geelong has opened community consultation on the names of two Armstrong Creek facilities and one from Drysdale.
The four-week community feedback process will be for the Armstrong Creek West Community Hub, Armstrong Creek Library and Drysdale Library.
Poa Banyul Mount Duneed Community Hub is the proposed name of the Armstrong Creek West Community Hub. Poa Banyul translates to Grassy Hill.
The facility will accommodate a range of early years and family services including a sessional kindergarten, maternal and child health, family support consulting rooms and flexible community spaces.
Located a short distance away, the proposed name of the new Armstrong Creek Library is Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library. Pronounced Be-al-a, Biyal-a means ‘a place of many red gums’.
The third facility, the Drysdale Library would be known as Boronggook Drysdale Library, as Boronggook is the Wadawurrung name for the immediate Drysdale locality and refers to ‘turf’.
Greater Geelong Mayor Peter Murrihy explained how the proposed names were assigned to the new developments.
“The City undertook a detailed engagement process with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation in the suggested naming of the buildings,” Mayor Murrihy said.
“The City also worked with the Geelong Regional Library Corporation when it came to proposing the names for both the Armstrong Creek and Drysdale libraries.
“The names put forward for all three facilities reflect something of the Aboriginal history and culture of each area in which they’re located.”
The Community Hub is scheduled for completion in March 2023, the Drysdale Library in early 2023 and the Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library in early 2024.
Go to yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au to provide feedback.