Mullawallah Submissions Close Next Week

PUBLIC submissions for the contentious naming of the city’s newest suburb will close next week.

The naming has sparked heated debate in the community and has led to the city council to deciding to publicly exhibit the recommended name Mullawallah.

The area is bounded by Wiltshire Lane, the Ballarat-Carngham Road and the Glenelg Highway.

The named stemmed from the legacy of a much-respected Aboriginal elder, Mullawallah, or King Billy as he was commonly known.

He is believed to have been one of last of the Ballaarat tribe.

A council meeting on September 11 drew crowds of people, with many divided on the issue.

Residents voiced concern that the name was too similar to the names of other towns in regional Victoria and there could be confusion if emergency services were called to the suburb.

Other residents called for a reserve inside the new suburb to be name after the historical elder instead.

However, the city’s indigenous leaders, including cultural heritage projects officer Sean Fagan, a traditional owner of the land, said the historic significance of the name was close to the heart of indigenous people all over Australia.

Mullawallah was the frontrunner of a list of 36 suggested names, compiled from 51 written public submissions.

Ballarat councillor Belinda Coates said Mullawallah was deemed the most appropriate name because it was found to be the most historically and culturally significant.

Cr Coates said to date, she only knew of a handful of submissions that had been received which outlined concerns with spelling and pronunciation of the name.

Cr Des Hudson said that he believed the difficulty was some people residing in the area already identified themselves as Delacombe residents.

“They’ve built their house in a suburb that is part of Delacombe and they have familiarised themselves with that term and have a created a sense of identity around that name,” Cr Hudson said.

“If the suburb was named prior to people moving there, it is likely it would have had a different outcome.”

Cr Vicki Coltman said she believed the process had upset sections of the community because many residents moved into the area before it had been officially named.

Cr Coltman said the council had strived to recognise the historical significance of the city’s Aboriginal heritage with suburb names, including Wendouree and Buninyong, inspired by the indigenous connection to the land.

“In this case, there are people who feel that maybe the name doesn’t suit the area or it’s not as relevant as it could be,” Cr Coltman said.

Council officers had established a short list of eight names before the meeting, rejecting some due to repetition, confusion or lack of connection with Ballarat.

Submissions close on Monday, November 10 at 5pm.

The number of submissions made cannot be revealed until the consultation officially closes.

For details on making a submission, visitballarat.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay

melissa.cunningham@fairfaxmedia.com.au