Sign at Bayonet Head lookout honours Menang Noongar culture and Albany’s historic dual naming project

A popular lookout at Bayonet Head is now home to a panoramic sign which shows Menang Noongar place names approved by Landgate as part of an historic dual-naming push. The sign lists 23 locations which can be seen from the lookout, including 12 with their Indigenous names as identified through the City of Albany’s Restoring Menang Noongar Place Names project. The dual-naming project — which discovered 66 traditional names for locations across the city— is believed to be the biggest dual-naming project by a local government in Australia. So far, 28 place names around Albany have been approved by Landgate. City of Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington said updating the Bayonet Head lookout sign was one way to make dual naming more visible in the community. “Successfully getting 28 locations dual named is a fantastic outcome for the City and community and something we want to proudly promote,” he said. “Menang Noongar names are unique to Albany, they remind us of the rich cultural history we have and adopting them widely across the City is an important step in recognising our First Nations people and their long connection to Country. “Using dual naming on infrastructure like Bayonet Head lookout recognises and educates about our ancient Menang Noongar culture and promotes the Menang names for these important places.” At the City’s February council meeting, councillors unanimously voted to make a second submission to Landgate for the dual-naming of Mammang Koort/King George Sound, Yeerup/Torbay Inlet and Narrinyup/Geake Point. An unnamed lake (Manarup) and an unnamed reserve (Talyenup) will also be put forward for official naming. If approved, the five locations would join the 28 other locations given the green light. In August, 16 natural landmarks were approved for dual naming and 12 “reserves, geographic features, waterways and vegetation” named for the first time with their traditional Menang Noongar names. LANDMARKS ON THE SIGN Watami/Green Island Miaritch/Oyster Harbour Kaatboornup/Mount Martin Corma/Bald Head Kep Mardjit/Vancouver Springs Mammang Koort/King George Sound Uredale Point Irrerup/Mount Adelaide Binalup/Middleton Beach Corndarup/Mount Clarence Burrnup/Bluff Rock Kardarup/Mount Melville