Merri-bek officially recognised

Delivering the suggested names back in May. Aunty Alice Kolasa and Moreland Mayor Mark Riley (centre), Uncle Andrew Gardiner (third from left), and the councillors.

The Governor in Council has officially approved the new name for Moreland City Council, with the change to Merri-bek published in the Victorian Government Gazette.

Mayor of Moreland, Councillor Mark Riley said he was delighted that the Merri-bek name would soon be seen across the municipality.

“Changing the name of our city to Merri-bek is reconciliation in action with Traditional Owners. I’m excited that we are close to formally introducing our new name,” Cr Riley said.

“Now that the name is formally approved, we have started to get ready to use ‘Merri-bek City Council’ publicly.

“The community will start seeing Merri-bek in use later this month.”

The name change to Merri-bek City Council legally took effect from Monday 26 September.

Merri-bek, meaning ‘rocky country’, Woi-wurrung language, was one of three options presented to council by Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung elders. It was supported by a majority of participants incCouncil’s community engagement process.

For more information on the renaming process, visit conversations.moreland.vic.gov.au/renaming