Grey nomads travelling in remote parts of Australia are commonly quite shocked by some of the names that were given to small places and creeks during a different period of history … but that is beginning to change.
Ten localities in Queensland which contain the ‘N-word’ are to be re-named, and a similar push to remove racist and offensive names is underway in the Northern Territory.
The decision comes after community concerns about a place called N*****s Bounce led to its removal from all databases by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines in May.
“The department commenced a proactive review of the place names database that identified nine other place names that had a similarly offensive term,” a Queensland Government spokesperson said.
Aboriginal activist Stephen Hagan told the ABC that news of the re-naming was ‘wonderful’ and long overdue … but there were still several place names in Queensland with racist connotations.
“I would go back and revisit the name of Gin Gin and see if that was in fact named after an alcohol distillery or whether it was named as a derogatory term for Aboriginal women back in that era,” he said. “Even though it may not have the heavy implications of n*****, that offended a lot of Aboriginal leaders.”
The Northern Territory has declared it will follow Queensland’s lead and rename a number of landmarks with racist names.
Adjunct research fellow in history at the University of Queensland, Jonathan Richards, told the ABC that names like gin, as well as all the ‘murdering creeks’ and ‘skull holes’ were really offensive.
“I really don’t buy this argument that we’ve got to keep them because of our history,” he told the ABC. “I think certainly there are statues and place names that it’s fine to keep, but I think people really need to stop and think, ‘How would they feel?’ … you wouldn’t for a minute have a statue of an enemy.”
University of Queensland race relations research fellow Fiona Barlow told the ABC the effect of language and words had a marked impact on human psychology.
“Renaming these places removes the racial slur from the [Indigenous person’s] experience as they drive past road signs,” Dr Barlow said. “But it also sends a symbolic message about what we value as Australians and it could have a genuine positive effect on health.”
The “Murdering” in the name of creeks etc. may have nothing to do with the Aboriginies. I hope thorough research is observed before political correctness is employed here. We have a “Murdering Hut” creek on the edge of our town. It has never crossed my mind it has racial overtones because it is in Ned Kelly country.
Interesting to note if these intended name changes will be on a national level, or just the places that they ‘feel ‘ like changing. I agree with Robyn, just because a name appears to have racist connotations, in fact may have little reference to indigenous people. Piccaninny is a name associated with many geographic landmarks in nearly every Australian State which some time ago also came under scrutiny for its racial reference. Still exists.