NAIDOC Week: Australia's Key Cities and their Traditional Place Names

a bird's eye view photo of Gold Coast Queensland

Everyday is another learning opportunity and experience for me here in Australia. Aside from learning the Aussie ways of life, it is also a chance to find myself in this big island.

Visiting many lovely places, and learning from its own history and genuine stories, including the first nation’s many stories, and it is a very exciting experience!

Just like the Philippines, did you know that Australia's First Peoples have been living on the Australian continent for millennia.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia is made up of many different and distinct groups, each with their own culture, customs, language and laws. They are the world’s oldest surviving culture; cultures that continue to be expressed in dynamic and contemporary ways.

There are a lot of things to learn, and as a new resident of this country, I felt the responsibility to learn their stories that makes Australia’s past, understand the present, and help to bring a good future.

We will tackle this conversation one at the time, right here in my blog.

In celebration of NAIDOC Week, here are the Australia’s main cities and their traditional place names:

a picture of a thermal spring in Darwin, Northern Territory

Mataranka Thermal Springs in Darwin, Northern Territory. Darwin is called Garramilla(guh-ruh-mil-lah) in its Traditional name.

a bird's eye view of Buccaneer Achipelago in Western Australia

When you visit Broome in Western Australia, never miss the opportunity to visit the stunning Buccaneer Archipelago, the Precambrian sandstone islands with over two billion years old. Broome is called Rubibi (roo-bee-bee) in its Traditional name.

a picture of Walpa Gorge in Northern Territory

This is Walpa Gorge at Kata Tjuta in Alice Springs or Mparntwe (mm-bahn-doo-uh), Northern Territory.

a bird's eye view of Geraldton coast in Western Australia

A gorgeous view of Geraldton in Western Australia. Geraldton is called Jambinu (jum-bin-oo) in its Traditional name

Hamelin Bay located in Perth Western Australia. Perth is called Boorloo (boo-r-loo) in its Traditional name.

a picture of famous landmark park in Adelaide

Adelaide is called Tarndanya (tarn-dan-yuh) in its Traditional name.

a picture of building and main street in Melbourne

Melbourne is called Naarm (nahh-m) in Aborigine name.

Is the Hobart, called Nipaluna (nip-uh-loo-nuh) in Traditional name so beautiful? Add this to your travel itinerary!

a picture of a mountain, a tower, and a rainbow

When you see this tower outside your airplane window, you know that you are in Canberra, aka. ACT the capital of Australia. Canberra is called Ngambri / Ngunnawal (nam-bree / noon-a-waal) in Aborigine name.

a picture of Sydney Opera in the harbour

The gorgeous view of the Sydney Harbour. Sydney is called Warrang (wuhr-ung) in Aborigine name.

Gold Coast is called Yugambeh (yoog-umm-beh) in Aborigine name.

a picture of the famous Brisbane landmark with buildings on the background

Brisbane is called Meanjih (mee-an-jun) in Aborigine name

a picture of a woman on the top of the hill, overlooking the coastline

Overlooking the gorgeous view of Cairns’ coastline. Cairns is called Gimuy (gim-oii) in Aborigine name.

a picture of a landmark mountain in Sunshine Coast

The majestic beauty of Mount Ngunngun in Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Sunshine Coast is called Kabi Kabi (kah-bee kah-bee) in its traditional name.

I also found a video teaching us on how to pronounce these traditional places

@meissa.com.au
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a picture of a woman in white dress, standing in front of the gallery building

Hope the next time you visit Australia you can now identify its traditional names and never forget to pay respect for its traditional people.

Acknowledgment of the Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Country throughout Australia and recognize their continuing connection to land, waters, and culture. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging and ask that during your travels you respect these cultures, peoples, and land.