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Merri-bek name for Council approved

15 Sep 2022

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 today. 

Mayor, Councillor Mark Riley said he was delighted that the Merri-bek name will 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 will legally take 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 in Council’s community engagement process. 

Deputy Chair of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, Uncle Andrew Gardiner said Council has shown respect to the community. 

“Moreland City Council have shown great respect to the ratepayers and residents of the local government area, including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community by listening and understanding the negative history Moreland relates to in global slavery and racism and dispossession of traditional lands, not ceded, not sold and not given away. 

“It is not good enough to just brush the past under the carpet and forget about it. Moreland City Council have stood up for all their constituents and have learned from the past, so that all people are treated equally and creating a more inclusive and just society. 

“With the gazettal of the new Council name, today we take the first steps to a brighter future.” 

For more information on the renaming process, visit Home | Conversations Merri-bek.